As proven throughout their debut album, Leave A Whisper, vocalist Brent Smith, guitarist Jasin Todd, bassist Brad Stewart and drummer Barry Kerch have fully absorbed influences ranging from the classic sounds of Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin to the soulful stirrings of Otis Redding to today's chart-topping efforts of Staind and Tool--then filtered them all through their own unique musical perspectives. The result blends together bold, strident guitar power, blues-tinged vocal fury and cutting-edge metallic mayhem. Songs such as the powerful first single "Fly From The Inside," the emotive "No More Love" and the overwhelming "Burning Bright" show that in Smith, Shinedown sport one of the most talented singers and unconventional songwriters currently operating within a hard rock context. This is one guy who clearly plays by his own rules when it comes to creating great rock and roll.