Eight (stylized as Ei8ht) is the eighth studio album by American rock band Shinedown, released by Atlantic Records on May 29, 2026. The album spawned six singles, "Three Six Five", "Dance, Kid, Dance", "Killing Fields", "Searchlight", "Safe and Sound", and "Young Again", along with four promotional singles, "Outlaw", "Burning Down the Disco", "At the Bottom", and "Dizzy".
Contents
Background and recording
The first hint regarding the next album was shared by lead singer Brent Smith, who suggested the eighth album was already written before the release of Planet Zero. In a 2023 interview, Smith stated the album was set for release in 2024, and said "there are some really, really good songs".
The album was produced and mixed by bassist Eric Bass, the third to be handled by Bass following Attention Attention and Planet Zero. It was written and recorded in Bass' Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina.
Release and promotion
On January 24, 2025, the band released two singles, "Three Six Five" and "Dance, Kid, Dance" as the lead singles for the album. On July 15, 2025, the album's third single, "Killing Fields", was released. A music video for the song was released on October 28. On November 18, 2025, the band released the single, "Searchlight", along with a music video. Eight was announced on February 17, 2026, alongside the fifth single, "Safe and Sound". The album's sixth single, "Outlaw", was released on April 2.
The album topped the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart in its first week, selling 38,000 equivalent units in the United States.
Critical reception
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Eight received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.
Shinedown
Eric Bass – bass, programming, production, engineering, mixing, orchestral arrangements, string arrangements, bass technician, guitar technician
Barry Kerch – drums
Zach Myers – guitar
Brent Smith – vocals
Additional contributors
Dave Bassett – vocal production (all tracks), additional instrumentation (tracks 1–9, 12, 13, 15–18), backing vocals (3, 6, 7, 17), synthesizer (7, 17), strings (9, 17), lap steel guitar (9), synthesizer programming (13), piano (17)
Ted Jensen – mastering
Eric Wayne Rickert – engineering assistance
Ricky Sanders – drum technician