The track is the fourth sampling of their upcoming eight album
Chart-topping rockers Shinedown have released a brand new single “Searchlight.” It following the previously released “Dance, Kid, Dance,” “Three Six Five,” and “Killing Fields.” The band’s upcoming eighth studio album is expected to be officially announced in the near future.
Stream the official music video for “Searchlight” below now.
The song was first performed live during the band’s Opry debut last month where the band’s fans packed the infamous venue and the song became the most talked-about moment of the night. Frontman Brent Smith introduced the song by telling the audience, “Sometimes when you listen close enough to the universe and you’re willing to receive something from it- a song can come out of thin air. We didn’t find this one, it found us.”
On the song’s release, Brent Smith said, “Searchlight is a song about owning your true feelings. It’s an awakening of the soul. Lyrically it is a coming-of-age story that celebrates the moment you decide to go out into the world, and find your purpose. Musically it is an homage to all the music our parents, and grandparents brought us up on. It is a love letter to Americana, Rhythm and Blues, Bluegrass, Outlaw Country, and of course Rock ‘n’ Roll. The creative process for this song was quite a journey, and we hope all the “Fans/Family” feel that authenticity in every note, and every word.”
Written by Brent Smith, Eric Bass & Dave Bassett and produced by Eric Bass at his Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina, “Searchlight”channels the emotional depth and anthemic power that have become Shinedown’s signature but with new sonic elements fitting of the Opry’s stage. In the song’s music video, shot by Andrew Donoho, you can see each member performing their own instruments including a steel pedal guitar and banjo. Filmed in Nashville, Tennessee the day after their Opry debut the video showcases the band’s live performance as well as the emotional power behind the song.
On the beautiful music video Brent noted, “We needed the video to be artistic, but also to showcase a visual epiphany. This was our very first time working with director, Andrew Donoho, and to his credit, there was a different treatment in the beginning, to which I asked, “could we think a bit more outside the box?” (You will understand the reference when you see the video.) Andrew did not miss a beat and told me and the band absolutely, let’s find something that is true to the song and also represents the band in the most honest way possible. In our opinion, he was able to capture the essence of the song, by using practical effects, and smart camera work. We hope everybody enjoys the video as much as we enjoyed making it.”
This year was a defining one for Shinedown, with “Searchlight” following their powerful global hit “Three Six Five,” which topped multiple radio formats including No. 1 at Alternative, Top 10 at Hot AC and AC, and Top 20 at Top 40. The band also released “Dance, Kid, Dance” and “Killing Fields” — both of which hit No. 1 — further cementing their dominance at radio. Shinedown currently hold the record for the most No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart (21 No. 1 hits to date), making them the top artist in the chart’s history, as well as the most #1s on the Mediabase Active Rock Chart (23 No. 1 hits to date), along with the records for the most Top 5 hits and Top 10 hits in the chart’s history.
In addition, this year Shinedown sold out and performed at Madison Square Garden for the first time during their Dance, Kid, Dance arena tour – a career milestone for the band. As part of the tour, they donated $1 from every ticket sold to Musicians On Call, resulting in a $300,000 contribution that helped launch a new bedside music program in partnership with HCA Florida Healthcare. Brent Smith and Zach Myers recently performed at the program’s kickoff event.
Earlier this year, the band also took home multiple iHeartRadio Awards, further solidifying their standing as one of the most impactful bands of today.
Next fall, Shinedown are hosting their very own festival – Lunatic Ball. The weekend beach bash is set for October 23-25, 2026, in Miramar Beach, Florida. The jaunt will feature two headlining performances from Shinedown, plus more acts like Bush, Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm, Living Colour, From Ashes to New, and more.
Check out the full lineup below, plus a link to order passes.
More acts, including comedians and DJs, are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
This isn’t Shinedown’s only big festival news lately. Last week, the band was confirmed as headliners of Sonic Temple 2026 in Ohio. The group joins Tool, My Chemical Romance, and Bring Me The Horizon at the top of the bill. The festival is set for May 14-17 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Brent Smith of Shinedown said, “Barry, Zach, Eric and I have waited for this opportunity to be a headliner at Sonic Temple for a very long time. We are going to go all out for this performance. We know the fans have very high expectations. So with that being said, we are going to give all of Ohio everything we’ve got!!!! Thank you to Danny Wimmer for this incredible opportunity!!! LET’S GO SHINEDOWN NATION.”
Back in January, Shinedown released two new songs – “Dance, Kid Dance” and “Three Six Five.” They are the first new pieces of material since their 2022 blockbuster LP, Planet Zero. In July, they released a third single – “Killing Fields.” The group expected to officially confirm their eighth studio album imminently. Over the summer, the multi-platinum rockers returned to the road for their massive Dance, Kid, Dance Tour. The run included a stop at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Special guests Beartooth joined for spring dates and alt-rock icons Bush played summer dates, with Morgan Wade opening all shows.
In May, Shinedown headlined the inaugural Boardwalk Rock Festival in Ocean City, Maryland alongside Def Leppard, Nickelback, and Rob Zombie.
Last month, Shinedown celebrated the 10th anniversary of their fifth studio album, Threat to Survival, arrived on September 18, 2015, as the Jacksonville quartet’s leanest, most radio-focused statement to date, built during a peripatetic writing and recording stretch in 2014–2015 that hopscotched across Los Angeles studios. Sessions and overdubs were cut at Ocean Way, Capitol and NRG, with additional editing at The Lair and further work at Agoura Borealis, reflecting a patchwork process that matched the album’s hybrid of hard-rock riffing and pop-rock hooks. Unlike the single-producer approach of earlier cycles, the band embraced a committee of collaborators: Dave Bassett, Pete Nappi, Scott Stevens and Shinedown’s own Eric Bass all took production roles, while a small army of top mixers—among them Chris Lord-Alge and Michael Brauer—polished different tracks. Bass later described the record as an “amalgamation,” noting it involved “four or five different producers and three or four different mix engineers,” emblematic of the band building songs in pieces as they moved “from one situation across the country to another.”
When stepping into the studio, Shinedown had a daunting task in front of them. Their last album, 2012’s Amaryllis, still stands as arguably the band’s best effort. Debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, the album took the No. 1 spot across the Top Rock, Top Hard Rock, and Top Alternative albums charts. It produced an astonishing six singles, as well as fan favorites like “Amaryllis” and “I’m Not Alright.” The commercial success slingshotted the band from festival feature to headliner, and whatever was to come next would have to be another home run.
Commercially, Threat to Survival hit fast. It debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 dated October 10, 2015, with 65,000 units (61,000 in pure sales), while also leading Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums—continuing a streak of Shinedown studio releases topping that chart. In the U.K., it became their highest-placing album up to that point, peaking at No. 13 on the Official Albums Chart and logging three weeks on the tally. The campaign produced another dominant run at rock radio: “Cut the Cord” reached No. 1 on Mainstream Rock in August 2015; “State of My Head” followed to No. 1 in February 2016; and “How Did You Love” completed the hat-trick, rising 2–1 on the March 4, 2017 chart. “Asking for It,” the set’s third single, peaked at No. 2 on the same list. In the longer arc, the album earned RIAA gold certification in 2018, while its singles kept accruing hardware—“Cut the Cord” went platinum and “State of My Head” gold in 2019—underscoring the record’s staying power on airwaves and streaming.
In addition to the record’s successful singles, the album also features “Black Cadillac,” which could very well be the band’s most criminally underrated song.
