Shinedown

NR: How Long did it take you to record the new CD "Us or Them?"

Brent: It took a couple of months, though it took several months to write it.

NR: What's are some of your favorite tracks from the new album?

Brent: It's hard to say because all of the songs are like children to you, special in some way. Everyone in the band digs "Lady so Divine." It's not the typical song you'll hear from bands now a days. It is kind of trippy.

NR: You guys recorded 17 tracks, but only used 13. Are there any plans to release the others?

Brent: They are already on there. You can find the extra songs in special editions. Which you can find at Wal-Mart and places like that. But yeah we released them all.

NR: You guys tour a lot. What are some of the better places to play?

Brent: Places to play? Boston is great. All the markets are great places to play for us. We just like to get on the West Coast more. So it's good for us to be out here. As long as they come out and want to hear the music that's all we care about.

NR: You guys covered Lynard Skynyrd's "Simple Man." Is there any reason you guys did that?

Brent: Not at all. Just a thank you to Jacksonville. We recorded a lot of songs for the record in the studio and it just kind of happen to be on there. But yeah there was no real plan to release it. But... We are happy with it.

NR: You guys have been on the road with some amazing bands. Who has been some of the cooler bands to go on the road with?

Brent: We got to go on the road with Van Halen which was like a childhood dream. 3 Doors Down, we love those guys. Velvet Revolver is a bunch of great guys, There are some many bands we played with. I don't want to single anyone out, Powerman 5000.
NR: So no bad experiences?
Brent: Not at all.

NR: What are some of the bands you listen to?

Brent: Well we listen to Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters and Cold Play. I mean we are a pretty eclectic band. We listen to all kinds of stuff, but that's just some of the most recent stuff.

NR: After the 3 Doors Down tour ends, what's next for you guys?

Brent: Headlining, straight up! There no real plans for going on the road right after this. Holidays are coming up so we'll do a short break for that. Other then that we'll go right out. We are a road band no one wants to know what we look like so it's all good. We'll just take it straight to the streets!