Studio Album · No. 5

Threat to Survival Songwriting Credits by Shinedown

2015 Atlantic Records 11 tracks 40 min

Produced by Dave Bassett, Eric Bass, Pete Nappi, Scott Stevens  ·  Engineered by Dave Bassett, David Schiffman, Eric Bass, Francesco Cameli

Atlantic Records Hard RockAlternative RockPost-grunge
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Shinedown carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by Shinedown 0 tracksoutside writers
Shinedown's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer73%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
9
Lyricists
4
Producers
3
No.1 Singles
2015
Released
Data Insight

Threat to Survival is the album where Shinedown's authorship widens. Brent Smith remains the lyricist and constant name across every track, but the writing rooms open up: Dave Bassett co-writes and produces most of the record, a full pop-writing team of Carlo Colasacco, Ethan Thompson, Jayson DeZuzio, and Pete Nappi builds 'State of My Head,' and Scott Stevens co-writes 'How Did You Love' and 'Dangerous.' The clearest internal shift is bassist Eric Bass, credited under his legal name William Frederic Bass Jr., who co-writes 'Cut the Cord' and 'Black Cadillac' and takes on production and engineering across the album. That expanding role points ahead to later records where Bass produces Shinedown outright, making this the transitional album between Smith's solo-lyricist era and the Smith-and-Bass core.

Threat to Survival is the fifth studio album by American rock band Shinedown, released September 18, 2015 on Atlantic Records. It pushes the band toward a broader arena-rock and pop-rock sound, pairing Brent Smith's lyrics with outside songwriters and producers drawn from the pop world. The record was built in pieces across several studios rather than as one band session, with Dave Bassett handling the bulk of the tracks and bassist Eric Bass producing and co-writing a growing share of the material. Lead single 'Cut the Cord' hit number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and follow-ups 'State of My Head' and 'How Did You Love' also topped that chart. The album debuted in the top ten of the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It is the album where Eric Bass steps up as a central writer and producer alongside Smith.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Asking for It #2
Brent SmithDave Bassett Brently Stephen SmithDavid Bassett Dave BassettEric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
2
Cut the Cord #1
Brent SmithEric Bass Brently Stephen SmithWilliam Frederic Bass Jr. Eric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
3
State of My Head #1
Brent SmithCarlo ColasaccoEthan ThompsonJayson DeZuzioPete Nappi Brently Stephen SmithCarlo ColasaccoEthan ThompsonJayson DeZuzioPeter Nappi Pete Nappi Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
4
Outcast
Brent SmithDave Bassett Brently Stephen SmithDavid Bassett Dave BassettEric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
5
How Did You Love #1
Brent SmithScott Stevens Brently Stephen SmithScott Stevens Scott Stevens Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
6
It All Adds Up
Brent SmithDave BassettZach Myers Brently Stephen SmithDavid BassettZachary Myers Dave BassettEric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
7
Oblivion
Brent SmithDave Bassett Brently Stephen SmithDavid Bassett Dave BassettEric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
8
Dangerous
Brent SmithScott Stevens Brently Stephen SmithScott Stevens Scott Stevens Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
9
Thick as Thieves
Brent SmithDave Bassett Brently Stephen SmithDavid Bassett Dave BassettEric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
10
Black Cadillac
Brent SmithDave BassettEric Bass Brently Stephen SmithDavid BassettWilliam Frederic Bass Jr. Dave BassettEric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)
11
Misfits
Brent SmithDave Bassett Brently Stephen SmithDavid Bassett Dave BassettEric Bass Brent Smith (Lead Vocals)Zach Myers (Guitar, Backing Vocals)Eric Bass (Bass, Backing Vocals)Barry Kerch (Drums, Percussion)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 15 contributors

More from Shinedown

Frequently Asked Questions Threat to Survival

Who wrote the songs on Threat to Survival?
Brent Smith co-wrote every track as lyricist. His partners include producer Dave Bassett on most songs, bassist Eric Bass on 'Cut the Cord' and 'Black Cadillac,' Scott Stevens on 'How Did You Love' and 'Dangerous,' and a pop team of Carlo Colasacco, Ethan Thompson, Jayson DeZuzio, and Pete Nappi on 'State of My Head.'
Who produced Threat to Survival?
Production was split across the album: Dave Bassett handled most tracks with additional production from Eric Bass, Pete Nappi produced 'State of My Head,' and Scott Stevens produced 'How Did You Love' and 'Dangerous.'
What are the singles from Threat to Survival?
'Cut the Cord,' 'State of My Head,' 'Asking for It,' and 'How Did You Love.' All four charted on Billboard Mainstream Rock, with three of them reaching number one.
Did 'Cut the Cord' reach number one?
Yes. 'Cut the Cord' topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart as the album's lead single.
What is Eric Bass's role on the album?
Bassist Eric Bass, legal name William Frederic Bass Jr., co-wrote 'Cut the Cord' and 'Black Cadillac' and took on producing and engineering duties across the record, an expanded role from earlier Shinedown albums.
Who wrote 'State of My Head'?
It was written by Brent Smith with Carlo Colasacco, Ethan Thompson, Jayson DeZuzio, and Pete Nappi, the largest co-writing team on the album.
How did Threat to Survival sell?
It debuted in the top ten of the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA in the US, with Gold in Canada and Silver in the UK.

Sources