DAUGHTRY – Shock to the System [Part One & Part Two] (2025)

Back in 2007, DAUGHTRY’s debut album was the biggest-selling album in the U.S.. We still spin the album regularly… has a lot of great rockers that kick ass and a ballad or two that draw you in. It’s well done moderm rock.

After forays into other poppier waters, DAUGHTRY seems to be back to rock, and with a 2-part project / albums / EP’s: ”Shock to the System [Part One & Part Two]”. Co-produced by genius Marti Frederiksen who also co-wrote all the songs, this is a rocking effort.
“The Reckoning” kicks the door wide open of Part One with a chugging riff that leads to the first verse from Chris Daughtry that allows us to gently work into the track and vocals until the pre-chorus hits and his voice takes on some urgency and additional power. The energy from his voice is accentuated by the heavy bottom end and guitar work in the mix. If this is only the start, we need to strap in. “The Reckoning” is exactly the sort of U.S. arena rock that they seemed to make so effortlessly back in the day.
“Artificial” shifts gears sonically with a more electronic sound, but soon the bottom end kicks in and thanks to some thunderous drums we are off and running. Chris’ vocals take a more tempered approach, but the baritone that reverberates through the verse is almost hypnotic and keeps you engaged until the chorus hits and blows you away. The shift in energy throughout the track perfectly suits the lyrics and mood of the track.

“Pieces” takes the sonic highs and lows of other tracks and swirls them nicely. The vocal draped across the verse conveys a lot of different energies and emotions without detracting from the overall feel of the track. The lyrics reflect what a lot of us think at any given moment and that endears us to the song even more. The rhythmic groove of the bottom end gets the foot tapping while you sing along.

Title track “Shock To The System” is a killer track that creates mood that unfolds as the song progresses. The musical interlude underneath Daughtry’s vocals in the verse is well-suited to the overall feel of the track and the twist of lyrics that hit hard when Chris proclaims he is waiting for “adrenaline gone ballistic” to accompany the shock his soul needs. The song grabbed me from first listen and will get the foot tapping while you punch the air at the chorus.
“Nervous” is a slow burn track that is perfectly constructed to prompt everyone to look inside while they sing and scream the lyrics, joining Daughtry in his inner turmoil. The ethereal musical accompaniment is chilling and electrifying at the same time.
“The Dam” keeps the more melodic sound flowing without a huge wall of sound through the intro and verse. Hold on once the chorus hits. Not only does Daughtry flex his vocal muscles, but he also allows the band to rip the lid off the track. The rhythm section comes barreling at you while the guitar and keyboard fill the void with some great sounds.

”The Seeds” setting the mood and raises the bar high for the next songs. ‘Divided’ comes with strong arrangements, and the captivating smoky and husky voice of the singer CHRIS DAUGHTRY. ‘The Day I Die’ is a bitter sweet, and intense, with a smooth bridge, that will dig deep underneath your skin. ‘The Bottom’ comes crawling into your ear and up your spine. It is slowly unravelling, getting more intense and gradually digs deeper, while the rhythmic tunes will pull you along right away.

Part Two begins with an intro called “Seeds,” a gloomy start to the record that leads to the dramatic opening of “Divided.” A calmer verse turns into a powerful chorus, though things never get too heavy. Next, “The Day I Die” is an enjoyable rock song with some heavier outbursts. Overall, though, it’s a melodic and somewhat melancholic.
”The Bottom” is a darker one, addressing the moment when you’re really down and your efforts to get back up. This topic also aligns with the lyrical approach of “Shock to the System.” It’s about denying obvious things and coming to terms with reality, which forces humans to deal with issues.

The thumping “Terrified” is one of the heaviest parts of the release. With a pounding beat, the song is a confrontation with the inner beast. “Razor” combines a powerful chorus with fragile passages before the piano introduces “Antidote.” The track pairs a stark keyboard melody with atmospheric vocals before giving way to tense, cinematic strings in the bridge. More a slow song than a ballad, feels like the calm after the emotional storm initiated by the previous tunes.

Daughtry’s ”Shock to the System [Part One & Part Two]” feature well-crafted modern rock with emotional depth. Even with a few edges that might be missing, these songs are touching and they benefit from a well-done production.
A shock? Not really, but “A Shock To The System” sounds like a million dollars. It amounts to Chris Daughtry saying, “Hi, I’m back, and we’re rocking again.”

 

Part One
01 – THE RECKONING
02 – ARTIFICIAL
03 – PIECES
04 – SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM
05 – NERVOUS
06 – THE DAM
Part Two
01 – THE SEEDS
02 – DIVIDED
03 – THE DAY I DIE
04 – THE BOTTOM
05 – TERRIFIED
06 – RAZOR
07 – ANTIDOTE (FULL MIX)

Chris Daughtry – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Brian Craddock – lead guitar
Elvio Fernandes – keyboards, backing vocals
Marty O’Brien – bass
Jeremy Schaffer – drums

Additional personnel
Marti Frederiksen – production, digital editing, programming
Scott Stevens – production, programming, additional guitars
Ted Jensen – mastering

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