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By GREG MAKI
Whether you are a fan or not, you have to admire the work ethic and consistency of Sevendust. For the last decade, we have been able to count on them to deliver a new album roughly every 18 to 24 months, followed by a grueling touring schedule. Not even the departure of one of their principal songwriters, guitarist Clint Lowery, in 2004 slowed them down. Former Snot axeman Sonny Mayo hopped on board and the band churned out the raw-sounding Next less than a year later. Now, they are already back with their sixth studio effort, Alpha (in stores March 6, 2007).
While Next was a somewhat uneven mix of aggression and the softer melodies that marked 2003’s Seasons, Alpha does a superb job combing the elements that have made Sevendust’s sound so distinctive. Huge, chunky staccato riffs (listen closely, as the interplay between guitarists Mayo and John Connolly is more textured and complex than you might think), the aggressive drumming and always enraged vocals of Morgan Rose and the instantly recognizable voice of frontman Lajon Witherspoon virtually leap out of the speakers to assault the listener from every angle. No band combines heaviness and gigantic choruses as effectively, and on Alpha, the transitions between the two sides are more natural than ever. It is as if the band needed an album to work out the songwriting kinks and develop a new chemistry following Lowery’s exit. The new disc gives the musicians more of a chance to shine than any of their previous efforts. On songs such as “Deathstar,” “Clueless” and “Story of Your Life” (my personal favorite), they rock out as never before. This is a metal album through and through.
All 12 songs are worthy additions to the Sevendust catalog, though none jumps out as a potential hit single—and that’s not a bad thing. Sevendust has gotten some attention at radio and MTV over the years with songs like “Angel’s Son” and “Praise,” but they have never been a singles band. Their fans—as devoted a following as there is in music today—know the words to every song, not just those they’ve heard on the radio.
By now, you probably know whether you like Sevendust or not, and that’s not going change no matter how much I praise this album. If you were a fan of the band’s earlier output who was turned off by their last couple releases, you may want to give Alpha a chance. Much of it feels like a cross between Home and Next (though they have never given us anything quite like the nine-minute-plus “Burn”). The songs on this disc build on all of the elements that helped Sevendust make their mark when they stormed onto the scene 10 years ago with “Black” and “Bitch.” It is their most complete album to date. |
