Review: Sevendust - 'Alpha'
Posted: 11 February 2007
Contributed By: Nick
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Overview: If there was one word to describe the past few years of Sevendust's repertoire, it would be evolutionary. Clint Lowery, the architect behind Sevendust's signature riffs, exited the group in late 2004 to join Dark New Day; Sevendust wasted no time filling the void left by Lowery's departure, replacing him with longtime companion Sonny Mayo of Snot/Amen fame. The band hit the studio and in October 2005, Sevendust released their first post-Clint opus entitled 'Next', which showcased a more raw and fierce direction for the Atlanta, Georgia natives. Not long after its release, Sevendust severed ties with Winedark Records and were left without a label for several months. Nevertheless, Sevendust returned to the studio and eventually landed a deal with Asylum Records to release their newest offering 'Alpha' in March of this year. The band is currently out on a headlining trek with Diecast, Invitro, and Red on select dates.
The Good: After several repeated listens, my most thorough description of 'Alpha' would be to take Sevendust's 2001 album 'Animosity', throw it in a blender with Killswitch Engage's 'The End of Heartache', and hit stir. 'Alpha' proves that Sevendust show no signs of slowing down, as melody and energy are all the rage for the disc's entirety. The album kicks off with the roaring stomp of "Deathstar" which is followed by the dynamic and highly textured "Clueless", which ceases with an envious pummel. The first single off 'Alpha' entitled "Driven" insinuates at styles found on the band's debut, offering a more nostalgic and raw feel to the album. Lajon Witherspoon's vocal work is immaculate on 'Alpha' as the prophetic "Confessions of Hatred" and the potential smash "Under" pay testament. Morgan Rose lets his double bass work run a muck, and adds a forceful punch to the consistent bite and breakdown of "Beg to Differ" and the epic "Feed", which showcases a power metal-esque guitar feel left absent on previous Sevendust records. The beauty of 'Alpha' is found in several of the track's choruses, most specifically in the gorgeous vibe of "Burn", a nine minute progressive opus that finds Sevendust implementing bongos, egg shakers, and rain sticks to create an atmospheric shimmer. The album closes with the title track "Alpha", which serves as one of Sevendust's heaviest and enraged tracks to date. 'Alpha' also highlights the crafty bass work of Vinnie Hornsby and gives Morgan Rose's screams more attention.
The Bad: Sevendust have never been a band to fall into a lulled and cliché trance, but with 'Alpha', one can't help but feel as though each song bleeds right into the next. Although each song could stand on its own, the collection of twelve tracks on 'Alpha' might be hard to differentiate after a few listens. Some of the riffs sound dated and uninspired, almost as if they were "returning to their roots" a tad too much. "Story of Your Life" is an easy miss, displaying the oddity of weak vocal work by Morgan Rose. Sevendust's venture into the world of metal breakdowns and solos is still in its elementary stages, as many of the band's moments where they venture off in a new direction are questionable and awkwardly placed at times. Several of cuts from 'Alpha' open and close far too similarly, which could without a doubt throw listeners off and detract from each song's urgency and potency.
Bottomline: Sevendust are true warriors, having been bounced from label to label, watching one of their founding members walk, and still managing to press on a construct another enjoyable album with 'Alpha'. The band are easy to adapt to the change in times and 'Alpha' shows growth from the band musically and lyrically. Although 'Alpha' is somewhat sandbagged by an overly consistent and predictable approach, one can't help but smile and know that Sevendust have expanded and continued to produce quality records for a decade and counting. Whenever 'Alpha' feels lacking, there is always a pick-me-up further down the road, proving that Sevendust know how to keep their listeners on their toes and ready for anything. One can't help but listen to 'Alpha' and smile, as it proves that Sevendust are here to stay, no matter what obstacles the band has to overcome in the process.
Rating:
8 out of 10