NEXT
This is going to be a double-review. Hammer and I both really enjoyed this disc, so prepare to read two drool-fests...
I wish I could figure out why SEVENDUST never made the jump to
super-stardom. They're one of the bands that the whole crop of nu-metal
bands cited as major influences, yet you never saw Sevendust gain the
same noteriety as KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, or PAPA ROACH (and that's just a
handful of the bands who picked up on what SD were doing).
Next is the band's first disc on new label
WineDark,
and marks a new chapter in Sevendust history; one without guitarist
(and songwriter) Clint Lowery. Sonny Mayo, formerly of HED (PE), AMEN,
and SNOT, does a great job of delivering those chunky riffs, and while
I initially thought the songs would suffer without Lowery, this disc
still sounds very much like Sevendust.
Lajon Witherspoon is still very much positioned as the growler/crooner.
His voice shifts from enraged to soulful flawlessly, and is the
signature sound of Sevendust. Morgan Rose's howling is also as pissed
off as ever. The lead off single "Ugly" is a strong track with a very
memorable chorus, and will definitely resonate well with Sevendust
fans. "Pieces" and "Silence" would make excellent follow-up singles. In
the shadow of "Angel's Son" comes "This Life", which proves that these
guys can pull back and deliver a haunting, emotional ballad just as
well as they can rattle your ribcage.
Sevendust may never attain that stadium-filling stardom that some of
their peers have embraced, but they're definitely going to keep
whatever fans they have and generate many more if they continue making
records like
Next.
FoundryMusicHammer's Review:
It was nice to sit down with another SEVENDUST record well ahead of
time. It gives you more time to crank it out and give a more in depth
review. The band has gone through some changes since the last record.
They stepped away from their original record company and went on to
start their own imprint in 7 Bros and recorded their record before they
even got resigned. The other think is that they also split with Clint
who was one major force in the songwriting.
“Hero” opens this record with some great raw punch. Right away more thoughts of the
Animosity
record creep to mind. Nice and heavier the way I like it. “Ugly” brings
some great groove, melody and catchiness without losing the heavy. That
is definitely a track that should kill on radio. “Pieces” brings in the
really harder pounding side of the Dust. Fucking going apeshit people.
The vocals are definitely seriously angry. This could be one of those
breakup songs that comes out great on CD.
“Desertion” digs down in more groove laden sounds and then it then becomes more melodic. Very much more like the
Animosity
record. “Failure” takes us more down the depressive road. A good amount
of power is definitely cranking out here. The pumping starts up again
on the track “Silence”. This song has urgency to it and then gets a bit
more emo but keeps the pace up. The pit dwellers will enjoy dancing top
this one. “This Life” sees them venture in to the mellower world. That
was definitely one of the mellowest songs here.
“See And Believe” takes the music into more effects of space to begin
and then the phat play comes shining through. This track could be a
closet hit as you will hear as it progresses. “The Last Song” isn’t
that at all. More tribal starts it rolling along as it takes form into
a more punky edged stuff. “Never” sees more effects helping open
another of the bands more adventurous experimental sounding songs. This
kinda reminds me of a good cross of the
first record and
Animosity.
An acoustic ending is served on “Shadows In Red”. Sonny Mayo was a
great choice to fill the old shoes left behind. They made it back with
a very strong effort with all said.
