Sevendust
7 Sevendust Realities
Premise #1: If you think your band has a great name, think again. Somebody may already own it.
Reality: Sevendust formed in '94. The Atlanta group's line-up was Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar), John Connolly (guitar), Vince Hornsby (bass) and Morgan Rose (drums). They developed their sound operating under the names Crawlspace and Rumble Fish. They were forced to change their name to Sevendust when a group from the West Coast claimed rights to Crawlspace.
Premise #2: It's extremely difficult for a local band to break into the "big time" without someone who has done it before. Often it's a name musician, producer or manager.
Reality: Sevendust recruited former Twisted Sister lead guitarist Jay Jay French to be their manager. He got the band signed to TVT Records. Later, they moved to Asylum.
Premise #3: It may be brutal but extensive touring yields big results.
Reality: Sevendust toured relentlessly in support of their first album resulting in major radio airplay and a twelve week run at #1 on the U.S. Metal charts. In the ensuing years the group logged over 1,000 concerts around the world.
Prior to the release of their sixth full-length studio album, '07's "Alpha," with lead single, Deathstar," the group launched a 57-date headlining tour. A year later, in support of "Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow," Sevendust embarked on another extensive U.S. tour. Saliva opened most dates with Black Stone Cherry playing the remainder.
Premise #4: After making a series of scorching albums, selling millions of copies, a group records an acoustic live set.
Reality: "Southside Double-Wide Acoustic Live," recorded the previous year arrived in early '04. This followed a series of successful studio albums starting with Sevendust's self-titled debut in '97. Two years down the road "Home" came out, followed by '01 release "Animosity" and '03's "Seasons."
Premise #5: It's always better to work for yourself.
Reality: Sevendust released "Next" in '05. Then they decided to start their own label, 7 Brothers (7Bros.), under Warner Music Group's Asylum/Independent Label Group. "Alpha" was Sevendust's first effort on their own imprint.
Premise #6: Guest artists on your album always draws attention.
Reality: '08's "Chapter VII: Hope And Sorrow" has performances by Daughtry frontman Chris Daughtry ("The Past"), Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy ("Sorrow") and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti ("Hope").
Premise #7: You can 'go home' again.
Reality: Lowery left Sevendust in '04 to join Dark New Day. He was replaced by Sonny Mayo. But when Lowery split from Dark New Day he rejoined Sevendust, resulting in Mayo's departure. "I'm beyond excited about sharing the stage with (Sevendust) again," claimed Lowery. "I wish all the (Dark New Day) guys the best and love them more than words can say." Rose added, "Clint has always been our brother and Sonny will always remain our brother as well."
Sevendust released an '08 limited-edition box set entitled "Packaged Goods" which consisted of "Next," "Alpha," "Retrospective 2 (CD/DVD)" and "Chapter VII: Hope And Sorrow." Each five-disc collection was personally autographed by the entire band.
The following year, Sevendust began work on their eighth album, "Cold Day Memory." Thanks to Lowery's return, the album marked the group's first with its original lineup since '03's "Seasons." From "Cold Hard Memory," which dropped in April, '10, "Unraveling" was a Top 10 Active Rock Radio hit becoming the group's highest charting single to date.
Sevendust Discography
'97: Sevendust
'99: Home
'01: Animosity
'03: Seasons
'04: Southside Double-Wide: Acoustic Live
'05: Best of (Chapter One 1997-2004)
'05: Next
'07: Alpha
'07: Retrospective 2
'08: Chapter VII: Hope And Sorrow
Sevendust rides Witherspoon's vocal barrage and the duel guitar attack of Lowery and Connelly. Tight, pummeling riffs drive the song's dark themes with titles "Broken Down," "Burned Out," "Crucified" and "My Ruin." Despite their success, when Sevendust began there wasn't much that separated them from the pack. As they developed the group began to expand their range - for the better.
Their premier effort is "Seasons." The title track is one of the best songs the group has released. It is both melodic and powerful. Sevendust's core sound is effectively displayed in "Disease" and "Enemy." "Animosity" features "Crucified" which alternates between soft passages and discordant fury. "Home" with "Licking Cream" has Witherspoon at his most vocally expressive as he sings in a higher register than usual. Both albums outshine the group's debut - which is still a pretty solid effort.
Recorded at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, "Southside Doublewide" is an acoustic set but it's still intense. Sevendust rips through their material with "Rumble Fish," "Seasons" and studio bonus track "Broken" having the most impact. However, it's a little silly to pass off a cover of Nine Inch Nails "Hurt" as a tribute to the late Johnny Cash, who recorded a highly acclaimed version of the song.
"Next" is not as furious as previous studio efforts but individual songs are powerful. The set starts just the way a Sevendust CD should - with a torrid screamer. "Hero" is followed by the slower but more rhythmic "Ugly." "Pieces," "Failure," and "See And Believe" are appealing mainstream oriented Rockers while "Silence" and "The Last Song" are down and dirty Nu Metal. Sevendust shows its versatility on a pair of excellent ballads, the telling "This Life" ("new love that I fear") and the closing track "Shadows In Red."
Sevendust are practitioners of heavy, Heavy Metal. The machine gun guitar, roaring vocals - alternating occasionally with sung choruses; the aggressiveness and blistering textures are all brutally in place on "Alpha." The group's trademark sound relents here and there providing a quick change of pace but it hardly matters. Sevendust's audio assault usually runs unabated. While "Deathstar," "Clueless" and "Beg To Differ" will satiate the faithful, "Confessions Of Hatred" is the set's killer.
"Passing through this life with so much regret
It feels like I haven't got over it yet
It takes so long for these wounds to heal"
These lines from "Prodigal Son," the debut single from "Chapter VII: Hope And Sorrow," set the tone. With song titles "Fear," "Lifeless," "Scapegoat" and "Sorrow" it's easy enough to figure out Sevendust's point of view. Guest turns aside, "Chapter VII: Hope And Sorrow" is pure Sevendust where lyrics are ripped into and spat out more often than sung. "The Past," with its acoustic underpinnings and power-ballad motif - to say nothing of Daughtry's contribution - is surprisingly melodic and captivating. So too is "Walk Away" the set's closer. But most everywhere else the group thrashes and shreds with abandon - like a "pop of my elephant gun!" (another line from "Prodigal Son").