Amazon.com: Alpha, the latest outing from this veteran act is both good and maddening. Good because many of the riffs and the songs to which they are affixed are driven by an element of boogie––for lack of a better term––too often absent from contemporary metal. Maddening because the group often cops out and trades in original and challenging ideas for the expected mid-song freak outs that will no doubt send listeners over the brink once the band takes the stage but do little but inspire passive listening in the current setting. As good as Sevendust may be on the stage, this is the studio and they owe it to listeners to create an experience that will last them a lifetime. A few more risks and less of an allegiance to brute force may serve this band well as it does in the more subtle moments of "Deathstar" and "Driven." ––Jedd Beaudoin
Sevendust again I absolutely LOVE this album! Great music for working out and running, that's for sure. Some people have the nerve to call this recycled rock in the vein of Nickelback- whoever puts Sevendust in the same sentence with Nickelback should get pistol whipped across the face. Yes, Sevendust toured with Creed back in the day. Yes they collaborated with Daughtry and Alter Bridge on the new album. The music on Alpha is simply awesome- I wouldn't recommend playing this for your first date or anything like that- but it's a good listen given the right situation/application. If you heard Driven on the radio and that's the first time you ever heard Sevendust, don't go out and buy Alpha. I got into Sevendust a year ago via the debut, then progressed. I think that Alpha is some of the heaviest and most angry music by Sevendust and that equates to some of Sevendust's best music to me. Anyone who has hesitated to buy this cd should no longer do so- pick up yours today!
STOP SCREAMING IN EVERY SONG!!! I love this band from the beginning, but you're losing me with the idiotic screaming. What's the deal? You're way too good to fall into this new metal screamfest. ANNOYING!! Love the first record, Home, Seasons, The acoustic set, Next is decent but I find this record almost unlistenable. Sorry.
10 years later and Sevendust are stonger than ever I've been a big fan of Sevendust for almost seven years now. They are one of metal's most likeable and most hard working bands as well as one of the most underrated bands in hard rock and metal. The latest offering from Sevendust 2007's "Alpha" is the band's heaviest, strongest and best album to date thus far and it's already up there with their classic 1997 self titled debut and 1999's "Home". This album definately proves that after ten long years Sevendust are still going strong, and these guys definately play straight from their hearts and believe me this album is indeed proof, and I applaud them for that. "Alpha" is just loaded with powerful vocals, heavy chunky guitar riffs, thudering rhythms, strong driving basslines and powerful heart pounding drumwork. Lajon Witherspoon's vocals are just flat out amazing as always. His melodic singing is just beautiful and soulful and his screams and growls are very fierce and angry as well. John Connolly and Sonny Mayo's guitar riffs are very heavy and chunky throughout and they even thrown in some nice solos as well (especially on track four "Feed"). Vince Hornsby's basslines are driving and strong enough to give you a pulse throughout. Morgan Rose's drumming on here is just powerful and he also does a nice job with plenty of solid double bass kicks too.
Here's a look at some of my favorite songs here on "Alpha"
"Deathstar" is an aggressive heavy opener that features brutal chunky riffs, walloping drums and some fierce vocals from Lajon. Track two "Clueless" features some nice melodic singing vocals, heavy churning riffs and even some fast pounding thrashy drums around the 2:10 mark as well as near the end. "Driven" is my favorite song on here as well as the album's first single which features some more heavy riffage and fast pouncing drums as well as some angry verses that give way to catchy soulful choruses. Track four "Feed" is another highlight that features a couple of nice melodic guitar solos and some slamming double bass chops during the chorus. The fifth track "Suffer" features a powerful rocking drum beat as well as some more chunky heavy riffs and another catchy melodic chorus. Track eight "Story of Your Life" is another heavy hitter that features some heavy machine gun like riffs and more great double bass drum chops, while track ten "Aggression" includes a nice Nine Inch Nails-esque piano intro and anohter nice guitar solo is included as well. Another huge highlight on here is the 9 minute long epic "Burn" that shifts from a nice calm restraining intro to a killer mid section that features a barrage of blasting fiery riffs and beautiful soulful singing choruses to a lengthy outro that features some nice calm piano keys, tribal drums, accoustic chords and some dreary vocals. The closing title track is a blasting in your face thrasher that features an onslaught of angry sounding vocals, fast pounding drums and heavy chunky brutal riffage to boot. Please read on for my song ratings. Jeremy's song ratings: 1. Deathstar (3:40) - 5/5 2. Clueless (3:51) - 5/5 3. Driven (3:48) - 5/5 4. Feed (3:39) - 5/5 5. Suffer (3:52) - 5/5 6. Beg to Differ (4:01) - 5/5 7. Under (3:15) - 5/5 8. Story of Your Life (4:11) - 5/5 9. Confessions of Hatred (4:11) - 5/5 10. Aggression (4:26) - 5/5 11. Burn (9:04) - 5/5 12. Alpha (3:45) - 5/5
Overall if you're a fan of Sevendust, hard rock, heavy metal, alternative metal, or just good music in general, then by all means you must buy this album. Well, enjoy!!
The Sevendust Disappointment The new album "alpha" sounds like a completely different band. I understand that Sevendust has changed quite a bit since their debut album that was self titled. I don't necessarily think it was a great decision to change but I bought and kept and still listen to every sevendust album ever recorded besides "alpha" Lejon has the best voice in the genre of rock. He has the tough and aggressive vocals that can be changed to the greatest singing voice in rock. I felt like this album completely wasted this talent by using way too much of Morgan's vocals and not Lejon's. Morgan does not have good vocals for screaming or singing. Sevendust does not need two vocals or three vocals when you have Lejon. I tolerated Morgan's voice in the album "next" but "alpha" just has way too much of his vocals. I give this album 1 star because there is not enough Lejon and too much Morgan vocals.
For anyone who has never listened to Sevendust before... I listen to Sevendust to feel the energy, the heart and the soul that they pour into their music. With every beat in each song you can feel the power of those effects growing stronger. It's easy to tell that each member of the band is there because they love the music they make and can't wait to share it with anyone willing to listen. And if you ever see them live all of the notions I have expressed will only become more evident. Obviously I would recommend any of their albums, but this is certainly one of my favorites.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
