Artist: Sevendust
Label: TVT
Release Date: 8/24/99
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Title: Home Artist: Sevendust Label: TVT Release Date: 8/24/99 |
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Abyss's Review:
The boys from Atlanta return with their sophomore effort just in time for the resurgence of heavy music on MTV (or as close to heavy as they are going to get). With recent success of Korn, Limp Bizkit, and even to some extent, Fear Factory, Sevendust's second album, "Home", could be the vehicle to bring this catchy band into the mainstream. With recent, positive exposure at Woodstock 99, all this band needs is a breakthrough song, and Denial is geared to be just that. I was a little surprised that when, comparing this album with it's predecessor, it seemed to go in the opposite direction one would expect. I was awaiting an album with the same catchy melodies that were present on the first, but more highly polished, probably less guitar oriented, and even more infused with hip-hop. This band, while quite commercial compared to most music I listen to, pleasantly surprised me by sticking with the foundation that was laid out by the debut. "Home" is actually less radio friendly, but still maintains a hookiness that found me humming the melodies hours after I had turned off the disc. I could easily see lead single "Denial", and the female voice-laden "Licking Cream" being played in heavy rotation on MTV, but I can't help thinking that neither have the hit potential that songs like "Bitch", "Too Close To Hate", or "Black" had. Production values are pretty solid (although the guitar sound seems the same on every track), and fans of the genre will most likely disagree with everything I've said. "Home" might have the potential to be one of those albums that will grow on me everytime I hear it, but it's time is quickly running out. I do hope this band does make it, however, because, whether it's my cup of tea or not, I would much rather see the metal youth of today wearing a Sevendust shirt than a Limp Bizkit, or Kid Rock shirt. Put Sevendust up there with Drain STH as bands that deserve some exposure, and actually have a shot.
Photos by Cynthia Pelzner
Rating Revised for Metal Judgment Anniversary
Death's Review:
Are Sevendust metal? I think so. At times their riffs are so Pantera-esque they practically preclude any other categorization. The band even covers a few bars of "Walk" at their live shows. Are they more accessible to the mainstream than core metal acts? Should they be referred to as alterna-metal, not quite worthy of being labeled the real deal? Perhaps you refer calling them metallite? Listening to the new album, "Home," you can’t help but conclude that they kinda deserve the qualifications, yet I have to struggle a bit to articulate exactly what it is that places them on the other side of that line. And therein lies my interest.
Is Sevendust a metal band? More importantly, are they a credible outfit, regardless of their genre? They do have a certain integrity about them, and their show kicks ass. Singer Lajon Witherspoon could teach Frontman 101 at the University of Metal. To quote the band’s own mantra, their Woodstock ’99 performance had such urgency that it seemed to all who saw it that Sevendust really had arrived.
"Is Sevendust a metal band?"
And their self-titled debut rocked. "Bitch," "Black," and Co.’s blend of soulful crooning with shreddingly metallic riffs worked, to a certain degree. Living Color meets Pantera. Not a bad first effort. But you got the sense that the next record could go either way, succumbing to one or the other of the opposite musical forces which seemed to tug at the Atlanta outfit. After almost a year of aggressive and unique marketing efforts from label TVT, Sevendust now find itself in the middle of a hard rock resurgence. Kids are listening to Fear Factory, Kid Rock, Machine Head, Limp Bizkit, Godsmack and Korn. TVT hopes they might simply add Sevendust to that growing list. That "Home" so overtly realizes this possibility is both what makes it a good, but not great, record, yet leaves it pandering to that neo-metal audience too much to expect the hard core metal community to get behind this release in any big way. Unless you’ve got a bit of mainstream tolerance left in you, this one isn’t for you.
Photos by Cynthia PelznerThat said, there are elements of "Home" which kick serious ass, display competent and interesting musicianship and which deserve an audience. Possibilities for radio airplay abound. Commercial opportunity knocked, and Sevendust immediately answered the door. They are right on top of the millenium wave, the choice of a new generation.
If these are the attributes you seek, Sevendust is a bandwagon you’ll want to jump on now before every other MTV-watching twelve-year-old beats you to it.
The album begins with "Home," actually the best track. The opening riff is a quick little thrash gallop, a start-stop rhythmic pick of "Disposable Heroes" type physicality which ends almost as quickly as it begins. Unfortunately, that’s probably the best riff on the record. This album is not about riffage; it’s about songs. And Lajon’s singing. The use of the heavy-wah contrasting with smooth vocals on the opening vocal lines of "Home" really lay down a groove. After you’ve heard the song three times, just try not to shout "frustrated!" along with the second line of the song! See what I mean? Head-banging/pit dancing is absolutely required. The shout-out chorus probably owes royalties to some old Biohazard track, but I won’t tell if you won’t. Catchy, heavy and cool, if the whole album were like "Home" this would be a great record.
"Denial" starts OK for a second, but moves into a really boring chorus. Something is just missing from this track. Surprisingly, this is the single. I guess it’s so mediocre that it’s the most digestible for the masses. This one doesn’t do much for me. I guess there are some nice vocal harmonies. Some Limp Kornish noises round things out. Not that great of a track.
"This album is not about riffage; it's about songs." "Headtrip" sounds a bit mechanized like Fear Factory or Korn. It also sounds heavy. But it has that heavy flange stuff that gives it the ever so subtle dance feel. I do find myself walking around singing "create!" and you will too, if you listen to this album any significant number of times. This is nothing amazing, but one of the better tracks on this record.
"Insecure" is a trippy, movie-soundtrack sounding, and atmospheric intro to "Reconnect," which sounds a lot like the heavy guitar dance groove that they laid down on "Headtrip." Therein lies the major problem; you get quickly bored with the Sevendust sound as the album progresses. About the time "Reconnect" comes on is where the listener first realizes what Sevendust is all about. That said, the first time the line "Another day I feel further from myself," is sung, it has that soulful vibe that the mellow parts of "Bitch" had on the first record. Very cool.
Photos by Cynthia Pelzner"Waffle" starts with a flangey-strummed clean guitar, which alternates with a great, heavy riff. The beautiful vocal line fits perfectly over both. This is a great song. Very catchy. Almost has a Faith No More type feel to it. Everybody is the room will be bobbing up and down to this one. Heavy and cool, this is one of the best songs on this record. Should be a single, but probably won’t be.
"Rumble Fish" busts out with a serious guitar riff right out of the box. Lajon sports his most metal vocals on the record here. Much shouting, almost like new Sepultura. Cool tune. A little Soulfly, a little Sepultura, a tiny rappish, a little hip-hop. But cool. I’d rather have everybody listening to this than Limp Bizkit.
"Licking Cream" stands out as sporting vocals from Skin of Skunk Anansie. She’s good. Nice contrast, cool song. She might be better than Lajon. Very Living Colorish of an underlying song. Very commercial. Perhaps this will get some airplay as a radio single.
"They're heavy and direct, and they know how to kick ass." "Grasp" is a ballad. But it has rhythmically picked riffing low in the mix behind the verses. Cool, huh? Doesn’t totally work, instead the ear is drawn to Lajon’s vocals, and you’re either into his trip or you aren’t. Either way, this one, like the rest has a serious groove. Nice mellow breakdown ending.
"Crumbled" is a techno tune. It sounds like one of those Fear Factory techno remixes from a few years back. There’s a cool metal song under there somewhere, but no on in the studio wanted to let it out.
"Feel So" opens with a great riff segueing into an interesting rhythm. The song is kinda all over the place, and thus, a little boring. But it has some cool parts. The drumming really sets the pace here. Cool tune overall.
"Grasshopper" is a three-second non-song. But by the time "Bender" rolls around, I’m tiring of the metal dance music. This track starts out hitting hard, but in a few seconds becomes just plain boring.
Overall, "Home" is a good record. These guys are somewhat metal, and we should root for them to obtain the commercial success they deserve. But they aren’t anywhere near the core font-line metal battles. Sevendust are draft-dodgers. They take metallic riffs and fuse them with soulful vocals and the occasional dance beat. But they’re heavy and direct, and they know how to kick ass. And, in the grand scheme of things, that’s better than you can say about most bands getting this much attention.
Hel's Review:
This is a strong album from a proficient band. Does it kick my ass? No. Does it get me tappin my toe, and do the songs kinda stick in my head? Yeah. It doesn't rock my world though. I continually seem to find myself focusing less on the songs, and more on, why doesn't that song kick my ass? There's enough substance to make me realize that, in a different combination, it maybe could. I remember that I thought the first album was respectably ass-kicking . . . And it kind of bothers me that this one isn't. All of the songs have their moments. Right this second, I'm about 1/2 way through "Grasp" and there's this great wacka-wacka groovy part, and that's starting to be cool, but then it goes into the next part, the vocals kick in, and it's . . . bleah. And I think that's why I just can't get into this album. I like my metal heavy and "Home" is only kinda heavy.
Photos by Cynthia Pelzner
There are good points, don't get me wrong. There are some truly heavy moments, like the very beginning riff on "Feel So". Certainly, enough of them to keep me listening. There continue to be many songs on this album that are soulful while still heavy. Unfortunately, there are enough bands around with a similar sound these days. There are 2 reasons why that is unfortunate. First, too many of the bands that come to mind, when I make that statement, are crap. Secondly, the result of that, that sound has become much less remarkable than it was at the time their first album came out.
"Why doesn't that song kick my ass?" Regardless, I must ultimately come to the conclusion that I still like the music Sevendust is making, even if it's not everything I would personally look for.
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