Sevendust
Blood and Stone


4.0
excellent

Review

by Robert Garland STAFF
October 23rd, 2020 | 62 replies


Release Date: 2020 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Kill me.

Two years ago, I publicly voiced my disappointment in Sevendust’s All I See Is War. I may have been in a larger minority, but the problems with that particular record were numerous and consistent - relying on Sevendust’s vocal prowess to carry a listener from beginning to end. As seemingly inoffensive as autopilot Sevendust is, the affront was multiplied by the album’s ability to force every ounce of hook, beat and bland riff into an effortless money making machine - cashing in on the sound that varied with the production values. Two years and a “Covid filled 2020 later” I’m glad I didn’t promise anyone I’d eat my hat if they returned to form because Blood & Stone is that, and more. Frankly, Sevendust’s thirteenth record, rivals the band’s glory days. It’s a statement I don’t exactly want to understate. With a preference to the bands prior works, namely Seasons, Cold Day Memory and newer works such as Black Out The Sun, Sevendust has a tendency be acceptably middling - or in the case of their stale 2018 record... underperform.

2020 sees the Atlantean five-piece rise well above the average, releasing what could very well be, their best album to date.

The album’s opening track, “Dying To Live” hits with the same gusto as Seasons, taking the cutting rhythms that had carried the band thus far into Lajon’s typical melodic vocals and immersing them into a world of natural hooks, catchy rhythms and poignant contextual concepts. More importantly, are the musical inclusions of Clint Lowery. It could be said that the guys behind Lajon’s towering vocals were guilty of middling, lack-luster, mundane but completely acceptable instrumentals - occasionally self-plagiarizing to the point of excess but Lowery’s Blood & Stone efforts border on inspiring guitar interplay, a vast improvement from previous efforts. The title track is especially definitive of this point. Surging riffs slam through melancholic notes, linking melody into deliberate pauses where Lajon’s typical power centers the group’s efforts before returning to familiar riffs.

Despite the new album’s strong start, Blood & Stone is arguably stronger in its second half. Whether it’s the somber, yet triumphant “Criminal” or the pensive, somehow hopeful lyrics of “Kill Me”, Sevendust reaffirm their place amongst Atlanta’s most recommendable music groups. Understandably, the group centers around Lajon’s talent with the microphone, but there's subtle nuance here that couples with the strong chorus hooks, melodic verses and hitting rhythms from Vince Hornsby (bass) and Morgan Rose (drums). Take the chorus sections from “Nothing Left To See Here Anymore” for example. The hook runs secondary to the song’s emotive lyrics, instrumentally lifting on the chorus lines without falling into the trap of bludgeoning the listener with the track title over and over again. Sure, the lyrical hook dominates the end of the song, but for the most part it's latent, sitting in the background as a reminder rather than a feature. “Against The World” continues the record’s tendency to be a treat to long-time fans, taking to cutting through the more somber aspects of the album’s atmosphere. Both the song’s lyrical and instrumental phrasings are more abrupt, sharper - but returns to the band’s tendency to crawl back into a hook driven anthem.

“Wish You Well” helps close the record on a high, taking a hopeful, defiant stance delivered in a message transferable and relevant to the fans who hear it. Whether it’s a charge at critics, life’s challenges or toxic situations, Sevendust closes the album with a strong message: we were born to be bold. Most listeners’ first taste of the record however came in the form of “The Day I Tried To Live”, a Soundgarden cover to offer tribute to the late Chris Cornell. The track itself doesn’t offer too much in terms of individuality, but personally I’d like to think that’s the intended effect. Sevendust doing Soundgarden as Sevendust is right what was needed when compared to such a prolific face in music gone by.

As a whole, it’s both easy and difficult to see how All I See Is War could transform into this magnificent piece of mainstream metal but two years later. Sevendust, for the most part simply turned a switch and hopped off autopilot. Sure, there’s no mistaking just how “Sevendust” Blood & Stone actually is, a quick look through the best of the band’s back catalogue highlights their modern day enjoyability while releasing approachable, accessible and even radio friendly forays into modern metal.



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user ratings (126)
3.3
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
October 23rd 2020


18282 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

So yeah, I 4'd this and feel no shame. Everything is good in the world again.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
October 23rd 2020


32218 Comments


Nice, I smell a 3.5 at best cause I'm old grumpy man but I'll dive in.

keaton_86
October 23rd 2020


907 Comments


Listening to the first song now - I like that drums actually sound real and not quantized to death.

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
October 23rd 2020


10469 Comments


Huh, interesting. I remember enjoying their singles, I think. May jam.

Toondude10
October 23rd 2020


15270 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

their last album was a disappointment so here's hoping this is better



the fact that Nocte has this at a 4 is a good sign

Sowing
Moderator
October 23rd 2020


44633 Comments


Gave this a quick spin and the vocals really weren't for me, kind of generic instrumentally too, but then again I have no background with this band and have no idea what they're about. Good review!

Toondude10
October 23rd 2020


15270 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Lajon isn't the easiest vocalist to get into tbh



so far this is pretty good though.

Toondude10
October 23rd 2020


15270 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

yeah this is their best album imo, very good stuff

teamster
October 23rd 2020


6304 Comments


I haven't listened to this band since they were force-fed in the early 2000's on our local rock station which I swear to god was a grunge metal outpost. Nocte, I will check this only because you said so.

Beardog
October 23rd 2020


5417 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

guess I have to check?

William21
October 23rd 2020


931 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Perhaps I'll need another couple listens but this isn't much better than their last one to me

piroga84
October 23rd 2020


366 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

killer staff, i didn't expect this at all

Voltimand
October 23rd 2020


1670 Comments


Lajon sounds great as ever. Album is surprisingly enjoyable, can hear the Seasons comparison a bit.

Still, I always wish these guys would play something a little more complex than 00s alt-metal, as good as they are at it.

henryChinaski
October 23rd 2020


5100 Comments


Interesting, might give this a try. Haven't listened to their last two or three records.

ignorethefashion
October 23rd 2020


137 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

There are some bland autopilot choruses on here, but thankfully there's a handful of standouts too. Lajon sounds especially good, and I thought the production was punchy on first listen.

cloakanddagger
October 23rd 2020


769 Comments


Haven't listened to this album in its entirety just yet but the singles I've heard from it are definitely an improvement over the last album.
Lajon sounds great as always, dude is approaching 50 and still sounds pretty much the same as he did back in 1999.

Gmork89
October 23rd 2020


8786 Comments


He's definitely a standout in this genre, really powerful and charismatic voice.

Durrzo
October 23rd 2020


3457 Comments


Enjoying this quite a bit, it's miles better than their last release.

InFlamesWeThrash666
October 23rd 2020


10589 Comments


t/t is pretty cool might check the rest

bloodshy
October 23rd 2020


2763 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

been a fucking minute since i've listened to sevendust, and i don't remember anything new from them at all...



pleasantly shocked. nothing groundbreaking here in the slightest, but it's so fucking tight



hoping some of these choruses grow on me, cuz it has a pleasant sound for sure



great review, too. spot on from what i can hear



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