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Tracklist
1. Hero
2. Ugly
3. Pieces
4. Silence
5. This Life
6. Failure
7. See and Believe
8. Shadows in Red
9. The Last Song
10. Desertion
11. Never
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Now that Sevendust have ventured out onto their own with their new indie imprint, the group have something to prove. For a band to break ties and get their own thing going when they are as big of an act as Sevendust, it takes balls. 'Next' shows indubitably that the Dust still have what it takes to create the type of metal that is at once forward-thinking and heavy-handed. Lajon gives one of the best performances we've heard since the days of 'Home' on 'Ugly.' He is in the prime of his career as a vocalist and the experience he's gained through years of relentless touring shines through here. It's literally nothing at all for Sevendust to switch between overdriven, open chord grandiosity and soft, ringing acoustic tones overlaid by smooth vocal melodies. This group possesses the ability to fit any type of a sonic personality to the mix, yet still coming out sounding like their ubiquitous selves.
From the roaring, on the edge 'Pieces' to the grinding, almost sleazy 'Failure', Sevendust deliver an appropriate measure of both power and melody, coupling the two in a way that no other band can. 'Silence' breaks out with the type of sharp, chugging riff that has become the band's signature, embellished by another top-notch presence by Witherspoon. This song's chorus is stratosphere reaching and leads to a dramatic breakdown that finally finds Witherspoon returning to interject a spacey set of words during the bridge. More than anything, Sevendust are masters of arrangement and can incorporate a techno beat sandwiched between two steely metal licks as good as any other band attempting this style today.
'This Life' initiates with an eerie mechanical sounding effect, overlaid by some of the intensely passionate vocals on the record. With their Sevendust show a maturity that ensures the band is here to stay for quite awhile. The way in which they pull off a heartfelt track like 'This Life' carves such a notion into stone. By the time they close things out with the soulful acoustic introduction 'Shadows In Red', the realization that you've just listened to one of the best rock-oriented bands in heavy metal. There is an aura about Sevendust that makes the band one that is easy for the listener to connect to and they touch upon topics and emotions that hit home with the fans. At this rate, each step that this band makes must be considered to be a part of the career of one of the most relevant ensembles in popular music today. Discover what's 'Next.'
Review by: Erin Fox
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