Lessons In Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

It was barely one year ago. Yes, it has only been 13 months since Sevendust released there last album, Alpha. I remember making the statement that if this was their sixth installment, I definitely could not wait until the aptly titled Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow.

Needless to say, one can only imagine whether the come-abouts with Sevendust were either preconceived, self-fulfilling prophecy or mere coincidence.

A little lost? How about I catch you up.

Roughly 3-4 days before Hope and Sorrow dropped, Morgan Rose (drums) broke the news that Clint Lowery (Sevendust / Dark New Day guitarist) had, in fact, returned to the band; this also meant that his replacement, Sonny Mayo (guitars), would be making a rather quiet exit from the band.

One could say that the "Hope" part of the albums title refers to the fact that Clint made his return to the band and finally, this group of self-proclaimed brothers was back together. Rose made it clear that it felt like the band lost its most integral part in the interview and Lajon Witherspoon (vocals) has supported this in the days since.

"Sorrow" could stand for the fact that the band must say good-bye to a great friend in Sonny, a friend who stepped in quietly and just helped the band through their roughest period (the Next album) and also helped the band see critical acclaim and return to their roots (Alpha).

Take the album's lead single, "Prodigal Son". The laid-back groove of this song sounds unlike anything Sevendust has ever recorded, and the lyrics are almost the heralding of Clint's return. The solo in this song harkens back to "Black", and the way last verse and outro are just slickly recorded music.

Ahh, regardless of all this conspiracy theory, the fact remains that there is a new Sevendust album bestowed upon us. And this time around, the boys from Atlanta are primed to create an album that you cannot put down.

Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow (here-after referred to as HAS) is much different than the audio-assault that was Alpha. Where as Alpha was a return-to-form album full of heavy riffs intent on blistering your mind out of sheer intensity, HAS is a challenging piece of work comparable to the band third effort, Animosity. The difference being that HAS welcomes a new level of risk for Sevendust.

For example, take the track "Fear". Opening with some faint piano notes and some bells ringing in the background, the opening riff fires off and carries the song throughout (the chorus doesn't strike, but builds). Vocal work in this song is very nice, plenty of backing vocals. The song continues to build, right into a soft bridge followed by a nice solo. The song heads into another verse, followed by Rose singing a verse before Witherspoon erupts into an epic final chorus, which takes the song to a whole different level. This is how a song rides off into the sunset.

The band takes another risk on "Lifeless". An industrial intro starts us off before a very rocking mid tempo riff rolls in with the first verse. The pre-chorus sounds like the song is about to explode and it does...into an acoustic chorus! Yes, an acoustic chorus. Talk about a curveball. "Constrict my hands around you, you'll never breathe again." The electrics finally kick in the third time around as this song flows into a short grind it out solo.

HAS also features guests on three different tracks as well. "Hope" features Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) on guitars. The riff displayed in this song is very different from anything I've ever heard Sevendust play (even Alter Bridge for that matter), but the solo and breakdown section of this song is this awesome, as it sounds like it could be heard in the midst of a horror movie.

"The Past" sees Chris Daughtry (Daughtry) share the vocal stage with Witherspoon on the bands best ballad since "Skeleton Song". Electric guitars and acoustics both blend together seem-lessly as Witherspoon and Daughtry trade off the vocals with such harmony, particularly at the end and on the bridge.

"Sorrow" has a very low-tuned sound to it, almost down a methodically slow pace. Witherspoon starts it off, but Myles Kennedy (also of Alter Bridge) takes this song over after the first chorus and let me say, his vocal work is amazing. The string accompaniment in this song is well suited and the guitars sound so epic; you rise with their highs and sink with their lows. Highlight of the song is the guitar with Kennedy on the bridge. Beautiful work here.

At this point, one may wonder if the album ever just flat out rocks. Fear not, because Sevendust also delivers in that fashion as well.

Tracks like "Inside" and "Scapegoat" are what you come to expect from Sevendust with a few tricks thrown in here and there. "Scapegoat" has an eerie industrial intro the cues the first verse. Then the song rolls into an awesome verse. "I breathe. I bleed. I'm here to show you all my mistakes." And from there on, the song explodes into a great riff. Very nice drumming here as well.

"Inside" sounds like Nine Inch Nails meets Sevendust as we are treated to a minute plus intro before the song erupts into a full-on hard rocking explosion. Guitars, drums, bass, its all booming here as this song is every bit as heavy as anything they've ever wrote. Then, the chorus rolls along and sounds like it could have been found on the Seasons album. Excellent song.

"Contradiction" has that sound like it could have been on the band's Self-Titled first album, and even the vocal delivery matches. "Enough" feels like it could have fit on the Home album with its pounding rhythm and driving riffage. This song has that feel that it could be added to the live show set list.

Closing out the album is "Walk Away", a six-minute plus song that balances between thundering verses and one of their most melodic and hook-filled choruses ever. The piano-based outro will remind you of "Burn" from Alpha and is the perfect way to say good-bye and play me again.

Lajon has never sounded better singing, as he goes from soulful to melodic throughout this album. And many props to John Connolly, who has never sounded better with his guitar playing (I love the Dean guitars!) Sevendust continues to find ways to progress their musical sound. They manage to find a medium between heaviness and melody and press that pulse for all she is worth. Top notch work lies within. Another great album from the 'dust.