Simone Appolloni's Album Reviews
One of the very earliest bands acclaimed in the "nu metal" phenomenon are USA's Sevendust... who, however, sold nowhere near the "big 4" of the genre, and instead, mostly dwelled in the underground, with some singles occasionally charting. Having one of the most solid line-ups in the genre (all members since 1995, apart of two stints with other guitarists, including Snot's Sonny Mayo), they were formed by older veteran members of minor bands (Piece Dogs, Body & Soul and other even less known), released demos in 1994 and issued their self-titled debut in 1997, which sold very few copies on release, but became a sleeper hit with time.
Essentially a brand of Drop B#-tuned rehash of Machine Head, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, with half-melodic mid-tempos with chugging guitar power-chords, melodic choruses tending to Post-Grunge and more aggressive steps into Hip Hop/Metalcore half-growled vocals akin to Pantera (most evident on “Bitch”), some pentatonics derived from Corrosion of Conformity an Black Sabbath (“Terminator”) and phaser-heavy guitar arpeggios with pained balladry (“My Ruin”).
Far more energetic than anything Deftones ever released, Sevendust were seen for decades as an undervalued band that deserved more commercial recognition. This album hasn’t the pioneer-like quality of Korn’s first releases, but sounds nonetheless consistent without delving into excessive monotony, though it suffers of non-incisive vocals too far back in the mix and with rough, barely-in-tune intonation. What would have happened if THEY, and not Deftones had gained the golden throne of the nu metal heritage?
Highlights: “Black”, “Terminator”, “My Ruin”.
Essentially a brand of Drop B#-tuned rehash of Machine Head, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, with half-melodic mid-tempos with chugging guitar power-chords, melodic choruses tending to Post-Grunge and more aggressive steps into Hip Hop/Metalcore half-growled vocals akin to Pantera (most evident on “Bitch”), some pentatonics derived from Corrosion of Conformity an Black Sabbath (“Terminator”) and phaser-heavy guitar arpeggios with pained balladry (“My Ruin”).
Far more energetic than anything Deftones ever released, Sevendust were seen for decades as an undervalued band that deserved more commercial recognition. This album hasn’t the pioneer-like quality of Korn’s first releases, but sounds nonetheless consistent without delving into excessive monotony, though it suffers of non-incisive vocals too far back in the mix and with rough, barely-in-tune intonation. What would have happened if THEY, and not Deftones had gained the golden throne of the nu metal heritage?
Highlights: “Black”, “Terminator”, “My Ruin”.
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