“Alpha” is the sixth album from American rockers Sevendust. If you live in the United States or Canada you will have been listening to this album since March 2007 so for many this album isn’t exactly a new release. If however you live in the United Kingdom the only way to obtain this album was as an import. All that has now changed as “Alpha” gets a “proper” release complete with two bonus tracks.

Sevendust have never hidden their opinions or shied away from intense subject matter and “Alpha” carries on the tradition of music that means something and carries a fair bit of clout. Opening track “Deathstar” kicks things off in fine style with its solid guitar riffs and crushing drums. If ever a song was made for leaping around and letting off steam this is it. One can easily imagine the mosh pits “going for it” when one listens to this track.

There is a lot of controlled energy being released on this album especially on tracks like “Driven” and “Beg To Differ” which sees the band digging deep and pulling off music that is arranged for maximum impact. If you want rock that swaggers but stays just the right side of edgy take a listen to “Suffer” with its dense layers of guitars and vocals that are at times positively in your face.

For this reviewer “Confessions Of Hatred” is a real highlight with its groove that is funky and yet tough. The way the vocals go from intense and angst ridden to pure and heartfelt works a treat on this track and imparts an almost epic like sense of occasion to proceedings.

The albums most diverse track is “Burn” which sees the band playing out of their skins on the first half of the song before taking things down for a musically introspective second half. Everything feels sincere and heartfelt and the overall result is music that moves the listener deep inside.

One thing for sure is that “Sevendust” fans that haven’t yet had the pleasure of hearing this album are in for a treat. There is absolutely no filler to be heard anywhere on this release. The album sounds sonically superb and the individual performances and song arrangements are excellent. It’s very much business as usual for the band and in using an over used cliché one could say that “rocking is their business and business is good”.

Let us know your views on Alpha

Track Listing

Deathstar
Clueless
Driven
Feed
Suffer
Beg To Differ
Under
Story Of Your Life
Confessions Of Hatred
Aggression
Burn
Alpha
The Rim
Abuse Me

Line Up

Lajon Witherspoon – Vocals
John Connolly – Guitars
Sonny Mayo – Guitars
Vinnie Hornsby – Bass
Morgan Rose – Drums