SEVENDUST “BURN” THROUGH THREE MEDIOCRE ALBUMS WITH THIS ONE GEM

It was interesting reading through the comments of Axl’s post about Sevendust’s new song a while back; out of those of you who didn’t predictably slam Sevendust outright, most of you seemed to think that of the three Sonny Mayo-era albums 2007’s Alpha was the best. And I’d have to agree. But furthermore, if Alpha were a record or a tape Side B would be the best thing the band did in their Clint Lowery-less years. Though the proverbial Side B starts with much of the stock Sevendust songage present on the rest of this album (and Next and Chapter VII), things start to take a turn for the better with “Confessions of Hatred,” a catchy up-tempo rocker with a vintage 7D feel. “Aggression” follows in the same vein. But it’s really “Burn,” the 9-minute long epic that’s the piece de resistance.

“Burn” is easily is the best track Sevendust ever wrote without Clint Lowery in the band; it would’ve been interesting to see how the band could’ve used this track as a jumping-off point for more experimental music with their next album, but unfortunately Chapter VII just brought more of the same old same old. Now that Cold Day Memory has brought the band back from the doldrums (bless you, Clint Lowery!) it’s a moot point, but I still enjoy this song.

-VN