Sevendust Unveil Crushing Cover of Soundgarden’s “The Day I Tried to Live”

Just last week Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery told The MetalSucks Quarantinecast that Sevendust had long ago finished their next album but needed to figure out how to proceed with it on account of the setbacks the coronavirus pandemic has handed us all. Either the band figured that out in a hurry, Clint was playing coy with us, or today’s release serves as a standalone track not connected to an album… but either way, the band is back with their newest single, a devastating cover of Soundgarden’s “The Day I Tried to Live.”

A press release says that “The band chose the song to return to the airwaves with after seeing the societal changes happening around the globe. The lyrical message of learning to live a better life is as relevant today as they were when the song was first released in 1994.”

Frontman Lajon Witherspoon said about the track:

“Soundgarden is such an important band to all of us in Sevendust and this love for them goes all the way back to when we were starting. We discussed trying to do one of their songs and our producer Elvis [Baskette] suggested ‘The Day I Tried To Live.’ I would have been fine with any of those songs personally. When I first heard it, I thought the lyrics were timeless. The lyrics are about trying to experience new things and change the way you live, and we see examples of that every day with what is happening around the world. To have the chance to cover this song and release it is so special to all of us. Thank you, Chris Cornell and Soundgarden.”  

Sevendust’s treatment of the classic is decidedly heavier than the original. I’m really into the production — the guitars are thick and gnarly while tuned a bit lower than the original — and Lajon’s vocal approach, big and boisterous, mixed up front, would make Chris Cornell proud.

Check it out below. The song is available for purchase now at http://Riserecords.lnk.to/TheDayITried.