Sevendust CD review
Sevendust
Next
(WineDark)
Next finds Sevendust dealing with the departure of guitarist David Lowering, and standing still.
The loss of a key member can tell you a lot about the moxy of a band. One, they can move in the direction that was making the ex nervous; going in headfirst at least shows conviction. Two, it was the former member pressing on, and the band release an album showing their resolve toward sticking with “the formula,” which Sevendust do here. Next is an improbably contrarian title, as the whole album is a display of the melodic, ’90s metal Sevendust symbolize. Lajon Witherspoon does his best to update power prog metal, but Next is ultimately a vacant lot of ideas, needing a successor to clarify exactly what’s meant.
— Steve Forstneger
