| Rise Records, October 23, 2020 |
Tracklist
1. Dying to Live
2. Love
3. Blood From a Stone
4. Feel Like Going On
5. What You've Become
6. Kill Me
7. Nothing Left To See Anymore
8. Desperation
9. Criminal
10. Against the World
11. Alone
12. Wish You Well
13. The Day I Tried to Live
Twelve albums in, Sevendust has little to prove. The band long ago established their longevity and status as a respected and influential alternative metal group. However, while Sevendust has gained a dedicated fanbase, they've remained slightly below the radar for an active rock band that's been around since the late 1990s. In their earlier years, Sevendust was known for being one of the first prominent African-American fronted alternative metal bands at the time. Lajon Witherspoon and his powerful, soul-influenced vocals have given the band a distinctive, unmistakable sound. Looking at the track titles, one might assume the band to be in a state of turbulence and internal conflict, but that is not the case. In actuality they get along well, and Sevendust's lineup of five has remained remarkably steady over the years. The only change came in 2005 when guitarist Clint Lowery left temporarily and Sonny Mayo took his place for three albums.
Blood & Stone is not as intense as its predecessor, All I See is War, which was heavy and riff-driven on eleven of twelve songs. Tracks like "Dying to Live", "Kill Me" and "Blood From a Stone" are fairly standard Sevendust songs similar to previous material on Cold Day Memory or Black Out the Sun. These tracks are solid for what they are but don't deviate from the band's previously established sound. "Desperation" is a spiritual, passionate track where Lajon sings about the desire to be free and finding a place to breathe. It's unclear whether these references are in the context of an interpersonal relationship or addressing society at large, but they could easily apply to both. Sevendust has had a larger social message of antiracism and unity from the very beginning with "Black", the first track on their self-titled debut and a quote that appeared inside the album credits.
Other songs are focused on melody and hooks. The fourth track, "Feel Like Going On" is the album's first power ballad of sorts. "Alone" is reminiscent of the direction Sevendust took on Seasons. Lajon's singing drives the track and the backing music stays restrained until the bridge. Another slower, Seasons-style song "Criminal" pairs its frustrated lyrics with a moody post-grunge/nu-metal guitar sound. Now these songs are nothing I would describe as "arena ready" hooks but left to their own devices, Sevendust have never aimed for being commercial anyway. They are focused on making great music together. The most accessible cut is their cover of Soundgarden's "The Day I Tried to Live", which has been pushed as a radio single.
Overall Blood & Stone offers a strong performance from everyone involved. Guitarist Clint Lowery has been an integral part of the band's quality since his return from a three-album absence. He does seem to have a more significant role on here as a backup vocalist for Lajon, with "Love" being the song where he is the most prominent. Lowery has stayed busy with his own solo material, releasing both an album and an EP earlier this year. The same could be said for drummer Morgan Rose, who has a solo EP on the way this year. The album does not have any songs that stand out as being bad or unappealing, with the weaker tracks simply being average at worst. Sevendust maintain all elements of their signature sound. They don't deviate from what works for them, though it is clear growth and change has happened when you look back at their discography. In contrast to the passionate and often vitriolic lyrics on albums like Alpha and Animosity, subsequent albums used swearing sparsely, some dropping it altogether. You get the sense that the band achieved a real catharsis on Alpha and would not write an album that angry again. Progression is vital for a band to stay relevant over time. Sevendust has maintained their core sound, not losing what made them a prominent band in the alternative metal scene, while growing and maturing along the way. Blood & Stone earns a score of 9/10.
