Sevendust gained immediate attention with their self-titled debut thanks to huge metal anthems "Black" and "Bitch," still two of the band's finest songs. 1999 had the Atlanta hard rockers seeking further acclaim and credibility with their follow-up Home. While not a spectacular album, Home is a solid effort that earned the band more fans and respect. Sevendust were clearly here to stay.

Home is definitely a more polished work than their previous album. But just because it's sonically crisper does not mean the band skimped on heaviness. Lajon Witherspoon's vocals are cleaner than before, but they are just as ferocious, his husky growls perfectly matching the chugging guitar riffs. Though he's certainly no crooner (at least not on this album), Witherspoon manages to sing clearly enough to make even his fiercest roars melodic.

As heavy as this album is, melody is still one of its key components. Sevendust have made a career of making loud, gritty metal that's still easy to sing along with. Home's most melodic track is "Licking Cream," which has Witherspoon trading lines with former Skunk Anansie singer Skin. Her lovely, soaring vocals work well amidst the thick, crunching metal and provide an ahead-of-its-time sound that wouldn't become popular until Evanescence's arrival four years later. A more recognizable guest appearance comes courtesy of Deftones frontman Chino Moreno whose tortured drones provide a cool contrast with the beefier vocals of Witherspoon and drummer Morgan Rose.

Several other tracks show Sevendust creating big, anthemic songs on their own. "Waffle" was a short-lived hit but still a favorite of mine mainly due to its huge refrain that makes you want to clench both fists and shout along: "Bring me a light / Make my life worth something more!" Other tracks such as "Denial" and "Headtrip" provide equal parts aggression and melody as Witherspoon's soulful growls are peppered with more raging shouts from Rose. Lyrically, Home contains a truckload of pain and anger to match the hostility of the music, though a few uplifting moments manage to shine through such as the perseverance described in "Crumbled" ("Wipe my face / Get up again!").

Home doesn't have quite enough variation in the songs to make it a truly standout album; that problem would be remedied with subsequent releases. For the time being, Home was all it needed to be: a solid sophomore effort that showed this band had plenty of fire left after a quality debut. Home is a must-have for Sevendust fans and a good intro to this unique and hard-working metal outfit.


Also from Sevendust:

Sevendust
Animosity
Seasons
Next
Alpha


Recommended: Yes