Alpha, the new album from Sevendust due out March 6, 2007, marks the bands sixth studio album and a return to its origins for the band members and their legions of followers. Sevendust found themselves right where it all started in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Crammed into the same rehearsal-writing room at RTM which spawned their ground breaking 1997 self titled debut containing classics like “Black,” and “Bitch.” There in the humble beginnings and stomping grounds where it all began, they brewed up twelve woven tracks blending in a new innovative crunch with that infamous, ferocious throat. Gone are the acoustic guitars and overt electronic inflection of the last couple records and reenter the raw honest complexity of the Home years. Recorded at Tree Sound Studios with long time friend and co-producer/engineer Shawn Grove, Alpha was born.
Indeed conceptual in nature, Sevendust explores the recesses of the mind and the torturous conflict within the question, Can I possibly continue, or…? Deep are the extremely personal revelations inscribed upon a raw and uncompromising landscape that is, Alpha. From the blood-curdling vocal introduction of the first track “Deathstar,” the listener knows it’s old school Sevendust on a collision course with a fresh burning ingredient to obliterate, even if the victim may come from within.
Morgan Rose’s insight into Alpha: “There’s a fine line in life between self pity and being happy with what you have. I have been forced to reveal the torture I/We have faced in the last twenty months. I no longer look at the glass as half full but as half empty. I am thankful I have this opportunity to unload through the concept of this record, for I am not sure where I would be without it. In less than two years we have lost a guitar player, experienced extreme label drama, I lost my grandfather, watched my dad go to prison and suffered through a divorce. I don’t expect everyone to understand me, the why, or how, but what I do know, is almost everyone has a limit and must deal with too much on their plate. Ultimately they run the risk of hurting internally.”
Sevendust attack their issues head on with Alpha, exposing themselves to the masses for the world to see and judge. A quote from “Clueless” describes their agonizing ride without reward; “The trains arrive’n with the goodies I’m entitled to. All this time I never got what I deserved… Why Me?” Tracks like “Story of Your Life” deal with mental conflict within, rejection and a temporary release. On “Driven,” Sevendust sing “I’m driven to keep myself alive” this lyric takes on special meaning in the context of the track “Confessions of Hatred” while they contemplate action as a release to the inevitable query in question. “Under,” the least aggressive song of the twelve is powerful both musically and lyrically. It’s the one piece of poetry, the one moment in the story that neither deals with the torment within the mind, nor the aggravated decision to take action. The pace quickens to the soon to be Sevendust classic, “Beg to Differ” only to lead to the manic depressive state depicted in the entanglement of a pure emotion found in tracks, “Aggression” and “Burn.” The album closes with unadulterated brutality and chaotic exit of its twelfth and final composition, “Alpha.”
Responsible in part for the reemergence of the “heavy” movement in the mid to late nineties, while amassing in their own right over four million records sold, Sevendust has gone back to the source, its origins but perfected it now on their ten year anniversary. Raising the bar of ferocity, redefines the term power, while delving into the frantic mind, and places on display for the world to see their palate of songmanship bred of wonton aggression with a dash of soaring lyric all within an offering that bleeds pure… Sevendust.
Sevendust and their wholly owned record label, 7Bros. Records, announced on December 6, 2006, a partnership with Asylum Records, part of Warner Music Group and Warner-Electra-Atlantic (WEA) distribution.
The Alpha packaging contains a keepsake DVD content containing both live and studio footage, discussions of the conceptual nature of the album, the changes in their material direction, as well as the recording process itself and the co-producer team of Shawn Grove, John Connolly and Morgan Rose; the new partner Warner Music Group, and the resilience needed to endure, and the will to destroy everything...
Track Listing:
1. Deathstar
2. Clueless
3. Driven
4. Feed
5. Suffer
6. Beg To Differ
7. Under
8. Story Of Your Life
9. Confessions Of Hatred
10. Aggression
11. Burn
12. Alpha
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