Sevendust – Truth Killer
Released: July 28th, 2023
Lineup:
Lajon Witherspoon – Vocals
Clint Lowery – Guitar & Vocals
John Connolly – Guitar & Vocals
Vince Hornsby – Bass & Vocals
Morgan Rose – Drums & Vocals
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30 years is a long time to be in a band. Most bands don’t make it that far in the slightest and the vast majority of those that do are just touring hits from their hay day and living comfortably in the ‘legacy act’ space, rather than trying to modernise their sound or push themselves creatively. Sevendust is very much the antithesis of this notion and with album 14 Truth Killer, they sound just as inspired and creatively juiced up as ever.
It’s been wonderful to hear Sevendust’s sound evolve over the last three decades. From beginning as a band firmly lumped into the nu-metal genre to becoming the refined and powerful songwriters they’ve become, each chapter in their discography has propelled the band forward without compromising on any of their signature traits: heavy grooves, infectious energy and anthemic melodies. While Truth Killer certainly feels like the next logical step in their career after Blood & Stone and All I See Is War, it’s clear that the band are still driven to push themselves and have no interest in slowing down.
I’m so accustomed to Sevendust coming out of the gate with an absolute heater to open an album that when I heard ‘I Might Let The Devil In’ for the first time, I had to make sure I had been sent the right advance. Rather than ripping into the album with a bombastic, riff-driven track, the band opted to pull from a more Nine Inch Nails-esque place and open with a slow-burn anthem that opens proceedings wonderfully. ‘Truth Killer’, ‘Won’t Stop The Bleeding’ kick up the energy before you hit second single ‘Everything’ which has a chorus so infectious that you won’t be able to get it out of your head for days (this straight up happened to me when it dropped and I had absolutely no problem with it whatsoever).
Speaking of infectious choruses, I found myself returning to ‘Sick Mouth’ so much over the last week. It’s a great example of how Lajon Witherspoon’s vocal melodies sail above angular and unsettling instrumentation to find the perfect balance of sweet and sour. One of my favourite elements of Sevendust has always been the vocal counterpoint between Witherspoon, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist Clint Lowery. Truth Killer features a number of songs that showcase this but none do it better than ‘Leave Hell Behind’, where you get to hear all three shine and complement each other perfectly.
‘Superficial Drug’ feels like the radio single of the album but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular. ‘Love And Hate’ has one of hardest grooves I’ve heard in years and is bound to be an enormous live track. Much like the album opener, the band did exact opposite of what I expected by closing the album with ‘Fence’, arguably the most upbeat and ferocious track on Truth Killer. It’s fast, crushing and leaves you yearning for more, but that’s not a bad thing at all.
Honestly, Sevendust have no right to be still writing such exceptional music almost 30 years into their career. Every element of Truth Killer is dialled in perfectly, powerful songwriting, beautifully constructed arrangements, and explosive production, resulting in a stellar musical journey that is so good, you can’t help but start it again once you finish.
Special mention must go to producer Elvis Baskette for once again capturing the band’s energy and constructing an incredible mix. He’s been behind the board for the last three Sevendust records and it’s clear that he is the perfect man for the job.
Making it to album 14 is enough for a band to be congratulated, but making it to album 14 and having it be one of the strongest and most powerful chapters in your discography warrants a whole other level of applause. It’s an absolute blessing to still be on the receiving end of such inspired music from Sevendust and I only hope we continue to hear more in the years to come.
Sevendust – Truth Killer tracklisting:
1. I Might Let the Devil Win
2. Truth Killer
3. Won’t Stop the Bleeding
4. Everything
5. No Revolution
6. Sick Mouth
7. Holy Water
8. Leave Hell Behind
9. Superficial Drug
10. Messenger
11. Love and Hate
12. Fence
Review: 8/10
Truth Killer is out via Napalm Records. Get it now.
Review by Nicholas Simonsen @blackechomusic