It is exciting to be able to write a review for Sevendust’s new album, Cold Day Memory. For one, Sevendust is my favorite band on the planet and has held that role for the last decade. Second, Cold Day Memory brings an anticipation not felt in years due to the return of Clint Lowery and the musical prowess he brings as an original founding member and songwriter. Along with the added dimension Lowery hopes to have brought back to the band, Cold Day Memory also marks the first time an outside producer (Johnny K) was used since 2003’s Seasons.

Though the song “Splinter” opens the album in traditional hard-hitting fashion, the first few measures heed a warning to the listener that there will be a lot more “fleet” fingered fretting on this album. The Killswitch Engage-like harmonizing guitar leads and galloping tempo bring a metal flair that will be sure to bring some new fans. Reminding me of a mix between two other previous openers, “Hero” and “Inside”, “Splinter” brings the machine-like rhythm approach of the former with the melodic accessibility of the latter. The bridge of the song takes an interesting, almost polyrhythmic approach, with an extremely high guitar note following the churning beat of Morgan’s tempo. Finally, the outro of “Splinter” demonstrates the tightest example of guitar, bass, and percussion all synchronizing in robotic-like double bass unison that the band has ever showcased. “Forever” is track number two and opens with a traditional Sevendust sound, but soon moves into a fast paced verse with Lajon singing against the rapid snare beat. The song then moves into a “happy” sounding pop chorus that I honestly don’t hold in the same regard as the majority of their other choruses. Though the song has grown on me considerably since I first heard it months ago, the offbeat snare reminded me of a polka style beat over top the poppy chorus. Morgan demonstrates some incredible fills and breakdowns, but I would rate “Forever” as my least favorite song on the record. Up next is the first single, “Unraveling.” This song brings a “Broken Down” meets “Live Again” feel with its accessible and catchy chorus. I have to admit that I was a bit underwhelmed when I first heard “Unraveling,” but the feel-good chorus has grown on me with each listen in a way that only Sevendust can bring. Another thing this track showcases for the first time is the incredible vocals on this album. Clint’s presence can really be heard in the harmonizing sections of the song. Track four, “Last Breath,” is the most Animosity sounding track of the first four songs. Clint’s presence can certainly be felt as the song is reminiscent of some of Dark New Day’s material. Though there’s nothing too out of the ordinary here, the song exhibits more of the aforementioned quality vocal work with the pre-chorus offering some great harmonized background vocals building into the Morgan fed groove of the chorus.

The middle third of Cold Day Memory starts with an early fan favorite, “Karma.” Beginning on a lighter note with Lajon singing atop a peaceful, prancing sounding guitar, the song quickly shifts gears into the charging chorus. Here, the exchange between the clean, harmonized vocals and the staccato, palm-muted (guitar) angry vocals is performed in classic Sevendust fashion. Another characteristic that Karma brings is the multitude of textures incorporated throughout the record. From the aforementioned guitar in the song opening to the style tradeoffs in the chorus to the solo and bridge Karma packs a punch while mixing in a variety of different sounds. Track six, “Ride Insane” is one of the heavier songs on the album. Incorporating “riffage” and chord progressions similar to some of the songs from 1999’s Home, “Ride Insane” still manages to provide a catchy chorus. Lajon does an excellent job carrying out the attitude of the song by singing in his aggressive, “angry” vocal style. For me, “Ride Insane” is one of my least favorite songs on the album, but I still manage to never skip it, that’s how good this album is! Track seven is “Confessions (Without Faith)”, a song similar to “Unraveling” in that it incorporates the expected Sevendust grit in the verse, but transitions into another pleasing harmonized vocal chorus. “Confessions” seems like a natural fit for radio, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it show up as a single down the road. Rounding out the middle section of the album is song eight, “Nowhere.” As if too foreshadow the brilliance that still lies ahead in the final few tracks, “Nowhere” marks one of my personal favorites. To me, it incorporates most of what I love about Sevendust. For example, it has one of the catchiest choruses on the album with the best vocal delivery (in the chorus) by Lajon and Co. heard on any Sevendust album since Seasons and perhaps ever. To add to the radiance of the song, “Nowhere” also has the best guitar solo on the album fitting in perfectly to the final round of the chorus.

To me, the final third of Cold Day Memory is track for track the strongest part of record. Song nine is “Here And Now” another throwback to the Animosity era especially the song, “Trust”. Back again is the trademark staccato riffing a la 2001 Sevendust. A part of the song that I personally do not care for is the dissonant chord used in the beginning section of the chorus. While it throws the ears off just enough to make the rest of the chorus that much more gratifying, it isn’t sonically appealing. Never fear, however, because the next song, “End Is Coming” is an apocalyptic metal attack with some of the most attitude on the record. It opens with one of my favorite verses as Lajon and Clint harmonize while panning back and forth between major and minor keys, another Sevendust trademark. It then breaks into an angst filled chorus with Lajon singing, “The end is coming” as Clint immediately returns the call with a screamed response. It makes for a potent delivery reminiscent of the trading vocals between Lajon and Morgan at the end of another staple in the Sevendust catalog, “Feed” from 2007’s Alpha. Track 11, “Better Place”, marks the crowning jewel of Cold Day Memory. It is a lush example of everything that makes Sevendust the unique hybrid of hard rock and metal that it is. The song begins with a slow, dreamy guitar passage with a serene lead sketching the soon to be memorable melody. It then erupts into some of the tightest guitar/percussion work on the record with John, Vinnie, and Morgan syncopating on the low end while Clint takes care of the lead guitar metal onslaught. Just as the volatile verse prepares the listener for an even more insane chorus, Sevendust slows it down into one of the most beautiful, soaring choruses I’ve ever heard, simply epic. It’s the kind of song that immediately raises the hair on the back of your neck due to the sheer perfection crafted into the songwriting. To me, it is the perfect microcosm of all that is Sevendust. After another brilliant guitar solo in the bridge, “Better Place” gives the listener one more dose of that perfect chorus before closing out in preparation for Cold Day Memory’s final track. The last song is “Strong Arm Broken” and it closes the album out in similar fashion to the way it began, heavy. The song settles into a nice, sludgy groove with a chorus as heavy as a two ton truck. One more rage filled solo in the bridge and “Strong Arm Broken” closes out the album in face melting fashion.

Sevendust is a band like no other on the planet. They mix the heart and soul of a radio friendly hard rock band with the technical, hard hitting prowess of a metal band, no one does it like them. To add to their genius in the studio, they are one of the best live bands around and are able to duplicate the controlled intensity from their records to their concert performances. Cold Day Memory is the kind of album that reminds me why I love music so much. Not many things in life have the ability to toy with our emotions the way perfectly crafted music can. Cold Day Memory marks a return to the “golden era” of Sevendust and they deserve all the credit in the world for providing us fans with such a special gift.