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Alpha (Sevendust album)

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Alpha
Studio album by
Sevendust
ReleasedMarch 6, 2007 (2007-03-06)
StudioTree Sound (Atlanta, Georgia)
GenreAlternative metal
Length51:43
LabelAsylum
Producer
Sevendust chronology
Best Of (Chapter One 1997–2004)
(2005) 		Alpha
(2007) 		Retrospective 2
(2007)
Singles from Alpha
  1. "Driven"
    Released: February 13, 2007
  2. "Beg to Differ"
    Released: May 3, 2007
  3. "Deathstar"
    Released: December 2007
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blabbermouth.net[2]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[3]
IGN7.9/10[4]
MetalSucks[5]
PopMatters[6]
Ultimate Guitar7.7/10[7]

Alpha is the sixth studio album by American rock band Sevendust. The album was released on March 6, 2007. It is the band's second album featuring Sonny Mayo on rhythm guitar and the first with him as part of the writing process. Alpha is also the first album by the band to be released under the Warner-affiliated Asylum Records, making Sevendust the first rock band on that label.

Recording and production

[edit]

The album was recorded at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.[8] This allowed the band to be close to home, a comforting factor during what was a creatively intense period.[8] The production team was a collaborative effort, with guitarist John Connolly, drummer Morgan Rose, and engineer Shawn Grove all taking on producer roles. Grove, who had previously worked with the band, was considered by vocalist Lajon Witherspoon to be like another member of Sevendust due to his understanding of their sound, melody, and harmony.[9]

A significant shift in the recording process for Alpha was the band's decision to track the bass and guitar parts live along with the drum tracks. This was a departure from the more common practice of recording each instrument separately.[9][10] Guitarist Sonny Mayo explained that this approach was chosen to capture a "real unified energy.[9] This technique contributed to the album's raw and aggressive feel. In a "Making of Alpha" feature, the band elaborated on this, stating that after Morgan Rose would lay down a few drum tracks, bassist Vinnie Hornsby, John Connolly and Sonny Mayo would all track their parts together.[10]

Alpha was the first album to feature Sonny Mayo in the writing process,[11] though the primary songwriting partnership for the album was between Morgan Rose and John Connolly.[12] Their chemistry was enhanced by the fact that Connolly is a former drummer himself, which allowed for a unique dynamic in crafting the rhythmic foundation of the songs. Rose would often challenge himself to learn and perform complex drum machine beats that Connolly had written.[12]

"Burn"
Sample of "Burn," praised by critics as a standout track for its layered composition and extended instrumentals, highlighting the band's experimental side.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Connolly also made a deliberate decision to avoid programming on the album, wanting the album to be "raw and in your face" and to capture a vibe reminiscent of their earlier album, Animosity.[13] He felt that while programming had its place for transitions and textures, it could sometimes detract from the aggressive edge of heavier music.[13] The result was an album that even the band described as more up-tempo, aggressive, and with more intricate guitar work.[10]

Concept and themes

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Morgan Rose explained in an interview with Launch that the title Alpha refers to the internal conflict, and the struggle to determine which is stronger. He stated:

"I like the idea of the alpha concept, but that isn't why it's called Alpha. It's basically called Alpha because the record has a conceptual feel to it and it's the good and evil side of one's mind and which one is the stronger. But we are definitely looking at this as a new start in a bunch of different ways."[14]

Rose also revealed that much of the album's lyrical content was influenced by personal struggles he experienced around the time of recording, including his divorce and both his and his father's drug-related arrests the year before.[14]

Label change

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The band's previous label, WineDark Records, collapsed in 2006, leaving Sevendust without distribution or tour support and heavily in debt.[15] This implosion was a major blow, with the band's financial situation becoming so dire they had to cancel a European tour in May 2006.[16]

This turmoil, however, led to a fresh start. In December 2006, Sevendust announced a new partnership. Their own label, 7Bros. Records, signed a deal with Asylum Records, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group,[17] making them the first rock act on the predominantly hip-hop and rap-focused label.

The new arrangement provided the band with a level of creative control they had been seeking. In a 2007 interview, Morgan Rose described the deal as "very interesting," explaining that it allowed them to funnel their work through Asylum while having the backing of the larger Warner Music Group. He noted that this gave them "strength behind you" and the integrity to write the songs they wanted to write, free from the creative pressures they had experienced previously.[18]

Artwork

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The artwork for Alpha was directly inspired by a print titled "Hemorrhage" by artist Derek Hess, who is known for his work with bands like Pantera and Deftones. He created the original piece in 2005. It depicts a figure with blood streaming from its head, a powerful metaphor for an open wound that cannot heal due to a lack of closure.[19] The image was adapted and illustrated for the album cover by Southern California artist Erik C. Casillas.[20]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Sevendust.

No.TitleLength
1."Deathstar"3:38
2."Clueless"3:49
3."Driven"3:48
4."Feed"3:37
5."Suffer"3:50
6."Beg to Differ"4:00
7."Under"3:14
8."Story of Your Life"4:09
9."Confessions of Hatred"4:09
10."Aggression"4:24
11."Burn"9:02
12."Alpha"3:45
Total length:51:25
Target exclusive bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."The Rim"3:13
UK import bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."The Rim"3:13
14."Abuse Me"3:30

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

The album entered the U.S. Billboard 200 at number 14, selling about 42,000 copies in its first week.[21]

Album

[edit]
Year Chart Position Ref.
2007 Billboard 200 14 [22][23]
2007 Top Rock Albums 6 [24]
2007 Top Digital Albums 14 [25]
2007 Top Internet Albums 14 [23]

Singles

[edit]
Year Song Chart Position Ref.
2007 "Driven" Mainstream Rock Tracks 10 [26]
"Beg to Differ" 33 [26]

References

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  1. ^ "Sevendust Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  2. ^ "CD Reviews Sevendust". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  3. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (March 9, 2007). "Alpha Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 25, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  4. ^ Thompson, Ed. "Sevendust - Alpha". IGN. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  5. ^ Neilstein, Vince. "SEVENDUST "ALPHA" ALBUM REVIEW". MetalSucks. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Blackie, Andrew. "Sevendust: Alpha". PopMatters. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  7. ^ "Alpha review by Sevendust". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "SEVENDUST FINDS NEW HOME FOR ALPHA". Artisannews.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Davidson, Tyler. "The 'Alpha' and Omega of nu-metal". Viewpointsonline.org. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Sevendust - Making Of Alpha". January 13, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  11. ^ "SEVENDUST Guitarist Says New CD Is 'Darker' And 'Angrier' Than Previous Efforts". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Worley, Gail. "Morgan Rose: Resurrected". Modern Drummer. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Artist Feature Friday: John Connolly of Sevendust". tonefreqs.wordpress.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "SEVENDUST Unleashes 'Alpha'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  15. ^ Willschick, Aaron. "Sevendust: "High Ups and Low Downs"". v13.net. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "Sevendust Cancel Euro Tour". stage.radiotangra.com. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  17. ^ "An Interview with Sevendust Drummer Morgan Rose". Ink19.com. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  18. ^ "SEVENDUST Drummer: 'We're Already Ready To Do Another Record'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  19. ^ "Hemorrhage Print". Derekhess.com. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  20. ^ "Sevendust – Alpha". Discogs. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  21. ^ Hasty, Katie (March 14, 2007). "Notorious B.I.G. Scores Another 'Great' On The Billboard 200". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Sevendust (Chart History: Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  23. ^ a b "Alpha > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  24. ^ "Sevendust (Chart History: Rock Albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  25. ^ "Sevendust (Chart History: Digital Albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  26. ^ a b "Alpha > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
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