Next (Solid White Colored Vinyl, Rocktober 2018 Exclusive)

Alternative metal outfit Sevendust weathered the departure of their founding guitarist and a label change before releasing NEXT in 2005, but the changes haven't affected the band's take on hardcore riffage, thunderous rhythms, and alternately soulful and screamo vocals courtesy of frontman Lajon Witherspoon. Witherspoon, one of the group's most distinguishing features, can make his voice soar and slide, at times recalling Mike Patton, and then turn around to sound like the most ferocious of hardcore growlers. NEXT also broadens the band's stylistic palette by adding electronic balladry ("This Life") and the occasional surprisingly melodic chorus ("Desertion"), while never losing sight of the razory, metallic edge on which the group's sound is built.

• Genre: Pop
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 10/2/2018