Sevendust - Cold Day Memory (2010)^{Release ID: 6209}

"Cold Day Memory" is a very solid (although highly predictable) collection of radio metal anthems that oozes class but ultimately proves to be fairly formulaic. The production is immaculate as you might expect from a major label heavyweight act such as Sevendust & all of the instrumentalists put in fine performances. The guitar sound is very chunky & I was particularly impressed by how the drums & bass work so tightly in unison to create a rhythm section in the truest sense of the term. There are also no soppy ballads like you usually hear on these sort of releases which was certainly a pleasant surprise.

Vocalist Lajon Witherspoon can really sing & the vocal hooks come at you thick & fast from the first track. In fact, my major gripe with "Cold Day Memory" is probably it's biggest drawcard. Every track has a big radio-friendly chorus that just sounds too commercial for someone who despises radio playlists like I do. I must admit that the tracks tend to be difficult to tell apart after a while because they re all based on the same concept of making a big radio rock/metal anthem. Sevendust certainly succeed in this quest & tracks like "Karma" (my clear personal favourite) have some great song-along potential.

Overall, I couldn't help but enjoy "Cold Day Memory" even though I did a cringe on occasions. Sevendust just do this stuff so well that you have to admire them for it. This album won't change your life but it could brighten your day.