Rating: 4 out of 5 Meerkats

Neil Freese, September 1999

On "Home", Sevendust’s follow up to their successful self titled debut, the band continues to do what they have always done best; combine soulful harmonies and heavy, thick guitar riffs to create beautiful music.

Sevendust can’t be pigeonholed into a musical genre, thanks to Lajon Witherspoon’s R&B influence. Before joining Sevendust, Lajon sang for an R&B band, but was recruited to join the Atlanta quintet after the boys heard his incredible voice. On "Home", guitarists Clint Lowery and John Connely expand the boundaries of loud rock; they intertwine melodic grooves with powerful riffing and when added to the understated yet supple bass of Vince Hornsby, the trio create one of the hardest sounds in rock today. Morgan Rose completes the line-up, by not only being one of the coolest drummers around, but also being one of the most talented.

"Home" is one of the best discs to come out this year, thanks in part to songs such as "Reconnect" and "Waffle", which showcase the more soulful side of the band. Though they still incorporate heavy riffs into all the songs, each one has it’s own feel, avoiding the syndrome most bands fall victim to: monotony. Sevendust never gets boring, and they always raise the bar on their own sound. They are always improving themselves, musically and creatively, and rather than appeal to what is popular, they appeal to what they want, and what their fans want.

"Bender" features a guest appearance from Chino Moreno, of Deftones fame. His eerie scream highlights this song, and the melody that he and Lajon create is simply beautiful. Skin, the lead singer of the Brit pop/metal group Skunk Anansie, guests on "Licking Cream", and her powerfully potent voice makes it great. She can really belt it out, and her voice makes this one of my favorite songs on the disc.