Cold Day Memory (CD/DVD) [CD+DVD, Limited Edition, Dual Disc]

Sevendust | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: CD+DVD, Limited Edition, Dual Disc
• Label: Asylum Records
• ASIN: B0039OC0VQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,229 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Splinter

2. Forever

3. Unraveling

4. Last Breath

5. Karma

6. Ride Insane

7. Confessions

8. Nowhere

9. Here And Now

10. The End Is Coming

11. Better Place

12. Strong Arm Broken

Editorial Reviews

Sevendust recorded 'Cold Day Memory' with Grammy nominated producer Johnny K (Disturbed, Staind, 3 Doors Down, Plain White T's). It's the band's first new album with their original lineup back together. Guitar player Clint Lowery last recorded an album as part of Sevendust on 2003's 'Seasons.'
The first single, 'Unraveling,' is the most well received Sevendust track EVER. The song is an absolute monster and was co-written with Dave Bassett (Shinedown, Skillet). After being #1 most added at Active Rock, the song debuted at #29. It is their best ever chart debut, surpassing the #30 debut of 'Enemy' in September 2003. That song peaked at #6 and is currently their highest charting song to date.

-Includes a bonus DVD with over 30 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You know the world doesn't always love you, but you never let that define you.", April 20, 2010

By 

Nate McCooey (Lockport, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cold Day Memory (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

Those lyrics from the chorus of "Confessions (Without Faith)," one of the songs on Sevendust's eighth studio release Cold Day Memory, sum up this band's tenure. Since the late 90s they have largely gone under the radar, so to speak, of rock radio fame with the exception of some semi-popular singles. ("Black," "Denial," "Praise," "Enemy," "Ugly," "Driven," and "Prodigal Son," naming one from each of their previous seven albums.) These guys, however, have not let this lack of recognition affect the quality of their music or the admiration from their dedicated fanbase.

A little over two years ago I wrote a review for the then recently released Sevendust album Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow. I stated something to the effect of it being the band's "best album since 2001's release, Animosity." After giving several thorough listens to Cold Day Memory (received it four days ago via pre-order from the band's website :-D), I am now eating my words. Animosity is often regarded by many loyal Sevendust fans as the band at their creative peak. I can confidently say, however, that this release has taken them to an entirely new level. With founding guitarist/backing vocalist Clint Lowery returning to the fold, it seems as though a spark was lit under the band members to write a batch of the strongest and most musically complex (yet still very accessible) tunes in their catalog.

Lowery has not contributed to or performed on a Sevendust album since 2003's Seasons album. To this date I am still unaware of exactly why he left (I've heard the usual "personal/creative differences" lines) but that's all moot now that he's back, and the band is all the better for it if you ask me. This is not to say that any of the albums the band recorded during the early 2005-early 2008 Sonny Mayo era (Next, Alpha, and Chapter VII) were bad because they certainly were not and definitely contained a number of excellent songs. ("Ugly," "Silence," "Failure," "Driven," "Clueless," "Confessions of Hatred," "Inside," "Prodigal Son," and "The Past" to name just a handful.) Still, it seemed as if one ingredient to the Sevendust recipe was missing and Clint Lowery was that piece. He is a far superior songwriter to Mayo and it shows on this album.

The guys sound better and more cohesive than they have in years, ripping through twelve songs with their always powerful vocals, searing riffs and solos, and a pulsating rhythm section that is just about second to none in rock today. Cuts like "Splinter," "Forever Dead," first single "Unraveling," "Ride Insane" (my personal favorite), "Confessions (Without Faith)," "Nowhere," and "Better Place" reminds us exactly why we fans fell in love with this band in the first place. There is seriously not a bad song on the entire record, though we will all have our favorites. What I call the "perfect mix of beauty and brutality" with respect to the band is more present on this album than their last three, each of which contained a number of songs that were heavy just for the sake of it. (This was especially the case with the Alpha album.) Lajon Witherspoon has pushed his vocal abilities to limits I didn't know he had. Lowery and fellow guitarist John Connolly feed off of each other with the greatest of ease, trading amazing riffs and solos (which are far more prevalent here than on previous 7D albums, all of them being VERY strong) back and forth, and the band's rhythm section comprised of bassist Vinnie Hornsby and drummer Morgan Rose have as expected not missed a beat. From a lyrical perspective, it appears as though the guys are digging even further into the human condition than they have on past albums. Granted they've never been the most didactic band out there, but their words are introspective enough so as to possibly be cathartic for oneself. I'm speaking from experience here.

Okay, this review has been entirely too long. My apologies especially since much of it was about the band's past, though I do feel that information was necessary to place this album in its proper context. By that I mean the ever-evolving nature of their music. These five boys from Atlanta have seriously come a long way since 1997, and giving even just one listen to Cold Day Memory makes that very obvious. Kudos to Sevendust on releasing what could very well be a career-defining album.

As an added bonus, this album also comes with a DVD which is close to an hour in length. It's a great synopsis of Clint's rejoining the band and the songwriting/producing/recording processes behind the album. Great stuff, and the guys are as humorous in interviews as always. :-)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Changed my mind. Really good stuff!, September 3, 2010

By 

S. A. Donagher (York, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cold Day Memory (Audio CD)

I reviewed this CD about a month ago and I gave it a 2 out of 5 stars. I have since deleted that review and am posting this one. This is their best album since Animosity. Animosity was a new direction for Sevendust in some ways and this reminds me of that. Sevendust in Clint's first album back writing is an edgier look into the souls of us all. What our strength's are and our betrayels. I love the new guitar work that they have added here. It gives it that slicing ice cold heavy sound giving good reason for the title. All forces are at control of their craft at it's best. Thoroughly enjoying it! Sorry for the initial doubt guys! Had to give it a little more time and attention to fully appreciate. Thanks again for all the years of great music!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Return of the Prodigal Son, April 22, 2010

By 

A. Estes (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cold Day Memory (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

It's been almost seven years since Atlanta, Georgia's Sevendust have recorded with original guitarist Clint Lowery in tow. In that time, Lowery played in Dark New Day with his brother Corey and filled in as a hired-gun for Korn, before reconnecting with the band just in time for the release of 2008's, Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow, which was recorded with his replacement, Sonny Mayo, in tow. Although Mayo helped keep the band pumping through nearly three album cycles worth of recording and touring, Lowery's absence was noticeably felt, and longtime fans will breathe a sigh of relief at his return to the fold with the band's eighth (!) album, "Cold Day Memory."

Like any good Sevendust album, "Cold Day Memory" kicks off with a bang. "Splinter" opens the album with some killer leads by Lowery (oh how we missed you) and the patented three-part vocal harmonizing between the guitarist, singer Lajon Witherspoon and drummer Morgan Rose. From there, the band keeps the energy going through tracks like "Unraveling" and "Forever," which, at their heart, are classic Sevendust and sound like they could have been lost tracks from 2001's Animosity. "Karma" finds the band simultaneously crushing and caressing with a killer breakdown that seems designed to incite a moshpit giving way to the soulful melodies of Witherspoon, only serving to show that they've still got it after all of these years.

Unfortunately, the middle of the album doesn't quite live up to what the beginning promises. For the recording of the album, the band brought in producer Johnny K to help them reel things in and find their edge, and while it works in creating some truly memorable songs, they lose focus mid-way through and seem to fall asleep at the wheel. Things pick up a bit again with "Nowhere" and especially "Better Place" --a very Clint-centric song that will appease old-school fans - before capping off with the intense "Strong Arm Broken," but the middle is perhaps the band at their most middle-of-the-road, and that's a bummer.

Maybe if they had shaved off a few songs in the middle that just don't stick ("Ride Insane" in particular) "Cold Day Memory" would have been a tighter and more accomplished affair. Also, it wouldn't have hurt to let Clint into the spotlight a bit more. Afterall, this is his long-awaited return to the band, but it feels maybe like there was some apprehension about stepping on each other's feet. Something along the lines of "X-Mas Day" or "Angel's Son" would have helped add to the dynamic of the album and is something most of us have been craving for years now. I guess if you're looking for some Clint-tunes, his solo EP, "Chills" -- released under the Hello Demons, Meet Skeletons moniker -- will have to suffice for now.

Overall, though, "Cold Day Memory" marks another exciting chapter in the band's history. Surely, there are more than a few songs here that will only help to intensify their live show and the album only goes to prove what we all knew all along: that Sevendust are at their best with its classic line-up intact. The CD comes with a bonus DVD that is worth picking up, as it features a documentary on the making of the album that goes beyond the usual fluff most bonus DVD's consist of. Even though it's not perfect, "Cold Day Memory" has enough to please any fan, and that's enough to recommend it to anyone reading this. Go buy the album, go see them live (where they truly shine) and continue to support the hardest working band on the scene.