Sevendust Puts Offbeat ‘Home’ on Rock Market

*** SEVENDUST

“Home Is Where the Hard Is”

TVT

This Atlanta quintet’s second album (due in stores Tuesday) shudders and grinds with lots of contemporary metal conventions-- brutally syncopated rhythms, squalls of crunching guitar and angst aplenty. But the group gives those familiar features enough subtle, offbeat twists to stand out in the crowd, and to generate a growing buzz for the band in hard-rock circles.

Frontman Lajon Witherspoon revels in the harsh side of his voice, but the reason his growling and gnashing are so effective is the fact that he’s a strong enough singer to croon when he chooses. And when he does, his smooth, muscular vocals make a striking contrast to the choppy, explosive guitar exchanges that Clint Lowery and John Connolly ignite.

The meaty grooves that drive these tunes never shift into full-on dance mode, a la Rob Zombie, but often assume a supple, funky edge that’s closer to the eccentric hard-rock/soul of Faith No More. “Reconnect” and “Rumble Fish” are vividly reminiscent of that band, and the hummable crush of “Licking Cream,” which features vivacious guest vocals from Skunk Anansie’s frontwoman Skin, in particular seems to pick up where Faith No More left off.

Character is as valuable as chops when it comes to hard rock, and “Home” finds Sevendust well equipped with both.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.