Seasons

In the late '90s and early 2000s, there were countless alternative metal bands that were similar to Sevendust in many respects -- bands that could be bone crushing but also had a sense of melody; bands that thrived on dark, angst-ridden lyrics and were as angry as they were introspective. But most of them couldn't match Sevendust's excellence; even if they had the basics down, their writing wasn't as consistent. Plus, they didn't have anyone as exciting as lead singer Lajon Witherspoon (whose soulful, R&B-influenced vocals set Sevendust apart from most of the group's competitors in the alt-metal field). Released in 2003, the Atlanta residents' fourth album, Seasons, came six years after their 1997 debut -- and creatively, they didn't lose any momentum on this forceful yet melodic CD.