Sevendust polished, heavy and melodic on new album

Sevendust, “All I See Is War” (Rise Records)

There are some people who sneer at hard rockers Sevendust, expressing dislike for the metal band for its lighter tones and stylistic changes. To which we respectfully say: blow it out your ears.

The Atlanta-based metal-heads are back with “All I See Is War,” their 12th studio album. It’s filled with Sevendust’s typical blistering hooks, driving grooves and infectious choruses, knitted together by Lajon Witherspoon’s envious vocals and Morgan Rose’s sharp tat-tat-tat drumming.

They have teamed up for the first time with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette, and he’s layered more production elements and allowed the group to explore softer terrain. It’s not a revolution — more like another step in the band’s movement toward a cleaner, polished sound.

“All I See Is War” is a follow-up to 2015’s “Kill the Flaw,” which garnered the band a spot on the upper third of the Billboard 200 and a Grammy nomination for best metal performance.

This time, Sevendust are more in the hard rock category. Much of the new album could easily fit on a Foo Fighters’ CD, including most of the second half’s songs — including “Not Original” ‘’Descend” and “Life Deceives You,” songs rooted in bluesy or progressive rock. Old-school fans of Sevendust have “God Bites His Tongue,” ‘’Cheers” and “Risen.”

“Medicated,” a song about deadening and dependency, showcases the merging of Other outstanding tracks are the first — “Dirty,” which includes a virtuoso solo by lead guitarist Clint Lowery — and the last, “The Truth,” both showcasing a band able to rage furiously one moment and then instantly switch to melodic.

So hate on them if you want, but the band does what it wants and deserves as many ears as possible. After a dozen albums, Sevendust has earned respect. Mark Kennedy, AP