Sevendust One Album + Show Review

By Kayla Harper

Sevendust’s latest album, One, released on May 1, 2026. Rather than feeling like a reinvention, it is classic Sevendust through and through, tight rhythmic guitars and slightly restrained, but nonconforming bass and percussion are signature to the Sevendust sound. Thematically, One contains a sense of perseverance —a common theme across the band’s discography. Intertwined with a sense of togetherness and self-realization.

The same week One was released, I got to attend their headline show with my boyfriend at The Cotillion in Wichita, Kansas on their North American tour in support of the new album. Their setlist contained 16 songs spanning their 15-album discography. Featuring three songs from the new album, “Is This The Real You”, “Unbreakable” and “Threshold”, as well as classics such as, “Denial”, “Splinter”, “Enemy”, “Black” and “Face To Face”. It was especially exciting when they played “Waffle” off of 1999’s Home, a personal favourite and one I haven’t seen live yet.

Opening the show with the high-energy 1999 album opener and title track, “Home”, the band’s members, Lajon Witherspoon (lead vocalist), Morgan Rose (drummer), Vinnie Hornsby (bassist), John Connolly and Clint Lowery (guitarists), maintained the energy for the duration of the show with exceptional and exciting performances blending some of their biggest hits and fan-favourite deep cuts, leaving space for tracks off the new album, and some that haven’t been played in a while.

Immersive lighting and album-themed visuals enhanced the show, but it was the energy and stage presence the band brings to their performance that makes it extra special. Interacting with fans throughout and between songs, from one side of the stage to the other, lead singer, Witherspoon, ensured everyone in the room felt like they belonged there, emphasizing the way live music brings people together and the family-like community it creates.

Sevendust is a band I fell in love with at a pivotal time in my life. Although I’d grown up with their music because they’re my mom’s favourite, it didn’t hit me on a deeply emotional level until I was about 16 years old and learning how to rebuild my own strength and become my own person again.  Since then their music has always felt like a reminder of my own strength and self-authority so seeing them live always feels really special whether I’m jumping and screaming in the pit or standing back taking it all in.

This time was no different, especially because I got to hear some favourite songs live that they didn’t play last time (like “Waffle” and “Driven”), I got a physical ticket which I’ve never got at a show before but always wanted to (!!), and I picked up a signed copy of the new record which made up for not getting my boxset signed the last time I saw them in 2024 (if you know, you know).

All in all, the new album One was everything I expected from a Sevendust album in the best way and if you can catch them on their current or upcoming tour, GO!