Sev's major-label debut is a disc that finds the group opting to increase the aggressive edge their sound was missing on past releases, and in part this direction helps the band.
All These Dreams treads down the tired rap/rock path many have experimented with before, and as such
Sev comes off sounding a bit dated, yet when they hit the jackpot, all things go their way. An example would have to be the infectious sounds of "Menace," which ventures into territory familiar to
Limp Bizkit but is an instantly memorable song that is one of the strongest points on the album. At other times
Sev's aggressive edge overwhelms the group, as "24/7/365" loses its steam by being a bit too chaotic and difficult to follow. This chaotic groove appears throughout the album, resulting in
Sev sounding unsure of what exactly they wish their music to sound like. As the album propels itself forward it gets more dense and indistinguishable, as even the catchiest hooks are left feeling abandoned amidst the torrential downpour of everlasting crunch. While the heavier slant to
Sev's music is a step in the right direction, the band still requires much work before they can expect to excel at the rapcore sound they have been playing for years, and
All These Dreams comes off sounding like an overly excited batch of tunes that lack much focus. This is not an incredible debut, but allows a larger audience to witness a band still searching for their vibe, and hopefully by the time they finish their next disc they'll know exactly what they want to accomplish. ~ Jason D. Taylor