Vena Sera

Performer: Chevelle
Engineer: Dave Holdredge; Dave Holdredge
Producer: Michael "Elivs" Baskette; Michael 'Elvis' Baskette
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Chevelle: Peter Loeffler (vocals, guitar); Dean Bernardini (bass guitar); Sam Loeffler (drums). Personnel: Jef Moll (programming). Audio Mixer: Michael "Elvis" Baskette. Recording information: Studio Barbarosa, Bavon, VA; The Palms, Las Vegas, NV. The first Chevelle album recorded without all three Loeffler brothers (bassist Joe Loeffler departed in 2005, replaced by Dean Bernadini), VENA SERA stays confidently within the Illinois-based trio's well-honed heavy-rock sound. As on past outings, the group's strong Tool/A Perfect Circle influence is notable, but frontman Pete Loeffler tailors that aesthetic to his own more accessible approach on fierce tunes such as the surging "Well Enough Alone." Despite Chevelle undergoing its first lineup change since the mid-'90s (trading out bassist brother Joe Loeffler for brother-in-law Dean Bernardini), not much else has been drastically altered in camp Chevelle. The loud/soft dynamic and angst-fueled vocals that nod heavily towards Tool, and which have always been the group's trademark, arrive in full force on their fourth album Vena Sera, but it's not enough to make the proceedings any more interesting than anything they've recorded in the past. Every song seems to be set up in the exact same manner; guitars lurch forward, diminish and eventually swell into choruses where Pete Loeffler's emotional vocals (ranging from shrieks to tuneful cries) take center-stage over a backdrop of steady yet dense rhythms. "Brainiac" and especially "Midnight to Midnight" take a noticeably heavier angle, the latter song running on a nice urgency that so many of Chevelle's other songs lack, instead choosing to lumber along in a murky sense of despair. First single "Well Enough Alone" emotes and then emotes in that way so perfect for the airwaves, and though it's a decent song -- the opening shriek is especially nice -- it more so highlights the frustrating aspect of Vena Sera. The album is good enough, but too much of it simply sounds like rewrites of songs from the band's past. "I Get It" has a relatively lighter underbelly than the rest, which is a nice change of pace, but it's ultimately too little, too late. However, Vena Sera probably won't disappoint fans, if for the sole fact that it basically sounds just like Chevelle's other albums, so that if they liked those, they'll like this one. But anyone looking for a little more, well, they'll be left looking. ~ Corey Apar

In a dizzying display of evolutionary action, Chicagoan heavy rockers Chevelle went from being moody, Steve Albini-produced, late-1990s indie rockers to platinum-selling, Ozzfest-playing rock stars. Their blend of alternative, Nu Metal, and post-grunge endeared them to the masses, and on their first couple of albums, a Christian lyrical slant piqued the interest of the Christian-rock legions as well. While Chevelle eventually dropped the Christian-oriented themes, they continued building on their success, becoming one of the most high-profile heavy-rock outfits of the early 2000s.

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