Jump-started by the return of original guitar player Clint Lowery to the band, SEVENDUST has been on the road non-stop since the release of its new album, "Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow", in April. The band's current live attack is as ferocious as ever and they'll continue to be road warriors this summer with performances at Milwaukee's Summerfest and select dates with GODSMACK, ALTER BRIDGE, TANTRIC, NONPOINT and one stop on Ozzfest in Texas. SEVENDUST will head overseas to perform for the U.S. Armed Forces in Germany, Kuwait and Afghanistan for the first two weeks of July.

Commented Lowery: "Just resting up from the last run [of dates with SEVENDUST] and again, it was the best. All of you that we had a chance to chill with, talk to, hang with, it was a pleasure! The crowds were great as always. The SEVENDUST family is alive and well and we appreciate all of you more than words can say.

"We only have three days off before we all hop back on a plane, fly across the ocean to Germany to begin our USO tour that you've maybe heard about. To be able to go over there and experience this, play for the troops, take in those elements and stories will be life-changing for us as a band. Not that we'll need any more material to write about for a new record (because trust when I say we do when the time comes), we always can use more. I personally don't know what I feel about the war but I support the men and women over there doing their jobs 110%. God bless all of them and anyone affected by this war. I just want to do what the damn music is meant to do, forget about everything for a sec and let out some aggression, happiness, sadness, whatever you need to let out!

"Depending on our access to computers over there, I'm gonna try and have a update and play by play of our experience for all to read! Should be very interesting. I'm gonna try to get different guys in the band to comment on it because everyone's gonna have a different take on this trip I'm sure. But as much as a longer break would be nice, we're excited about doing this and having the chance to play and hang with our military! I hope they let us fire cannons, grenade launchers, or maybe hook up a tank or two, but I doubt it! We'll see!

"God bless everyone and we love you."

The video for "Prodigal Son", the first single off "Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow", can be viewed below.

"Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow" (7Bros/Asylum) sold 25,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land at position No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart.