When Sevendust went acoustic for 2014’s “Time Travelers & Bonfires,” it was really no surprise. After all, the band has long been known for not just its hard-hitting hard rock, but also its melodic side.

“Our thing was that we’ve never had anything handed to us,” drummer Morgan Rose me during an interview about the acoustic release. “Our support system was built from the ground up. We’re blue collar-type people, and people that come to see our band have a lot of the same makeup as us.”

The fact Sevendust never had a massive machine behind them actually helped teach the guys about work ethic and not to take anything for granted.

“While other bands were having their labels pay for them to be on tours and the radio and all the right end caps in the stores, with major label funding and strength, we were out there hitting the street and playing for 10 people, and the next time it was 40 people, and then 150 and then 500,” Morgan said. “We built that thing.”

“We had those moments of getting good breaks in our career, but we started out playing in front of small crowds, and by doing that, we learned to appreciate audiences. We’ll keep doing it as long as people want us to do it,” he added. “We don’t take them for granted, and they don’t take us for granted.”

When it comes to Rose’s favorite song off “Time Travelers & Bonfires,” it’s difficult to pick one.

“I think ‘Gone,’” he said. “It changes, though. I’ve gone back and forth with it. ‘Denial’ was a lot of fun, because it was way different. But, I think ‘Gone.’”

Sevendust is on target to release a new album in 2018.