Customer Reviews

Avenged Sevenfold

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Up until 2 days ago, all I knew of Avenged Sevenfold were the 2 songs regularly played on Kerrang! TV here in the UK. I liked those enough that when I was wandering through the local HMV store, I noticed that the self-titled CD was on sale and decided to treat myself. And what a treat it has turned out to be. First of all, if you like your metal loud and screaming, non-stop and unintelligible, then this CD may not be for you. Granted there are a couple of tracks that roll around like a thunderstorm caught between two hills, but this CD has much more to offer. Lyrics that at first listen sound innocuous enough but on deeper reading become very dark and vicious, juxtapose wonderfully with soaring guitar work and M Shadows' gravel-in-honey voice. And right when you think they are a full-blown metal gatepost, you are sidelined with the gorgeous lament of being far from home and missing your girlfriend. Genius!

In an age when most bands actually want to be labeled as a certain genre, Avenged Sevenfold seem perfectly at ease with doing whatever comes to mind. They look metal. They can write with a goth sorrow. They can be as sarcastic as the best punk offerings. The orchestral arrangements add so much to already full songs, and the musicianship and production are polished and swaggering. M Shadows struck me at first glance as another Chester from Linkin Park; he still does but if anything his vocal range is greater and smoother, this guy can sing and growl as required. He is also by far the best eye candy of the quintet, though none of them are shrinking violets and are sure to have their fair share of groupies.

The CD opens with the bitter and twisted "Critical Acclaim", setting the goth tone with an intro on a church organ. The cover notes don't say which of the band write the songs, but M Shadows gives it perfect credence with his ranting in mid-tune. Hot on it's heals comes the single that broke the band in the UK, "Almost Easy". It's melodic riff and broken pace is commercial enough for the accountants but distinct enough to do the business. Track 3 is "Scream", a mix of gothic and bluesy vocals with a chorus that reminds me of old Bond themes, there is something sinister about this song that surfaces again later on the CD. Another great guitar segway leads into a manic chain-saw reminiscent moment; perhaps the band have been watching American Psycho?

The second single from the CD arrives in a funereal mourning of strings full of of false pretenses as "AfterLife" launches into more fast-paced guitars and drums. As M Shadows laments that he shouldn't be there, the listener is never quite sure if he is the damned or the devil, his voice has such a dangerous edge. By now we know the lad can sing, but track 5 is a wonderful diversion from the metal noise we've had so far. "Gunslinger", perhaps inspired by the Stephen King series "The Dark Tower", begins with an acoustic blues air as if it's sitting out on the porch with the sun setting over a dusty plain. Shadows cant keep his voice in check for more than a verse though, and everyone else wants in on the action, lifting the song to classical proportions. This could be the next single; it is certainly commercial enough and shows the band's range. It feels like an Guns and Roses effort, but with less whining from Axel and more soul from Shadows. "Unbound" brings us back to familiar territory with busy guitars, but wait, is that a piano? Younger British rock fans will feel at home with this track as it strongly echoes the rocksters Eliot Minor with lots of intricate scales rising and falling on a bed of frantic drums. The child-sung bridge is a little unnerving, but it is probably meant to be: Avenged Sevenfold seem happy to make you as uncomfortable as possible while lulling you into parting with your time and money willingly. If I had to pick one track as the filler for this CD, "Unbound" would be it, but only if I absolutely had to pick one.

Another strange twist comes with "Brompton Cocktail" and yes, those are bongos. After wanting to leave the After life earlier in our travels, M Shadows seems to have changed his mind and is now embracing his own end. The title suitably refers to a gothic era, and there is something very Evanescence about this track. Is Shadows the male equivalent to the delectable Amy Lee? You decide. With "Lost" the band return to the opening theme of not being happy with their leaders. This is an anti-war song that assaults the ears with the power of a stealth bomber. And yet more unusual sounds, as Shadows' vocals are fed through a distorter for the chorus, in case the song needed any more edge. Which it doesn't. Track 9 is a romp to rival any dark Victorian-style horror show; if you don't read the lyrics sheet then it is a good quirky song, but delve into the words and you will find a gruesome and violent story with a manic-sarcastic lilt that buffers sickness with humour. As Shadows tells us "She was never this good in bed ~ not even when she was sleepin'" you just know he is serious. It really is a masterpiece but not for those with a delicate disposition, and I imagine Tim Burton being desperate to get his hands on the contract for the video for this one.

The CD ends with another gorgeous ballad, "Dear God". Coming directly after "A Little Piece of Heaven" the contrast is welcome and jarring at the same time. Leave 'em wanting more has always been the motto of the best entertainers, and with this Avenged Sevenfold have surely succeeded.

Whoa. Where do I start with this one? Okay, I'm just going to say right now that Avenged Sevenfold have created a career-defining album. It may not be their heaviest album to date, but the band ditched the metalcore thing a long time ago. This upset and alienated many of the longtime fans and I'll admit that it kinda rubbed me the wrong way. At first. Then I realized that with "City of Evil", the band I had grown to love with "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet" and "Waking the Fallen" were going for something different altogether. But when you think about it, each record they've done has always been radically different than the one before it, so a big change on this album shouldn't come as such a suprise. Still, as different as this self-titled album is, I think it's their best, most focused (albeit, more polished) yet. It's the sound of a band busting out of a genre and truly discovering themselves. In short, this is their "Sing the Sorrow". This is their "Black Album". It's sure to upset many, but just as many will find something to love.

Despite all the hatred these guys have had to deal with, they know who their true fans are and this masterpiece should please most of them looking to hear something different than what they've come to expect. Still, as different as it may be, it's still distinctly A7X. This is apparent fromt the get-go with the first three tracks. You gotta love the intro to "Critical Acclaim" and although I'm normally not a fan of politically-themed music, it's refreshing to hear a different take other than just how much "the administration sucks". "Almost Easy" didn't do much for me the first time I heard it but it grew on me after a couple of listens and I can now see why it was chosen as their first single. If the album has one weak moment, it would have to be "Scream". While far from bad, it's just kinda mediocre by the band's standards. It does have a pretty cool "Vulgar"-era, Pantera-esque groove to it and it's kinda nice to have in the background when you're having a few.

The album really takes a hard turn with "Afterlife". This is where things start to really get different. We will most certainly be seeing a video for this one soon on Headbanger's Ball because it's sure to be one of the band's biggest hits. Starts off with some strings before diving headfirst into a dual-harmonies and insane drumming before switching into mid-temp then the chorus hits and we're left in awe. Yeah, thsi song alone will probably gain them more fans. I'm not sure yet but this could almost be their "Unforgiven".

"Lost" is one of my favorites right now and it's one of those that they're going to catch a lot of grief about. They took the Auto-tune, which is normally used for pitch-correction, and actually used it to give the Dragonforce-like track a whole new vocal dimension. Almost liked they used it as another instrument. It's laid on so thick that it takes the vocals to a whole new level. Not everybody will dig it, purists are sure to hate it, but I think it was a brilliant move on their part.

If you've read ANY reviews, then you've probably already heard about "A Little Piece of Heaven". The first time I heard this one, I had a vicious hangover so things were moving a little slow for me and I had to give it three consecutive listens just to wrap my mind around what all was going on. I read somewhere that the original title was "Big Bear" (an awesome title that I wish they would've kept) and this is their "Bohemian Rhapsody". There aren't many bands that could pull off a track like this one, and it really should seem kinda out of place, but for some reason it works. "The Nightmare Before Christmas" comparisons are obvious but this plays more like a Tim Burton nightmare mixed with Beetle Juice and a strong dose of sick humor thrown in for good measure. Love it. (Is it just me or is there even a little bit of Mr. Bungle thrown in the mix too?)

The album is nearly flawless in my mind and the production (done by the band) is perfect. (Truth be told, I think Rick Rubin would've have been the only other man for the job.) True enough, it will probably alienate a few fans who were expecting "Waking the Fallen 2" or who're still mad at Metallica for not recycling "Master Of Puppets" for the rest of their career, but it's sure to gain them many more fans. In short, die hards will love it, as will open-minded people who are sick of the same-ole radio schtick. Also, it's ALWAYS a good thing when you can listen to a whole album in one sitting and still be wanting more. 9/10

Since the release of City of Evil, Avenged Sevenfold has been crucified for knocking off the kings of 80's metal. With their latest self-titled effort, they haven't mimicked their idols; they just may have become them for their generation.

Avenged Sevenfold is bigger than its categorical brethren in every way. The ungodly solos, the intricate measure for measure harmonizing, the heart-attack drum licks and huge chorus' all make for a career defining performance.

Kicking off the album with their heaviest track to date is "Critical Acclaim." After an organ intro that sounds as if listeners are passing through cemetery's gates and some sleek guitar work that paints the path to come, the track explodes into metal mayhem with double bass and give and take guitar chugging not heard since a certain Vulgar Display of Power. Vocalist M. Shadows' lyrical rant is easily the most delicious liberal call-out heard in years.

"Critical Acclaim" also unleashes A7X's newest vocal talent - The Rev. His "Sebastian Bach on heroine" vocal styling is interesting to say the least and plays an important role throughout the album.

The classic thrash of "Almost Easy" continues the upbeat journey, complete with trip-licks courtesy of The Rev and a monster chorus. Following suit is "Scream," which possesses an extremely dark vibe, complimented with one of the most interesting ascensions and dissensions of scale heard to date.

"Afterlife" proves to be the first explicit differentiation, as it opens with mournful strings and paints a heavy picture of the young dying and trying to escape the afterlife in hopes of resurrecting what was lost. This fascinating display of self-examination and self-regret ends with the most impressive Synyster Gates solo yet.

"Gunslinger" is yet another dissension, as it starts off with M. Shadows delivering smooth vocals, only accompanied by a plucky, acoustic Gates riff. The Southern Rock vibe is strangely welcome and the moment in which the strings go electric is the kind of thing that raises goose bumps.

Shadows' vocals throughout the album are smoother and more melodic than ever before. He has truly come into his own, developing a sound similar to that of Phil Anselmo of the now defunct Pantera.

"A Little Piece of Heaven" is an absolute triumph. With the help of Danny Elfman's go-to guys Oingo Boingo, it sounds as if it's the center-piece of a yet-to-come Tim Burton epic. The dark, yet circusy vibe, complete with full orchestration, vocal give-and-take between Shadows and The Rev. and A7X's darkest lyrics to date add up to undoubtedly the biggest accomplishment of their career.

Concluding the ride is "Dear God," an outright country track. Somehow Avenged manage to pull this off, creating their most heartfelt song to date. It obviously wouldn't be an Avenged track without a solo, which is provided over the last minute of this monster country ballad.

"Dear God/ the only thing I ask of you is to hold her when I'm not around/ when I'm much too far away/ we all need that person who can be true to you/ I left her when I found her/ And now I wish I'd stayed," sings Shadows.

Avenged Sevenfold is a career-defining album. This self-produced masterpiece reaches heights not even remotely envisioned within the parameters of today's metal genre. This is a musical journey that will not soon be forgotten.

Let me make it short and simple because no matter how much I take moment to say my opinion and prove a point, some "fans" will always take my word as something bad and immature... here goes, People grow up, minds open up and words evolve along with the melodies, to Avenged Sevenfold there's more than meets the eye... Yes I know yesterday fans will find a bad review to anyone who thinks avenged keeps getting better since city of evil... This is my case, if not very well appreciated... My advice ... If you like singing more than screaming, Buy it with no hesitation as this album expresses a new sound to this Yet Rock Band, very well crafted album, it really is quality... Such a good album, too bad I'll get many unhelpful votes as these "fans" will click for fun and ignorance instead of finding the real art in music. And really getting to grow up with the bands that have made them rock the heck out of a concert or party. In conclusion, this album is 5 stars hands down with 2 thumbs up!!!!

Ok. Thing with this album is, in order to like this album, you have to be a fan of AVENGED SEVENFOLD, or a new listener. Not particularly a fan of Waking the Fallen, or City of Evil, or...eh, Warmness and Sounding something or other. This album is NOT like the others, but no one should be surprised, because thats exactly what the band said before it came out.
This album is awesome. There are songs that will make you raise an eyebrow(if you're one of those people who can) but as you really listen to them, you FEEL it. Gunslinger, for example, is mindblowing to me, but when it started I was thinking...'what the..?'. A Little Piece of Heaven, is the craziest, and longest. If you watch the MVI, The Rev wrote it, and he and Shadows went crazy singing it, so you can only imagine. Brompton Cocktail, could be my favorite, or Scream, or Gunslinger, which has the deepest lyrics, I think. Which is another good thing to this CD. The lyrics.
All in all, if you're one of those people expecting another City of Evil, Waking the Fallen, or Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, you wont get it. This still has the Avenged Sevenfold feel, just with a different sound. So try it. I never spend my sad little amounts of money on music that isnt top notch.

If it's one thing this cd made apparent to me is that A7X has range which is a good thing. I must have listen to this cd more than 2 dozen times and every time i keep hearing things that i hadn't heard from the previous listen. I know a lot of people are bashing these guy these days, but that's to be expected when a band tries something new. It just proves that not only do they have range, but they have the ballz to go where no other metal/hard rock acts would even dare to step. Though the entire album was awesome i can't help but think of 'A Little Piece of Heaven's' tim burton style song structure and excellent(dark) story that compliments it. This song to me is by far the most out-landish on the cd, but some how the boys pull it off and with style. 'Dear God' is yet another surprise and proves that even bad boys have a heart. Now i admit i wasn't totally crazy about this one the first go around, but when it picks up somewhere half through with the guitar solos, it again proves just how far the band is willing to go to try something new. M. Shadows shows his maturity as well by demonstrating just how far his vocals have developed since his surgery, and even since Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet. He gives his best vocal performance to date. Overall, A7X lets critics and fans know they're still here and are going to be here for a long time to come.

I get a chuckle reading the reviews every time these guys come out with an album. So, to be proactive; I have come up with a standardized oath.

Raise your right hand, and repeat after me.

"I, (Your Name Here) do solemnly swear to stand on my soap box, publicly trash this album, and call the band sell-outs. I will uphold this standard for a period of approximately 2 years. Upon completing said duration; I will then repeat this process upon the release of their next album, for reasons including (but not limited to) the fact it does not sound like this album."

Now that we've gotten the formalities out of the way; let's get to the fun.

Oh, I almost forgot; if you can't hear the elements of 'Waking The Fallen' on this album, I recommend an ice pick to pierce the tin in your ears.

The one thing that jumps out at me on this CD is the album length. It's far shorter than their previous two efforts, but it flies right by. Kicking off with 'Critical Acclaim'; M. Shadows (displaying a fully healed voice) simultaneously displays a previously untapped vocal range in the pre-chorus, and dusts off an old one with some tastefully placed screaming.

The production has more low end than any of their previous 3 albums. Given that the album is the band's first crack at self production; they get an 'A' for effort. Some of the songs require some tweaking on your stereo EQ due to the aforementioned production.

It's hard to fault them for switching gears to a more groove oriented approach, then again; give 'Waking The Fallen' a listen...you'll realize it's been there all along. After all; to top the all out instrumental insanity (in a good way) of 'City Of Evil' would have resulted in them sounding like Dragonforce with a different frontman...nothing wrong with that...but one Nintendo metal act is enough.

Yes, there are fewer solos this time around...but it's well worth the listen.As with every album they've put out thus far; A7X is always good for a few curveballs. From the speedy piano loop on 'Unbound (The Wild Ride)' (which also features what sounds like a little girl singing at the end), to the almost country 'Dear God'. The influences mesh seamlessly which has long been a staple of theirs. The guitar work of Gates/Vengeance is as tricky as ever, but a bit more subtle this time around.

The biggest surprise of the album would have to be 'A Little Piece Of Heaven'. I don't want to give anything away; but Tim Burton and Robert Rodriguez should collaborate with the band if a video should ever be made.



The only low point of the album (which I only call low because it drags the momentum of the album a bit) is 'Brompton Cocktail' (despite being an excellent song). Other than that 'Avenged Sevenfold' is solid from beginning to end

I said after the release of City of Evil time and time again, A7X will save rock and roll.

With their newest release, I believe they have done just that.

Avenged Sevenfold I also argue is probably the most important band in rock music right now after putting out this offering. And I will explain why.

In a world full of copycats, one hit wonders, wannabes, repeats, and people who just plain cannot play, A7X doesn't do anything new or anything that has not been done before. However, what they do, they do very well. And, they play the hell out of their instruments.

A7X takes virtually every kind of old school metal influence, and perfects it. From M. Shadows' gravelly Axl Rose-like howling on "Gunslinger" and "Dear God" to his sinister growl reminiscient of the Waking the Fallen days on "Critical Acclaim". Shadows is probably the best frontman on the market right now. The Rev is the best drummer in metal, hands down. Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengance's riffs, solos, and complementation of each other reminds us of Slash and Izzy Stradlin of the old school GNR days.

Whether A7X is playing the furious, and driving beats of "Almost Easy" or the operatic and grandious "A little peice of heaven" A7X leaves almost no influence unturned on this record. Shades of Iron Maiden, Guns N Roses, Van Halen, and Metallica run rampant in this release.

And while some old A7X fans dedicated to the old A7X records and the punk sound may not quite dig this record, It is a very important step for the whole of metal, and a very important step for this band. Avenged takes a solid stand in the very unsure world of metal music.

And I think they score big.

Where can I possibly start? I love heavy metal and hard rock. What I don't love is stupid loud screaming in agony. That's why I love Kamelot (check em out!) That's also why I like this album. I'm not a diehard A7X fan - I'd only listened to City of Evil before listening to this. I like the coupling of hard, fast music and, while loud and potentially yelling, somewhat "clean" vocals. It's obvious that Shadows is no Josh Groban, yet his voice is so engulfing that it draws you in. He treads the line between singing and screaming, which is a very fine line indeed. That's why I love this album. The songs are catchy, sing-along-ish, and smart (save for a couple...). Other reviewers are looking at this album through their old-school fan eyes (which isn't bad-it's the only way they can). I view this CD from the vantage of a relative newcomer. As such, I am probably more inclined to enjoy this than others. Maybe that was A7X's point. They probably want to draw new fans in. They just have to be careful not to alienate their old ones.
I'm going to give a quick review of the song list below:

"Critical Acclaim" - It is so refreshing to hear a conservative viewpoint about the war in popular music today. No, I don't support the war effort. But I still appreciate and respect what those brave men are doing over there. This song merely gives a shout-out (quite literally!) to those soldiers. Oh, and by the way, it's a good song. (4/5)

"Almost Easy" - Like others have stated, the first time I heard this, I was about the opposite of blown away. But after listening to it over and over again, it really does grow on you. Any song about insanity is good, right? (3.5/5)

"Scream" - A pretty weak offering to be sure, but nonetheless catchy. Lyrics are nothing to go crazy over, but I do like the lines "Scream, scream, scream, the way you would if I ravaged your body/your mind!" He he he. (3/5)

"Afterlife" - Another ultimately forgettable song. Nice, catchy, not without its good points...but still forgettable. (3/5)

"Gunslinger" - This one I love. It's got the same old western feel as the opening to "Strength Of The World" did on City Of Evil. Starts out slow, picks up into full metal mode later on. A smart offering on their part. (4/5)

"Unbound (The Wild Ride)" - Very nice mic-straining yelling on this one. One of my favorites. (5/5)

"Brompton Cocktail" - Again, a very nice job on the vocals. I always love when they go for the loud, bombastic style of singing, instead of barking out nonsense. (5/5)

"Lost" - I know everyone is putting this song down for it's super-pop attitude and use of strange digital synth vocals. I love it for these aspects. It's unique, it's different, it's unexpected. (4/5)

"A Little Piece Of Heaven" - Yes, we all know it's weird. It's also a very good step in Broadway's direction. Very stagey and carnival-esque. Neat. (3.75/5)

"Dear God" - A country outing that is surprisingly good in my mind. Again, unique and inspiring. (4/5)

Overall, this album is a great step for A7X's new melodic style. It's rare to find a CD where every single song is good and you can listen to the whole thing without skipping anything. Thankfully, Avenged Sevenfold have done it.

the first thing i heard off this cd was "a little piece of heaven" and i was just like "wtf is this??" it sounds like a little bit of system of a down and a lot of theatrical sounding background music that could be on a score to a tim burton flick. i bought the cd after a friend recommended it and i've been hooked on it since. the last cds i listened to this many times the first month i owned them was pearl jam's vs. or pantera's vulgar display of power and they came out a long time ago! this album has that special something that could and should put these guys on the map like they never imagined.

the songs are arranged really well. the guitar work is sick. the drumming is awesome. and unlike other cds i've bought recently every song is different. i can listen to the whole cd without skipping a single track. you can hear their influences yet they retain an original sound.

don't listen to the haters that bash this cd...give it a shot. if you're hoping for a metalcore/punk cd like these guys started out doing, forget it. if you own their other albums, you already know A7X tends to reinvent their sound a little with every one they release. you can hear a little bit of every previous album's style, yet this one is really different.

as for the shmucks that say this is a pro iraq war cd they have no idea what their talking about. if they would just shut their mouths and read the lyrics you can see the band doesn't take a stance for or against the war, they are just giving a sick shoutout to the brave men and women that fight for our freedom. the only thing they bash is people that talk so much smack against the war, they forget to think about the soldiers that die for our freedom and give us the right to have an unfavorable opinion of a war (an action many nations punish their citizens for.) you can see they obviously have people they care about in the service and are dedicating some really good tracks to them.

i personally like every song on this album. some more than others, some i loved the first time i heard them and others grew on me. to sum it up, buy this cd!!!