AVENGED SEVENFOLD — Avenged Sevenfold (review)

AVENGED SEVENFOLD — Avenged Sevenfold album cover

Album · 2007 · Alternative Metal

5/5 · 2010-10-05
arcane-beautiful

There is a lot of controversy over this band, and to be honest, I’m not completely sure why. I think it’s because their popular, but I have never really gotten into that whole sceenester approach to music, because it in itself is conforming to a paradoxical stereotype.

I have always like Avenged Sevenfold, and yes they’ve had their weak moments, their ups and downs, but over all, they’re an amazing band, showing off a good amount and not too OTT, and they also can write some great “SONGS!”, a thing some metal bands are leaving out today.

This sadly was their last album with The Rev, before his untimely death, and his drumming and surprisingly his vocals are amazing and really make the album what it is.

This album is actually nearly flawless. Every song is a real landmark, and by far this is their most polished, experimental and best album they ever made.

1. Critical Acclaim - An amazing start. Very epic, angry and has a lot of interesting moments. The Revs vocals in the chorus are powerful as hell. The middle section is probably one of the greatest things they have ever written with the odd chord changes and amazing lead break. 10/10

2. Almost Easy - An great pop metal song. The vocal harmonies in the chorus are just spellbinding. I also love the Richard Christey influenced drumming. 10/10

3. Scream - Very poppy and very rocking. Great chorus with some great vocal harmonies. 10/10

4. Afterlife - The album version is way better than the single. Great use of orchestration. Again, very radio friendly. 10/10

5. Gunslinger - The arrangement is quite odd, with the acoustic section, and then a heavier development. Still wonderfully done though. 10/10

6. Unbound (The Wild Ride) - Power Metal influence? This does have quite a thrashy rhythm, but this song is one of their most dynamic, with a load of twists and turns and some amazing choir and orchestral sections. M. Shadows vocals in the chorus are quite spectacular. 10/10

7. Brompton Cocktail - Symphonic Metal influence? This song has quite a gothic feel to it. Great string section arrangement. 9/10

8. Lost - Another radio friendly song with vocorder. It is odd to hear a vocorder in a metal song, unless you’re Cynic, and you abuse it as much as you can. This song does it just right. God, can these guys write a good chorus. 10/10

9. A Little Piece Of Heaven - This song is very odd, but in a good way. Probably their most pompous thing to date. The lyrics are funny, and the arrangement is amazing, with a whole orchestra playing an almost Zappa like composition. The Rev shows off his best vocal performance, especially near the end. 10/10

10. Dear God - I really don’t like this song to much, but it is incredibly well written, with some great arrangements. 8/10

CONCLUSION: This album is one of those rare, almost perfect albums. I will always like this album, and I don’t think one song has ever really bored or annoyed me. Just a modern masterpiece really, entering dimensions and shocking critics, that’s the Avenged way.