AVENGED SEVENFOLD — Nightmare (review)

AVENGED SEVENFOLD — Nightmare album cover

Album · 2010 · Heavy Metal

4/5 · 2010-12-12
UMUR

"Nightmare" is the 5th full-length studio album by US heavy rock/metal act Avenged Sevenfold. The album was released through Warner Bros. Records in July 2010. Be warned that there are two versions of the album available. One uncensored version and one censored version where the word "Fuckin´" is edited out of the title track. So I advice that you take a listen to the opening track (the title track) on the album, before purchasing your copy to make sure you get the uncensored version. Censorship is the enemy of freedom of speech if you ask me and I hope Avenged Sevenfold fans will join together and boycot the censored abomination. So with that little issue out of the way, let´s talk about the album (and yes I´m lucky enough to have the uncensored version).

There´s been quite a significant lineup change since the release of the self-titled 4th studio album in 2007, as drummer The Rev passed away due to a drug overdose in December 2009. He is replaced here by session drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, OSI, Transatlantic...etc.).

Avenged Sevenfold play an generally mainstream oriented melodic heavy rock/metal style on this release. The metalcore tag that is sometimes applied to the band´s music isn´t really that suiting anymore and hasn´t been for a couple of albums. It´s now the third album in a row without distorted vocals and the band have since "City of Evil (2005)" moved closer and closer to a more traditional heavy rock/metal sound albeit of the most accessible and mainstream oriented kind. References to acts such as Metallica, Guns´n´Roses, and when the band are most harsh Pantera, wouldn´t be totally wrong. Add to that melodic lead guitar work and harmonies that recall Iron Maiden and the references to some of the most classic metal acts are complete. In addition to that "Nightmare" actually features quite a few progressive elements, which is something you´ll rarely find in music this accessible. It´s quite the achivement to incorporate progressive ideas into accessible/mainstream oriented music without sacrificing accessibility but it´s something Avenged Sevenfold do naturally. All music (and drum patterns) were written before Mike Portnoy entered the lineup, so the mentioned progressive tendencies are not due to his presence.

Lead vocalist M. Shadows is a skilled and versatile singer and while the rest of the band are very well playing too, and the instrumental side of the music is generally very interesting, it´s M. Shadows voice that defines the sound of Avenged Sevenfold. His nasal delivery is personal, distinct sounding, intense and powerful. He is one of those rare cases of vocalists who are instantly recognisable.

There are 11 tracks on the 66:47 minutes long album and while I usually think albums that long have an unfortunate tendency to overstay their welcome I find that I´m well entertained throughout the full playing time of "Nightmare". That spells quality. Tracks like "Welcome to the Family", "Nightmare", "Danger Line", the strongly Pantera influenced "God Hates Us", and the 10:56 progressive closing track "Save Me" are among the highlights. Even the more power ballad type tracks aren´t that bad, and I´m usually pretty harsh on those.

Overall "Nightmare" is a stronger and more interesting album than the self-titled album from 2007 but not quite as unique and innovative as "City of Evil (2005)", but overall it´s a high quality metal album deserving a 4 star (80%) rating. It´s great to hear an act with a personal sound that understand and master the balance between accessibility and writing interesting music.