Avenged Sevenfold – Avenged Sevenfold Review:
Avenged Sevenfold made their mark in the metal scene with their controversial self titled fourth studio album, Avenged Sevenfold, in 2007. With a blend of heavy metal, hard rock, and alternative metal, the California quintet delivers a thrilling and eclectic listening experience that showcases their undeniable musical prowess. Little did the fondest A7X fans know that, after the launch of “City of Evil”, the music style of the the group will turn into a more experimental band. This Avenged Sevenfold album is also known for being the last for not only the main source of creative inspiration of the band, but also one of the musicians with the highest potential I have ever witnessed to listen: James Owen “Jimmy” Sullivan. In addition to this, plenty of the tracks of this singular album were written by him.
A7X Self titled album production and critic
As it couldn’t be otherwise, the release of this album was not pleasing to all Avenged Sevenfold fans, but every change has its consequences and, in this case, they were not too serious. In fact, in terms of popularity in the mainstream scene, it was a success. Regarding the production of this album, there is little to highlight in relation to aspects to improve, as usually happens with albums from this group. The sound of The Rev’s drums stands out above all, with an infinite number of sound resources and perfectly mixed in the studio to achieve a different effect in each song.
The biggest cons for me are the tracks “Dear God”, “Unbound” and “A Little Piece of Heaven”. The idea of innovating was evident though the final result, from my point of view, did not reach the standards of other songs of the album.
The Rev, M. Shadows and Synister Gates dominate
Evaluating the level of the band’s formation on this album, I consider that M. Shadows reached his peak as a vocalist, dominating with incredible registers and adapting to any musical structure. It was also precisely the best moment of The Rev, who unfortunately left us too soon to have seen everything he would have been capable of demonstrating, if he had not already demonstrated it up to that point… A true genius. Also, Synyster Gates is a musician known for his unpredictable and diverse use of scales and chords. Every time his guitar solo takes flight, listeners can expect the unexpected. Just when you think he’ll go in one direction, Gates surprises with a completely different direction altogether, just like it happens through all of the album, particularly in tracks like “Lost” and “Critical Acclaim”.
Avenged Sevenfold: Tracklist
- Critical Acclaim
- Almost Easy
- Scream
- Afterlife
- Gunslinger
- Unbound (The Wild Ride)
- Brompton Cocktail
- Lost
- A Little Piece of Heaven
- Dear God
Avenged Sevenfold: Top 5 tracks from worst to best
It is convenient to establish a classification among all songs of this unique album in order to make your first impression easier, even though the selection is purely based in my own point of view:
Afterlife – 5º
Here we find a pretty enjoyable and catchy song, marked by a theatrical touch. But what makes “Afterlife” truly remarkable is the band’s ability to blend a variety of musical elements into a cohesive whole. From the classical-inspired orchestral arrangements to the heavy metal guitar riffs, the song incorporates diverse influences to create a unique and captivating sound.
Gunslinger – 4º
This ballad merges country music style with heavy metal. Notwithstanding, it has enough power to maintain the energy levels produced in the previous songs yet the lyrics are quite emotional and nostalgic.
Critical Acclaim – 3º
This song was picked out to be the first single of the album. Great decision by the way. Powerful rythms and lyrics form a song which is easier to mantain the attention to.
Lost – 2º
Synyster Gates is the main character here with his guitar masterclass. Incredible emotional guitar solo which requieres an outstanding technique. The drumming by The Rev is also brilliant, alternating between lightning and more relaxed beats.
Almost Easy – 1º
Probably one of my favourite songs of the entire discography of Avenged Sevenfold. I has all that I want when listening to them: creative drumming, strong riffs and a mixture between emotion and fun component.
Avenged Sevenfold – Avenged Sevenfold: Final Critic.
Overall, this is fun album to listen to. Moreover, for the ones who are not completly familiarised with the world of metal, this an excelent way to start getting used to enjoying this genre. Here you can listen listen to the full album.
