|
|
|
|
|
|
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
"Life Is But a
Dream" (Warner Records; 2023)
Reviewed by Snidermann
I first experienced Avenged Sevenfold about fifteen years ago; however, this is my first review of the group.
Their latest release, "Life Is But A Dream," is a warp speed delve into someone's self-indulgent, twisted mind ... and I say that in a most positive way. This music goes from one heavy extreme to another with nary a beat missed. The first cut, "Game Over," is an explosive, extremely fast song that could be (or should be) considered a cardiovascular work out in itself. In a word, wow! Heavy drum and bass-driven music that propels each song forward at a blistering pace. Killer lyrics, production value off the charts, superb musicianship and sheer brutality of the music make it all the more entertaining.
If you like music that makes your eyes bleed, your eyes bulge and your heart palpitate, Avenge Sevenfold is the band you're looking for. After fifteen years, the band knows what the fuck they are doing and they just keep doing it!
For more information, check out http://www.avengedsevenfold.com.
"Live in
the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough" (Warner Bros; 2008)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
If you've never seen Avenged Sevenfold in concert then you should pick up this DVD/CD combo. It will give you an awesome show that was recorded on April 10, 2008 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA (I hope you didn't need clarification). This DVD supports their headlining the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour. The CD does not couple the DVD, so you get tons of music in video format and audio. I'll call them Avenged Tenfold for the musical contribution!
The DVD is filmed with a great sound and is 102 minutes long with all the extras. Instead of just watching vids online you can have a whole concert with some of their best material performed live. Songs are taken from "Waken the Fallen," "City of Evil," and "Avenged Sevenfold."
The CD is chock full of rare songs and B-sides that were recorded during their last CD, "Avenged Sevenfold" (see my review below). On this CD they cover an Iron Maiden song titled "Flash of the Blade." WOW! They do a great job with the vocals and harmonies and who doesn't love an Iron Maiden song being played at full volume? They also cover "Walk" by Pantera. For those who think they have all the Avenged Sevenfold that has been released they should not pass up this disc. This band has started to grow on me and now that Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater is behind the drum kit these guys are only going to get better. (R.I.P. The Rev).
Avenged Sevenfold: M. Shadows ? lead vocals; Synyster
Gates ? lead guitar, backing vocals; Zacky Vengeance ? rhythm guitar, backing
vocals; Johnny Christ ? bass guitar, backing vocals; The Rev - Drums, backing
vocals.
For more information, check out
http://www.avengedsevenfold.com.
"Avenged Sevenfold" (Warner Bros; 2007)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
Avenged Sevenfold have unleashed the "Deathbat" once again and shoved their punk/metal fist right in your face. I had listened to some of their stuff around "City Of Evil" and it was tight then. Their sound stays pretty much the same here but with a little bit of leaning toward a more melodic tone. Fans who expect to shackle Avenge Sevenfold to a certain sound might not like their venture into new territory but it still sounds good no matter what anybody might say.
Before this CD ever saw the florescent lights of a music store you could practically find songs and stuff about this release all over the internet. Warner Bros. was not happy about all the song snippets being leaked but whatcha gonna do? This disc is heavy in some places and light and weird in others. The tracks titled "Gunslinger," "A Little Piece Of Heaven" and "Dear God" are prime examples of odd tunes among the other hard cuts.
The music is very experimental and if you think they should be judged by their album artwork don't make that mistake. The guitar is very cool and I like how it just comes in and out of a song at times, I think they have a foot firmly planted in the investigative sound but with an untied shoe to prove they are still in a trial period.
Avenged Sevenfold: M. Shadows ? lead vocals, keyboards;
Synyster Gates ? lead guitar, backing vocals; Zacky Vengeance ? rhythm guitar,
backing vocals; Johnny Christ ? bass, backing vocals; The Rev ? drums,
percussion, backing vocals.
For more information, check out
http://www.avengedsevenfold.com/ and
http://www.myspace.com/avengedsevenfold.
"City
of Evil" (Warner Bros; 2005)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Avenged Sevenfold's big label debut continues where "Waking the Fallen" left off, delivering another set of unique punk-infused metal that some will find intriguing and fresh while others, mostly purists, will simply hate it.
Surprisingly, "City of Evil" reminds me of the symphonic power metal of Helloween, but with vocals that are often more modern, a la the clean side of Mushroomhead. Often, but not always. Sometimes the vocals here are more straight-forward and typical of the genre. They may be straight forward and typical but at least they are never boring.
"City of Evil" is complex, heavy and sometimes surprising. Avenged Sevenfold are a band obviously unafraid of taking risks to get the sound they want. Witness the orchestral passages in "The Wicked End" and the just over nine minute epic "Strength of the World" as well as the falsetto voices that sometimes stand out in the choruses.
This CD should readily appeal to fans of the band's previous CD as well as bring new fans into the fold. It does run out of steam a bit just after track nine, coasting along until finally kicking back in somewhere in the middle of track 11, but considering the strength of the rest of the CD, that's a minor complaint.
Avenged Sevenfold: M. Shadows - vocals; Synyster Gates - lead guitar; Zacky Vengeance - guitar; Johnny Christ - bass; The Rev - drums.
For more information, check out http://www.avengedsevenfold.com.
"Waking
the Fallen" (Hopeless; 2003)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
Avenged Sevenfold is an Orange County, CA quintet who looks like AFI but rock with the power of Iron Maiden.
On the outfit's latest release, the 12-track "Waking the Fallen," streams of epic metal blend inside a West Coast hardcore attitude, making songs like "Unholy Confessions" palatable to skaters and metalheads alike.
A7X's method of metal incorporates mammoth guitar gallops, intricate song structures, and a taste for the supernatural a la King Diamond. Almost sounding Swedish before the rough edged, non-falsetto vocals kick in, this band is the definitive offspring of parents that grew up on metal bands like Dio and Helloween yet live in perpetual sunshine.
For a glimpse of how today's metal kids interpret the old school sounds, check out the impressive offering by this burgeoning group.
For more information, check out http://www.avengedsevenfold.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright ? 2023 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
