Play it Loud

Upon first listening to Avenged Sevenfold’s latest, self-titled effort it’s hard to tell if it’s 1988 or 2008. It starts with an organ slowly playing a demonic riff; then a squealing electric guitar and heavy drums kick in and take over. Just when it starts to sound like a Dio album, an assaulting scream and blast beats make it clear this is no mistake; it is indeed an A7X album. This opening track, called “Critical Acclaim,” careens from this heavy assault into a groovy modern rock riff, then shifts into a rap-inspired rant by vocalist M. Shadows with lyrics like “So how does it feel to know that someone’s kid in the heart of America/Has blood on their hands, fighting to defend your rights/So you can maintain a lifestyle that insults his family’s existence?”This eclectic musical journey happening all within the first song sets the tone for an ambitious album which boasts such extravagances as string arrangements, guest vocalists, and pianos. Don’t be fooled by the bells and whistles. A7X seems to have something to prove in the heaviness department. This isn’t surprising, considering M. Shadows didn’t scream most of his vocals on City of Evil and after it went gold inevitable cries of “sell-out” came from some die-hard fans. This new album heads back to A7X’s heavier metalcore roots with expansive, scale- laden guitar work and heavy drum beats while maintaining the catchy song sensibilities of City of Evil. Songs like “Afterlife” and “Lost” prove that though A7X likes to experiment, they haven’t gone soft and M. Shadows does occasionally scream. “Almost Easy”, one of the singles, has modern rock sensibilities, with its catchy refrain “I’m not insane, I’m not insane” but is played with distinctively metalcore style. “Unbound” is one of the most interesting tracks on the album, with a piano incorporated into the verses along with the fast-paced guitar shredding and beautiful vocals by guest Annmarie Rizzo.

A7X is at its best when playing heavy, progressive, metal music, which Avenged Sevenfold delivers 7 fold.