After teasing new music for the past couple of months, Avenged Sevenfold have unveiled a new track, “Mad Hatter” which is featured in the upcoming video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. Additionally, the band will be releasing a new 4-song EP entitled Black Reign this Friday via Warner Bros. Records. This marks the 4th time that Avenged Sevenfold has collaborated with Call of Duty to release a song in conjunction with a new game. The Black Reign EP will compile all 4 songs that A7X has released for the Call of Duty franchise.

Musically speaking, the song rides a slithering mid-tempo groove and a precise series of chugging guitar riffs to complement a strong vocal performance from M. Shadows. As one would expect from A7X, there are plenty of soaring guitar leads, complimenting the vocals. Eventually, the song breaks down into a jazzy clean section, that sees lead guitarist Synyster Gates playing some lyrical guitar solos that mimic classic jazz saxophone playing. “Mad Hatter” represents another stylistic evolution for the band, as it shows off the progressive side of their songwriting and goes in some unexpected directions.

There is still no word yet on when Avenged Sevenfold will go into the studio to record a new full-length album as they are still trying to resolve a lengthy legal dispute with their record label, though the band did reissue their latest record, The Stage, earlier this year. There has been little other activity from the band as they were forced to cancel their massive North American tour with the Prophets of Rage due to lead singer M. Shadows needing to go on vocal rest.

You can listen to “Mad Hatter” in the player below.

Photo credit Mauricio Alvarado