AVENGED SEVENFOLD – Avenged Sevenfold

The career of the American band Avenged Sevenfold started out in 1999. However, their success in mainstream came only three years ago, in 2005 with the album City Of Evil. They have always been a band that wanted to experiment and to mix the music they like. The result of this is their latest release, a self-titled album, which was released in October of 2007. They wanted this record to be a surprise and it sure was! Avenged Sevenfold is a mix of the band you already know with many new exciting elements.

Opening song ”Critical Acclaim” starts out with a classic Metal-type intro. Then it goes into a more Metalcore-inspired theme with lots of experimental guitar playing. It’s highly energetic and aggressive. The vocalist does a fantastic job as well, making many very interesting vocal harmonies and other ways to use his voice — like sometimes a more whispering style of singing. It varies between intense and soft-singing, which makes this song very cool. “Critical Acclaim” is truly a song worthy of a ride in your CD-player!

“Almost Easy” is the second song heading out of this album. It’s one of the leading singles as well and it’s quite understandable. It’s accurate, energetic, and very catchy.

The style of Avenged Sevenfold is very multi-faceted and they are a band that has developed throughout their almost ten-year career. In the beginning they were a Metalcore band, but have gradually taken Punk elements and Soft Rock into their sound. On this effort, they present you to another change in their sound with violins in the beginning of the fourth song entitled “Afterlife,” or the horn music that appears in the song “A Little Piece Of Heaven.” Isn’t that original? A little weird, but it sure sounds cool. The record ends with the Country-inspired song “Dear God,” which features steel guitar. It’s a special song when it comes to Avenged Sevenfold, but there’s nothing you’ve never heard before in it. It’s a turn-off ending the record with this song, making it explode would maybe have a greater effect. But, it is up to the different individuals to decide, it’s all about taste isn’t it?

Avenged Sevenfold is a fresh record, which should certainly appeal to most Metal fans. It’s a varied record, and they tried to create something new, and they do really succeed in that purpose! Check it out! It is worth it! Seeing them open up for Iron Maiden this summer will definitely be exciting!

Songs that should be checked out:
“Critical Acclaim”
“Afterlife”
“A Little Piece Of Heaven”