Avenged Sevenfold is probably one of the greatest albums this band has ever done. Even if you do not like this band, I recommend giving them a chance with this CD. If there is at least one song you like from Avenged Sevenfold's arsenal of music, I can guarantee it will be from this album. There are so many influences music references in this one album. Metal. Punk. Pop. Country. Jazz. Classical. Goth Rock. Just by having so many different influences, I have to say this is Avenged Sevenfold's greatest project. In fact, my friend Ray said "After listening to this CD, I no longer doubt Avenged Sevenfold's songwriting genius"
Also, once again, Avenged Sevenfold shows this genius by writing about topics that may not be the most embracing by society. Topics such as the nation (Critical Acclaim), the soldiers (Gunslinger), a deadly disease, most likely Cancer (Brompton Cocktail), and psychotic murders (A Little Piece of Heaven).
*****- Five Stars for creativity, uniqueness of songs, and amazing lyrics and themes.
(This is an achievement, because I only gave Waking the Fallen and City of Evil **** */2 because some the songs had a similar pattern)
Critical Acclaim - The first single on the CD. It has been released a while back and is an interesting piece of work. Its a metal song, but the verses are not sung, but conveyed as a rant about the state of the country. This is the first song that the Rev is featured vocally, but it won't be the last. Probably one of the most recognizable songs on the CD.
Almost Easy- This song was also released last month. Its a simple metal song that has an amazing video to accompany it. This song was supposed to be in the Transformers soundtrack, but was not complete. Plain and simple modern metal style. This is easily the most recognizable song on the album.
Scream- Played at the Scream awards recently. Originally, I thought this song was going to be a throwback to the Sounding the Seventh Trumpet and Waking the Fallen era. It is not, however. I really do not know how to describe this song. It is similarly to Almost Easy, only heavier.
Afterlife- One of my favorite songs on the CD. With a very interesting orchestral introduction. The gold of the song is definitely the chorus. Its extremely catchy and paints a beautiful imagery. This was heard on Loveline last week. The guitar solo is another song to the list that shows just how amazing Synyster Gates is.
Gunslinger- Another song that has a country/cowboy feel. During the intro, I can't help but think of 'Blaze of Glory' by Bon Jovi. After a few verses of acoustic cowboy-Esq guitar, the metal kicks in and holds until the end. When analyzed, the lyrics represent the Soldiers in Iraq.
Unbound (The Wild Ride)- The greatest part of this song is the sixteenth note chromatics on the piano during the verses. The guitars take this eventually also. I actually think that this song is a throwback to City of Evil, specifically 'Betrayed'. Not many people may catch this, but it is a reference that I cannot really explain, but I feel in the music.
Brompton Cocktail- An interesting song, none the less. It opens with a high pitched guitar part that sounds almost synthetic and an interesting drum part. When the electric guitars kick in. This song has a feel that I can only describe as a mix of heavy blues and metal. This is also the saddest song on the album. To understand this, you must understand what a Brompton Cocktail is. A Brompton Cocktails an elixir made from morphine or heroin, cocaine, highly-pure ethyl alcohol, and sometimes chlorpromazine (Thorazine) or even cannabis and Advil liquigels given to terminally-ill individuals, especially cancer patients, to relieve pain and promote sociability near death. When you hear the lyrics "I'm not running away, been fighting this for so long." and "I won't struggle on", it really sets the tone as depressing.
Lost- The intro is reminiscent of 'Critical Acclaim' except that it has guitar play that is mimicked by the second. This pattern holds true, even when the thrash metal and drum part kick in. The majority of this song has a light thrash sound with a very interesting chorus of M. Shadows and The Rev with the talk box distorting their voices slightly. It has an amazing effect and is probably my favorite chorus on the entire album. The slight voice distortion is what makes this my favorite song.
A Little Piece of Heaven- I looked at the title and thought "Oh, OK, another 'Seize the Day'-Esq ballad. After listening to this song, I was entirely wrong. This is probably the darkest song on the album. It is about love though, but it doesn't fit the ballad style at all. Its the opposite. Still, it is an amazing song, one of my favorites, if not my top favorite. The Rev and M. Shadows do an amazing duet at the end. The song itself is about a couple with a strong relationship. The man kills the woman because he was afraid of the relationship falling apart. It hints that the man was psychotic when it says "She was never this good in bed, even when she was sleepin'" and eventually is haunted by the spirit, as evident in the line "Now an angry soul comes back from beyond the grave, to repossess a body with which I'd misbehaved". Even though this topic is no laughing matter, it is still beautifully written and thus is the reason why the fans voted this song their favorite on the album.
Dear God- When I heard this song was a country song, I was horrified. But I was confident that Avenged Sevendfold would definitely switch it up a bit. And they did. Its beginning has a slight country feel. Halfway, a metal guitar part with the country part still going. Its in genius.
