City
Of Evil is
Avenged Sevenfold’s third album and their first being signed to Warner Bros.
With the success of their 2003 album Waking The Fallen, - a dark and mysterious one at that,
thrusting them into the spotlight, you have to wonder why they would want to
change a thing. But if fans ran out in anticipation to buy what they thought
would turn out to be somewhat of a Waking The Fallen part 2, you
would have to think they would be greatly disappointed to learn, that the
blistering screams and scratchy production style that hardcore fans came to
love is virtually non – existent. Then again that disappointment wouldn’t have
lasted long. City Of Evil is an album that A7X simply needed to
make. An album that will define how much their music has matured and just why
exactly they are one of the best, if not, the best band in the world right now.
It is an album that will ensure nobody easily forgets about them, at the same
time, it will wash away any doubts you might have had about them.
Hailing
from Huntington Beach, California, Avenged Sevenfold has always been greatly
influenced by everything from Metallica to Guns N’ Roses, from The Misfits to
Mr Bungle. They have become a band that is well known for its versatile playing
and style of music. And with this album, they will become one band that can say
they have discovered their own style of playing and can hold their own
alongside any other band in the world.
With
no track on this album lasting less than 5 minutes, and the longest lasting a
lengthy near 9 and a half minutes long, there is a certain swagger about the
band and music alike. Whether it’s front man M Shadows flexing his vocal chords
beyond reason, or the fact that this album contains some of the most exciting
and fascinating guitar solos and duels (performed by guitar maestros Synyster
Gates and Zacky Vengeance) you will have ever heard, there is not an ounce of
disappointment among the 11 tracks.
The
first track Beast and the Harlot sets a precedent for the rest of the
album. It has attitude, pulse-pounding rhythm and a chorus that is catchy as
hell. More importantly, it’s turned straight up to 11! This continues
throughout songs such as Blinded In Chains and the exceptionally
harmonizing Bat County – a song based on Hunter S. Thompson’s brilliant
novel - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Trashed And Scattered is a song
that shows you just why Avenged are as clever as they are creative. A song that
will leave you with a foot-print in your ear, you will understand why you would
never want to get into a fist fight with any member of the band (as if seeing M
Shadows wouldn’t convince you enough.) Musically, this album is as
unpredictable as anything, the guys have gone all out with a string orchestra
that presents itself on a number of songs, including the wonderfully over the
top and pretty much epic Strength Of The World and The Wicked End, both
of which are breath taking. The lyrics on the album deal with a lot of different
issues. From war and ignorance to end of the world concepts and the tragic and
devastating murder of legendary guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott – who greatly
influenced lead guitarist Synyster Gates. The song simply titled Betrayed portrays
the band’s feelings on Dimebag’s untimely and disgusting death at the hands of
the shameful Nathan Gale with the up most emotion. This is very evident both
vocally as M Shadows shows off his great vocal range and musically throughout
the song, one that is dedicated to one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Seize
The Day is a
step in a different direction. Following in the footsteps of the great Guns N’
Roses ballads of the 80s, this song is much more smooth and passionate as well
as harmonic.
M.I.A.
is the final
song. It’s a song that is just a astounding as the rest and deals with the
turmoil of having friends of the band members fighting in the war. The song
starts off slow with soothing vocals and eventually kicks into a thrashy and
inventive skyscraper of a song with sweeping guitars and harsh drumming, a
great way to end the album.
Through
all of this, you will learn that Avenged Sevenfold has mixed their many
influences together in an intensely creative way. Any other band and this
combination probably wouldn’t work. But this band is different. They have
stunning musimanship and a firm grasp on what it takes to make an amazing
album. This album will shake things up like no other band has done for a long
time. Certain bands and acts that will change the face of music forever and
change the world forever. Not only will A7X do this, they will drag the face of
music into the future and likely turn the world upside down and steal its lunch
money!
* * * * *
- Amy Parker
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