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Avenged Sevenfold: Avenged sevenfold

08/09/08 || HailandKill

When the campy church organs on “Critical Acclaim” bow out to a tongue-in-cheek guitar lick, Avenged Sevenfold’s self-titled 2007 album quickly gets into gear. The first song is actually supposed to have political overtones but who cares ‘cos it just rawks hard. Problem is a more discriminating listener might totally loathe the Linkin Park screaming on the chorus. In fact, just mentioning Linkin Park already diminishes this album’s appeal. But wait, its enjoyably catchy and groove driven, featuring the Tom Cruise of metal frontmen, Mr. M Shadows, who has a body like 50 Cent (this reviewer saw him running around shirtless on their “Afterlife” video) and packs these pimped out grills on his teeth, you know, grills? Like bling bling inside your mouth?

Anyway, M. Shadows sings like a latter day Phil Anselmo, only he’s from Southern California, not Louisiana. But does this really matter? No. Though one must agree his vocals, without the growls since 2005, is lovable and distinctive, as if coming from a hot guy, which he is. “Almost Easy” is literally as easy to get into as its predecessor and was this album’s first single. It’s a heavy pop song with massive hooks and an infectious chorus. On “Scream” the band provide a real grooving metal song you can spin during a rave. It has this booming, booty-shaking melody best suited for suggestively gyrating and grinding against horny guys.

If that last sentence hadn’t given you a boner then tough luck, because “Afterlife” is one of this album’s softer turns. Now this is an out-and-out pop song done in the mold of Simple Plan and Good Charlotte. However, the solos from Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates, which comprise of endless guitar harmonies, do shred fast enough for metal standards. The rest of the album is done in the same mold: slick power metal with attitude and slightly progressive leanings. There are even a few “what the fuck?” moments such as how the speed metal mixed with electronic disco singing (like Cher on “Believe”, remember that song?) gives “Lost” a very J-Pop feel. Another confounding moment is the bombastic choirs on the winding epic “Unbound (the Wild Ride).”

A guaranteed sonic roller coaster twisting this way and that, on its final leg Avenged Sevenfold turn out their biggest surprise yet, the Iced Earth (think “Phantom Opera Ghost” from the “Horror Show” album) meets Kamelot meets Savatage pseudo-Broadway musical with touches of GnR’s “November Rain” called “A Little Piece of Heaven.” Confused? Well, it’s pretty out of character, but then again, so is Avenged Sevenfold. On this latest adventure of theirs, a girl singer shares some of the vocals to unravel a chilling story about doomed romance. Whatever.

As if the band had utterly spent itself on such grandiose musical feats, they pull off a laid back country ballad titled “Dear God” at the very end. It’s a country ballad for christsakes, with touches of “Every Rose Has its Thorn” and some other shit— how can you criticize that? These guys are geniuses. Not far removed from its 2005 predecessor, “City of Evil,” and better suited for mellower musical sensibilities, “Avenged Sevenfold” is a treat custom made for those wanting metal outside the box. No growls or blast beats here. And fuck the haters.

8 avenging angels out of 10.

Information
Released: 2007
Label: Warner Music
Website: www.avengedsevenfold.com
Band
M. Shadows: vocals
Synyster Gates: guitars
Zacky Vengeance: guitars
Johny Christ: bass
The Rev: drums

Tracklist
01. Acclaim
02. Almost Easy
03. Scream
04. Afterlife
05. Gunslinger
06. Unbound
07. Brompton Cocktail
08. Lost
09. A Little Piece of Heaven
10. Dear God

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