Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
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Free Music Notes for City of Evil
Free Music Review: "I can't trust anyone, witness and see it in my eyes..."
Hit: 5 Stars
"City of Evil" was my first introduction to Avenged Sevenfold. The CD looked interesting enough so I picked it up without hearing a single song. My first impression was that I liked it. I didn't love it, but there was something about this band that was intriguing me. I decided to pick up the earlier releases and was shocked to find such a different sound on them. At first, I liked those a lot more than this album, but the more and more I listened to "City of Evil," the more and more I fell in love with it.
Having a completely different singing style sound, having more melodic riffs to accompany stronger song craft while still keeping that heavy edge that they're known for, Avenged Sevenfold gets rid of their emo look and feel and strive to come up with something better, something stronger. I believe they accomplished that. The songs on this album are like short stories. Instead of the "life is horrible" or "kill me now" vibe that you would've expected from them on their earlier releases, they have written stronger songs with different meanings. "Strength of the World" is constructed like something you'd expect from an old Western--a man coming home to find his family murdered, and swearing revenge on the killers responsible. "M.I.A." appears to be very much influenced by the ongoing war we're dealing with, as it tells the story of a soldier coping with his feelings after everything is all said and done.
And other songs... well, they're just amazing to listen to. "Bat Country" is a tribute to the late Hunter S. Thompson, and "Betrayed" is dedicated to the murdered Dimebag Darrell. All of the songs have haunting lyrics and lines that stay in your head long after the song is done. The guitars sound fantastic and the drumming even sounds improved over the other releases.
People who loved the old Avenged Sevenfold may be put off by the lead singer's new approach. He doesn't have that "death-metal" like scream that can be found on the other releases. This may put off some people, but I have to say I like the new style. It fits the content of the songs, giving them more life and depth than it would if he were just screaming non-stop.
The entire album is great from start to finish. It's hard to listen to it out of order, so rarely do I do that. I start on the first track and play it all the way through. My most favorites, however, are "burn it down," "bat country," "trashed and scattered," "the wicked end" and "strength of the world." Again, all are great but those are my favorites. I especially love the lyrics in "the wicked end." There's a part of it towards the end where it sounds like something Danny Elfman would have composed.
"City of Evil" is a complete success in my eyes. It's not one that you can listen to just once and then give out your verdict. Let it consume you. Play it again and again. Get lost in the songs, the lyrics and the melody. It won't be a winner to all but if you're looking for something different, I highly recommend it. Try to act like you're not going to have a line or two stick in your head after the CD is done playing -Michael Crane
Free Music Review: Excellent. Overly critical people need not apply.
Hit: 5 Stars
If you've never listened to Avenged Sevenfold before, you need to know a few things. Each of their albums sounds radically different. Their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, was a great start. It showcased their talent (Which they have plenty of) as musicians, but it left something to be desired. While the songs were full of skilled musicianship, they lacked good hooks and were a bit chaotic. Along with mediocre recording (IMO), this made a decent album. It god people's attention, at least.
Then came Waking the Fallen. This is probably one of the best albums I've ever heard. Every single song is powerful in it's own right. Everything from the first album was there, along with better vocals, better riffs, better hooks, better drumming. It was just better, and so much better, in fact, that A7X built up quite a fan base. If you've never heard this band, go listen to all of Waking the Fallen, and be impressed. The way they mesh hardcore, metal, and punk is flawless on this album. Their talent is amazing. The guitarists are simply incredible. There are few modern bands that can compare to the skill these guys have.
I waited a long time for them to release another album, and here it is. I listened to this album all the way through many times before I came here to read any reviews, and honestly, I'm shocked. People don't like it. I can't figure out why. Shadows (Vocals) doesn't do any screaming, really. I liked that better. The album showcases their talent as a band. While he doesn't scream, I must admit his vocals on this album can lean towards being annoying at times. I think something may have happened to his voice. However, in my opinion that does not detract from the album at all. As everyone will attest to, the musicianship is incredible, probably their best to date. It just keeps getting better, in fact.
City of Evil is the kind of album that grows on you. When I first heard Waking the Fallen, I was floored by almost every song, the first time through. Alternatively, City of Evil takes some warming up to. The first time I listened to every song, I was skeptical. However, the more I listened, the more I liked it, and I must say now, I think I like this album as a whole better than Waking the Fallen. This isn't an easy feat. I'm not going to go through an entire track listing and explain every song to you. I will just tell you that, if you appreciate good music, this deserves a listen. Of particular note is the great ending to track 7, "Sidewinder". It reminds me a bit of the guitar in the ending to the Eagles' "Hotel California". The album as a whole, is just brilliant. There are a ton of great hooks, even Bat Country (Which no one seems to like) is a good song. If you're one of those hardcore music nazis that is going to complain because there's less screaming, and the songs aren't as hard, then don't bother listening. Their sound changed, deal with it. They're still the same incredible group of musicians they have always been. Bands evolve, that's part of how music works. Listen to this album with an open mind, and I guarantee you will be impressed.
Free Music Review: Oh, the controversy!
Hit: 5 Stars
I love checking in on the reviews for this album from time to time. Seeing the vicious verbal wars going on gives me a good laugh. I actually wrote a prior review that was meant to directly inform a prospective buyer of what they would be getting. But now it's my turn for my 2 cents on the drama continually unfolding on this page.
First of all, I do not watch MTV, I never have watched MTV, I never will watch MTV, and I wouldn't even know that anything regarding Avenged Sevenfold ever crossed paths with MTV if it weren't for these reviews. My personal favorite style of music is progressive metal, which most of you have likely never had the pleasure of listening to. Dream Theater, Kamelot, etc. And I wouldn't bother to venture outside it, except that by some odd chance (a Madden NFL soundtrack, to be exact) I stumbled upon Avenged Sevenfold. Being so utterly stunned that a quality song had made the mainstream playlist of Madden, I went out to buy the album. And there was that lovely cover art... it seems reminiscient of many over-the-top 80s metal bands (Metallica, or Iron Maiden). But, like those bands, there is a lot more to Avenged Sevenfold than morbid, cheesy cover art (or their stage names, which everyone seems to take WAY too seriously).
So, I took a listen to the album. Yes, the singer's voice is kinda whiny. I wish it wasn't, but at least it's not unbearable. I've never found the sole important quality of music to be vocals. And then I hear people ripping on them for being un-metal 'cuz they don't sound like Slayer, Sepultra, Opeth, and the like... it's really quite ridiculous because those people clearly have get nothing more out of music than an outlet for their testosterone. Not to insult Slayer or Opeth (I have great respect for those bands), but there's a lot more to metal than that particular niche, which they give a very good name to.
Here's the key to this band: they are energizing, heavy (but fun), and generally entertaining to listen to, even if some of the lyrics are depressing. I personally love the drumming, and the guitar notes are quite well written: they can be quite fast, but there is more emphasis on songwriting than anything else, unlike many other metal bands. I compare it to the difference between Dream Theater and Spiral Architect (if any of you have heard of them)... the latter has all the technical chops in the world, yet the former bests them with a combination of technicality and songwriting- basically putting a soul into the music. Avenged Sevenfold has that soul.
A lot of people are ripping on this band, but it is mainly because they don't like this style of metal. Maybe there are some teenie boppers out there that thinks they're cool for listening to this music, but that has nothing to do with the music itself. Aside from some unusual vocals, this band seems to get everything right. And as a previous reviewer pointed out, everyone would have expected the singer to quit after his vocal chord surgery. But his passion for the music drove him on against the adversity. And that passion really shines through on this album.
Free Music Review: Not old A7X, but not bad!
Hit: 5 Stars
I actually didn't care for Seventh Trumpet that much, although I did really enjoy Waking the Fallen. Avenged Sevenfold started out as a hardcore-type band with lots of double-bass, wailing guitar soloing, and screaming. That is not at all City of Evil.
City of Evil is somewhat lighter, more melodic, and the vocals are much easier on the ears, in my opinion. Although I was a bit skeptical at first of shaking hands with the new CD and welcoming it into my library, I am happy I went alonog with it. Let me just give you one helpful tip: if anyone trys to tell you that Avenged Sevenfold is emo, don't believe it. Whoever says that has no idea what they're talking about. Avenged Sevenfold sounds NOTHING like standard emo. There are some parts that even sound closer to progressive metal.
Some of my favorite cuts from City of Evil include Beast and the Harlot, Bat Country, The Wicked End and Strength of the World.
Beast and the Harlot, a strong opening number, gives a decent overview of the album. Very strong, good guitar part, and drum part. I don't really pay attention to lyrics most of the time, which is why I have no comments on them.
Bat Country is probably the closest you'll get to a "hit" from Avenged Sevenfold. If they ever sell out and make a "Best of A7X" CD, you can guerantee that Bat Country will be on it. And I will admit that the song is quite radio friendly, and quite frankly, friendly for any listener. It isn't too heavy, and it isn't elevator music either. I'm glad that I don't keep up with mainstream radio, because if I did I'd probably be sick of this song. But I can still enjoy it, just as I can still enjoy Stairway to Heaven(I wasn't around in the '70s...)
The Wicked End is a "rockin'"(eww term, but w/e) song. If somebody heard only The Wicked End, they might infer that Avenged Sevenfold was a sort of Metal band, or maybe Cradle of Filth with a decent singer. With awesome guitar solos and riffs that could easily be coming from John Petrucci, and some double-bass action on the drums, this song starts out sounding like something off Dream Theater's Train of Thought. However, as it progresses on, there comes a spine-chilling orchestral and choral section right in the middle of the song. This bridge is indeed one of my favorite parts of the song, and I have been told before, "omg tehy sound lyke bad m00zik!11!" because of that part. But anyone with a real brain will find this one of the best things they've ever heard.
Strength of the World is quite light compared against the rest of the album, but it still rocks, and it too has some orchestration towards the end. There isn't really much to say about it except, "awesome song".
All in all, City of Evil is very good, and one of only a few decent albums that came out in 2005. Hovever, I would reccomend listening to the 30-second samples or maybe borrowing the CD from a friend before buying it, just in case it isn't really "your thing".
Free Music Review: OMFG LYKE DER'S NO SCREAMZ!!!11!! ROFLZMAO DESE GUYS SUCK
Hit: 5 Stars
WOT A CRAPPY ALBUM, WHERE'S DA BRUTAL GROWLZ AND BREAKDOWNZ? HOW CAN YOU CALL ANYTHING DAT AINT GOT A MINUTE LONG SECTION OF DA BRUTAL OPEN DROP C MUTED POWER CHORDS PLAYED OVER AND OVER MUSIC. DESE GUYS HAVE TURNED INTO TOTAL PANZY'S! AND WOT'S WIT ALL DIS HIGH PITCHED GUITARS? IT'S TOO FAST AND WEAK I AND LIKE WHERE'S ALL DA HEAVINESS GONE? I'M GONNA GO BEAT UP SOME TEENYBOPPERS NOW!
Umm yeah but in all seriousness, this album is awesome. It's been so long since a band has been able to combine ridiculously technical instrumentals (by today's standards) with tunes that are just so damn catchy. Just listen to the start of track 3 'Blinded In Chains' or the solo/bridge of 'Bat Country', you only need to hear them a couple of times and the riffs will be stuck in your head. They've obviously been influenced by 80s metal stalwarts such as Maiden, Metallica and GnR, but I don't understand why people seem to think this is a bad thing. It'll be good to finally have some music that's somewhat mainstream that's actually played by musicians who have talent and are deserving of recognition.
The drumming and guitar work on this album are fantastic, especially Syn's solos. A couple more efforts like this and he's definately on the way to beocming a guitar god. Just listen to the solos on 'Wicked End' and 'M.I.A', enough sweep arpeggios to make Malmsteem proud, and the flamenco guitar solo at the end of Sidewinder is just amazing, you have to hear it to fathom just how jaw-droppingly good it is.
Shadow's singing, though not quite as good as the clean vocals on Waking The Fallen, is nonetheless still pretty good. The fact that he learnt a different way of singing to cope with his vocal chord surgery, as well as the much larger vocal range needed in this album (compared to WTF), in such a short amount of time shows that he has a lot of potential in the future.
And finally for all the hardcore/metalcore kids: Hate them as much as you like, they don't want closed minded little turds liek you as fans anyway. Go back to listening to your Bleeding Through and Hatebreed and other such simplistic crap, keep on pretending that you actually know what good music is, keep on pretending that BrEaKdOwN'z R FuLLy SiK! You guys are no better than the supposed 'teenyboppers' you loathe so much, you disgust me. Keep on hating everything except hardcore, but in the end, what good does it do you? I can go to a metal show and enjoy the music immensly, I can go to an RnB club and dance and enjoy the music, hell I can even go to the shows of a few select good Metalcore bands, such as Unearth or As I Lay Dying, and have an awesome time. You on the other hand, can only ever have fun at a hardcore show cos nothign else iZ bRuTaL EnUfF, wherever else you go you'll just stew in your own pathetic rage. The people who like the music that you hate don't really give a rat's about your opinion, we're having fun and that's all that matters.