Avenged
Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen
The Hobo review
Avenged Sevenfold. Who are they? Personally,
I do not know them as such, but collectively – Avenged Sevenfold (or ‘A7X’)
are M. Shadow (vocals), Zacky Vengeance (guitar), Synyster Gates (lead),
The Reverend (drums) and Johny Christ (bass). Their story? A talented quintet
hailing from Orange County, California citing influences ranging from Pantera,
Metallica and Maiden to Bad Religion, The Misfitsm GnR and Nofx. Their
music? Incredible!
Listen not to the mournfully inaccurate
Rolling Stone when they tell you A7X are “completely blur the line between
metal and punk,” because if you were to listen to crap like that, not only
would you be a fool, but you would be an unpopular, misinformed and incorrect
fool. To proclaim the band as ‘metal and punk’ is just about as accurate
as calling Avril a ‘girl that rocks’ (ironically, RS also ran such a feature
article some months ago.) A7X instead blend stylistic elements of power
metal, hardcore, thrash and retrogressive metal to create a sound which
is sometimes beautifully clean, crisp, melodic and harmonic, but at other
times powerful and destructive.
Without a doubt, Zack and Synyster are
damn damn good axe-men; take a moment to soak up the multi layered distorted
brilliance – the big harmonies, the powerful lead work, the crushing bass-guitar
combinations! The band has toured recently with the likes of Mushroomhead,
(booo!) Shadows Fall and most recently on the Vans Warped Tour.
So now, lets tear apart the sophomore release
from Avenged Sevenfold entitled Waking The Fallen. You mightn’t be able
to hear it, but A7X is actually a Christian band! The name itself was derived
from a biblical passage ‘they who kill Abel will feel my vengeance sevenfold.’
Usually, such a discovery would turn me off a band (see rezzentment for
further information) but this album is too good to judge on such a pathetically
shallow level.
We kick start this joviality with the intro
track Waking The Fallen, which kind of lulls you into a kind of half euphoric
daze with its hypnotic melody. But some 90 seconds later, you realize how
very wrong your first impression is. As Unholy Confessions kicks in with
its two-guitar power-metal melody you find yourself caught in the middle
of powerful double bass madness. Shadow’s voice varies from beautiful,
to soothing, to fear-inspiring in his screams and growls. The guitar work
is great - I love it, I endorse it - around 2 minutes in, the song begins
to pick up at double pace with some hardcore vocals thrown into the mix
for the hell of it. A great powerful track and perfect first taste of the
band.
The problem with having to review this
album is that while it is consistently awesome, its also infinitely hard
to analyze each individual track. Each track jumps betweens so many sub-genres
it ends up being a complicated epic piece in itself. How does one describe
the highs and lows of the powerful 13-and-a-half minute opus I Wont See
You Tonight?
In any case, the album is brilliant, boasting
great musicianship from all five band members. A successful attempt at
blending both aggression and harmony in complex six minute epics. But whatever
you do, don’t bother listening to the evil that is Rolling Stone when they
call A7X a “…a Goth-metal band with a singer who looks like Elvis and sounds
like Axl Rose.” I for one HATE Axl Rose, and love M. Shadow. ‘Goth metal?’
Didn’t… Did you guys just call it punk? Idiots. Idiots.
Cheers to A7X on compiling such a brilliant
album in this day and age, in this period and in this genre. Whether you’re
a fan of Chimaira, Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, Metallica, Iced Earth or Pantera
– you should like Avenged Sevenfold. I wish them all the best as they go
on to evolve and aspire to greater things; they sure as hell deserve it.
Up there with the best of 2003 from a band I’ve never even heard of before.
CD Info
Avenged
Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen
Label: Hopeless
Records
Genre: Hardcore
+ Harmonic + Power Metal
For Fans Of:
Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, In Flames
Best Tracks:
Desperate Through Reverence, I Won’t See You Tonight, Unholy Confessions
Rating:  
Tracks:
1.Waking The Fallen
2.Unholy Confessions
3.Chapter Four
4.Remenissions
5.Desperate Through Reverence
6.Eternal Rest
7.Second Heartbeat
8.Radiant Eclipse
9.I Won’t See You Tonight Pt.1
10.I Won’t See You Tonight Pt.2
11.Clairvoyant Disease |
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