After being graced with the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards award for Best New Artist, Avenged Sevenfold marched into the studio and began to record their highly anticipated self-titled release in a militant yet, unpredictable fashion. Calling in orchestras and even a children’s choir, Sevenfold did their best to maintain their reputation for pushing the envelope as far as possible.
With such a metal history, many fans will be bewildered to find out that this album doesn’t sound much like a typical metal album, there aren’t that many similarities between this release or any of Sevenfold’s previous releases. Throughout this album, Sevenfold seems to be trying their hardest to invent a new status quo, and although it can be a bit frustrating at times, there are moments on Avenged Sevenfold that will take you to a certain place that cannot be visited without the proper, extremely unique and hybrid audio accompaniment. One specific track that comes to mind is entitled Unbound(The Wild Ride). This song starts off with a beautiful rolling piano instrumental accompanied by lead-singer M. Shadow’s polished voice and ends with a children’s choir singing in an ethereal voice Shadow’s simple and refined moral, “memories remain, as time goes on.”
The only thing really consistent on Avenged Sevenfold is the inconsistency of a certain style on the album. Each song representing a completely different style and mood really makes out for an interesting and somewhat aggravating album. Of course, the complexity and technicality of Avenged Sevenfold is like the rest of Avenged Sevenfold’s work, flawless.
release date: Tuesday, October 30, 2007
