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Post date: May 29, 2025
By Matthew Vila
Avenged Sevenfold’s self-titled alternative metal album uses some of the most beautiful combinations of instruments I’ve ever heard. I can't even think of another artist, album, or even a single song that uses the same techniques they used. The songs transition from an orchestral passage into pure metal and electric guitar rage and melodies.
The album opens up with their song Critical Acclaim, which starts with an organ track that segues into dueling guitars, one an octave higher than the other, to create a beautiful harmony alongside the organ. Then the switch-up in sound, with their vocalist, M. Shadows, stating a political call to arms over headbanging groove. The last song on the album is “Dear God, an amazing acoustic ballad which can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their taste in music. This song also serves as a heartfelt sign-off to their drummer, The Rev, who passed away weeks after the album was released. I believe he was the greatest drummer of all time, and this album solidifies that for me. It is truly a shame he took a turn for the worse and overdosed. Ironically, he overdosed on Brompton Cocktail, a combination of cocaine, heroin, morphine, and more. It's ironic because Brompton Cocktail is also the name of a song on this album. The song is about a terminally ill patient begging for death from the doctor with lyrics like “I need that shot to enter my veins” and “Doc, I’m dying. I'm feeling compromised, and so dehumanized”.
My personal favorites off this album would have to be Scream or Unbound (The Wild Ride). These songs have the same emotion and feel, except Unbound gets slow and orchestral at the end. Both songs have that raw angst that Sevenfold has expressed in their past albums like City of Evil and Waking the Fallen. Like I mentioned, Unbound switches up at the end and has a string orchestra alongside a choir of children singing “The hands of time strip youth from our bodies, and we fade”—a beautiful theater-felt track. Another track with that same theater vibe, which is also their most popular off this album, is A Little Piece of Heaven. Morbid lyrics, but euphoric soundingThe entire song has punchy and powerful brass instruments throughout the eight-minute song. The rich violin sounds throughout are just another cherry on top. I feel this song is practically perfect for anyone, no need for music preferences. This album will always serve as one of my favorite albums of all time, I have the vinyl hanging up on my wall for a reason.
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