Avenged
Sevenfold
City of Evil [Explicit Lyrics]
Warner Brothers
Records, June 2005
Offensive words: around 15
Genre: hard rock/metal/punk
If you like this music the I would check out
The
Showdown or
As
Cities Burn.
It's not always recognized in today's "I want it all now" world, but patience is a virtue. And Huntington Beach, California rockers Avenged Sevenfold are being rewarded for remembering that golden rule. After releasing two highly successful albums on an indie label (Sounding The Seventh Trumpet and Waking The Fallen), the quintet is set to unleash its
major label debut, City Of Evil, on Warner Bros. Records. City Of Evil, co-produced by Avenged Sevenfold, reunites the group with producer Mudrock (Waking The Fallen).
"We're at the point now where we've come into our own," vocalist M. Shadows says of the ambitious City Of Evil, an 11-song collection that gives a middle finger to the idea of categorization, bridging the sonic guitar assault of Iron Maiden with the frenetic pace of Bad Religion and the musicianship of Dream Theater.
And while Avenged, whose influences range from Maiden, Pantera, and Guns 'N' Roses (Shadows calls Use Your Illusions 1 and 2 his favorite albums of all time) to Billy Joel, Queen, and Elvis Costello, may not be your typical hard rock band musically, they can hang with the best of them. Epic nights of late night fun have followed this band.
"Strippers and bands have this bond," Vengeance says. "They totally do. The band walks in and it's like special treatment," Shadows adds. So, what makes a good strip club? "I like strip clubs that are out of control," he says, citing Vegas, New York and New Orleans ("It's
f****** Bourbon Street. It better be crazy," he says) as home to some of the better
crazy," he says) as home to some of the better establishments they've frequented.
(www.avengedsevenfold.com)
Music
The album kicks off with a metal intense song with a classic Avenged
Sevenfold sound. Plenty of hard hitting snares which give the band
a hard core punk feel from start to finish. This round it is clear the
band is more metal focused and the double guitar is a highlight on the
album. "Blinded in Chains" for example, has some incredible
guitar work and the riffs are tighter than forever and had feelings of
Megadeth at times. "Bat Country" slowed the pace down at times
but gave the album a beefier and deeper bass line filled track which was
a great switch. "Seize the Day" comes in with a keyboard/piano
filled ballad which gave for a nice melodic change of pace. "Wicked
End" is a progressive metal influenced number and is a centerpiece
for the metal focus of A7.
Overall, musically, I was very surprised on how much I enjoyed the album
but don't stop reading just yet.
Lyrically/Vocally
Lyrically, A7 has a very diverse pattern of lyrical styles and deal
with spiritual content often. I have never heard anyone saying this band
has Christian members but it is obvious someone has at least some
Biblical knowledge with the first song dealing with a passage in
Revelation. But his is mixed with messages of distrust of religion,
government and friends. The album has a very odd mixture of positive
songs about life mixed with songs of vengeance and almost a sense of
hate of the world around us. As albums in the past, this seems to be a
type of concept album written in first person dealing with a coming to
an end of the world as living in a "City of Evil". And
songs like "The Wicked End" express the torment we are seeing
in this world as it becomes more broken as we wait for the end to come.
Don't let some Biblical knowledge or spiritual content confuse you into
thinking I am cool with personally listening to the band, because I'm
not. A little too dark and the offensive language wasn't my taste.
Vocally, ouch...I'm sorry but this is an area that I put my typing
fingers down for a moment. I can't handle the whiny and often
nasally vocal style that is now present with this band. So long
are the days of M. Shadow's vocal screams and yells and welcome the
world of bad singing.
Due to the offensive language, dark imagery and horrible singing, I am taking a pass on Avenged Sevenfold.
"Beast and Harlot"
The day has come for all us sinners.
If you're not a servant, you'll be struck to the ground.
Flee the burning, greedy city.
Lookin' back on her to see there's nothing around.
I don't believe in fairytales and no one wants to go to hell.
We've made the wrong decision and it's easy to see.
Now if you wanna serve above or be a king below with us,
You're welcome to the city where your future is set forever.
"Blinded in Chains"
But it wasn't a sin, a sorry life in judging every action
And as they're feeding your mind with this s*** you forget
How to speak how to ask all the questions
The business at hand tonight, make the people choose
(I see another side in you but there's not much more I can do from on
the outside looking in your government is listenin' to push you on the
story of immortal father mortal son give them your mind and all your
wealth the cycle will rebirth itself)
If they had it their way, I'd burn in Hell and your future's a f*****'
disaster can't you see
Don't give them all the power when your future's in desperate trouble
baby
As they thank the Lord the blind can't see
Like a plague fed to the brain deadly disease
I'd run away tonight with my mind still intact you gotta make it alright
Easier said than done with no place to hide and having no place to...
Running away from condition, I see you but you're running away from
Your scared seductive system
"Sidewinder"
I slide through the wasteland that's my world
My hunger takes your life, preyed on to keep me alive, yeah
Mercy's all that you need, mercy's empty in me
Can't you feel the poison rising out of the morning and clear through
the night
You can feel my strength destroy you straight to the heart from the
venomous bite
That's right I shed my skin tonight but my fangs are hard to hide
And you know that you're going to die, yeah
Mercy's all that you need, mercy's empty to me