Avenged Sevenfold: Nightmare

[Ultima Thulian]

Their newest album is out, and it's quite good. Portnoy couldn't be a more appropiate fit. Very good album oriented metal with only a few stinkers (Dangerline being the most obvious). Also a fitting a tribute to The Rev, and overall just very enjoyable.

Any one else diggin' it? Anyone not liking it? Thoughts?

[Thanasimos]

I'm really skeptical after the self-titled album, which I could not appreciate, but then again I was raised on Waking the Fallen and Sounding the Seventh Trumpet so even City of Evil didn't do much for me.

I'm assuming this is much more like the self-titled than anything else, yes? I suppose I should give it a shot anyhow out of respect for what they once were.

[Sean Blue]

This album is awesome. It's so much better than the Self Titled. My favorites are Natural Born Killer, God Hates Us, and Tonight The World Dies.

[Adam Blue]

Man...I seriously cannot express my dislike. I love the shit they put out on their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. City of Evil was too different, but still rather rocking. It's now so pussified I don't know what the fuck they did (unless of course it had to do with changing record labels).

Stuff like this makes me sad. AFI is another example.

Sean, fuck off.

[Ultima Thulian]

I'm really skeptical after the self-titled album, which I could not appreciate, but then again I was raised on Waking the Fallen and Sounding the Seventh Trumpet so even City of Evil didn't do much for me.

I'm assuming this is much more like the self-titled than anything else, yes? I suppose I should give it a shot anyhow out of respect for what they once were.

See, I liked 'em all (minus Sounding the Trumpet). I love how they can fuse so many styles while still remaining metalcore. I especially love their appreciation for spaghetti westerns and how that incorporates into their style. Incredibly talented instrumentally, and they continue to grow in that regard. Love how the tunes and albums always offer something new and fresh while still remaining true to the A7X way. That's just my take though.

Is it like the self titled album? Yes, but there's also some on the album that is reminiscent of Wake the Fallen. Personally, I love the album and enjoyed it a lot. But I'm also a big fan of the self titled album and City of Evil too. If I had to guess, I think you'll like Nightmare more than City or Self-titled, but you still won't be crazy about it if you're still one of those hardcore types that only digs the first two albums.

[Ultima Thulian]

Man...I seriously cannot express my dislike. I love the shit they put out on their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. City of Evil was too different, but still rather rocking. It's now so pussified I don't know what the fuck they did (unless of course it had to do with changing record labels).

Stuff like this makes me sad. AFI is another example.

Sean, fuck off.

AFI (and Metallica, just to throw them out there) simply became more mainstream. A7X actually tries to do something different and fresh with their shit. To be real, there's very little on any of their albums that should be commercial friendly (many of their tunes go past the 5 minute mark, as just one example). But I highly enjoy their virtuosity and willingness to branch out and infuse multiple stylings into their work (spanish guitar/western, blues-rock, thrash, etc) while still remaining very much themselves. I say they're evolving and finding their own niche. They got an unique sound, and it's unique because they keep altering and tweaking it, constantly trying to keep it fresh.

But to each his own, but I never understand you hardcore types to begin with. It's as if you wouldn't be happy with this (or any other band, for that matter) if they did anything but recycle the same shit over and over. But hey, different strokes and all that. If it's any consolation, Nightmare is more "rocking" than the self-titled album.

[Adam Blue]

For instance, I love Pennywise and Bad Religion. They have a sound and I listen to them for that. In metal, not many bands keep the same sound. I also love Priest and Maiden, but there are a few stinkers in there.

My favorite bands tend to be the ones that stay true to their sound and don't 'try' to branch out. When 'trying' you are doing something that doesn't come natural, and while it may sound good, it's not full of the aggression and emotion from early efforts. That motivation changes, and tends to be money.

I'm just mad because StST for me was an awesome sound that I hoped the band would keep up. Now that sound is gone, never to return.

[Ultima Thulian]

Meh, I guess. But I think that would be very boring. Then again, I find Bad Religion to be very boring. Great lyrical content, but I couldn't tell their albums or songs apart without great struggling. And I got several of their albums (my girlfriend is a fan of the band).

Take Led Zeppelin for example, my favorite band. They constantly experimented with different styles and with great success. I think that's great. Any band can mine out a decent sound and play it verbatim till the end of time. AC/DC is a perfect example of this. I love 'em, but once you heard maybe two or three AC/DC songs, you heard 'em all. Even in classical music, experimentation and improvisation is key to growth and evolution which prevent stagnation and complacency.

I'm not saying bands should just change genres and whatnot outright, but incorporating fresh ideas and materials onto an already solid foundation is what separates decent music from great music, IMO. And its hardly "trying" or "unnatural", whatever that means. Most of what A7X seems very natural for them, as their change-ups are often influenced by their Texas origins (country and spanish styles, influences of spaghetti westerns, emphasis on military themes, etc), and their metal origins (apocalyptic lyrical content, instrumental virtuosity based on speed and raw intensity, etc). If nothing else, this seems to be the natural evolution of a band that is maturing and becoming increasingly self aware and confident in their material and sound. *shrugs*

[Sandman]

This is actually my favorite A7X album since Waking The Fallen. City of Evil was ok for me and I hated their self titled album. I just couldn't get into it at all. This album fucking rocks. I love Nightmare and Buried Alive and normally I find singles to be the weakest tracks. God Hates Us is another good one....I think it's this one, he actually goes back to screaming a bit.

[Thanasimos]

Meh, I guess. But I think that would be very boring. Then again, I find Bad Religion to be very boring. Great lyrical content, but I couldn't tell their albums or songs apart without great struggling. And I got several of their albums (my girlfriend is a fan of the band).

Take Led Zeppelin for example, my favorite band. They constantly experimented with different styles and with great success. I think that's great. Any band can mine out a decent sound and play it verbatim till the end of time. AC/DC is a perfect example of this. I love 'em, but once you heard maybe two or three AC/DC songs, you heard 'em all. Even in classical music, experimentation and improvisation is key to growth and evolution which prevent stagnation and complacency.

I'm not saying bands should just change genres and whatnot outright, but incorporating fresh ideas and materials onto an already solid foundation is what separates decent music from great music, IMO. And its hardly "trying" or "unnatural", whatever that means. Most of what A7X seems very natural for them, as their change-ups are often influenced by their Texas origins (country and spanish styles, influences of spaghetti westerns, emphasis on military themes, etc), and their metal origins (apocalyptic lyrical content, instrumental virtuosity based on speed and raw intensity, etc). If nothing else, this seems to be the natural evolution of a band that is maturing and becoming increasingly self aware and confident in their material and sound. *shrugs*

It's quite all right for them to experiment with style, and some acts handle genre-hopping quite well. I just don't think A7x was as ready for Broadway as they thought they were with their S/T. Usually experimentation is more careful than what they pulled -- a folk band might start experimenting with jazz, or an indiepop band might start playing with drum machines, as opposed to completely altering their sound. Nothing on their first two albums really hinted at City of Evil, let alone the S/T.

That said, I love spaghetti westerns as much as the next guy my dad's age, and have even named a song after Ennio Morricone, so if that element pops up a lot in the new album I really will have to give it a shot. I didn't hear much of that in my two passes through the S/T; there was a touch in one City of Evil song which I recall being very awesome as a result.

Anyhow, I'd like to hear more about these Texan origins, because as far as I know they're all from Huntington Beach. I'll also question "still metalcore", but that's subjective, so take it or leave it.

[Sandman]

I've seen multiple articles call this album Use Your Illusion III....I think that's a good comparison.

[Ultima Thulian]

It's quite all right for them to experiment with style, and some acts handle genre-hopping quite well. I just don't think A7x was as ready for Broadway as they thought they were with their S/T. Usually experimentation is more careful than what they pulled -- a folk band might start experimenting with jazz, or an indiepop band might start playing with drum machines, as opposed to completely altering their sound. Nothing on their first two albums really hinted at City of Evil, let alone the S/T.

That said, I love spaghetti westerns as much as the next guy my dad's age, and have even named a song after Ennio Morricone, so if that element pops up a lot in the new album I really will have to give it a shot. I didn't hear much of that in my two passes through the S/T; there was a touch in one City of Evil song which I recall being very awesome as a result.

Anyhow, I'd like to hear more about these Texan origins, because as far as I know they're all from Huntington Beach. I'll also question "still metalcore", but that's subjective, so take it or leave it.

Yep, they're from CA. I dunno why I said TX, I fucked up. :o

As for the western flavor...there isn't much of it on the new album. But the S/T had "Gunslinger" and City of Evil had the super awesome "Strength of the World" (easily my favorite A7X tune).

The other points I don't have much to say, as you got a point. I'd say Waking the Fallen did hint at City of Evil to an extent, as it had much less screaming and whatnot than Trumpet. I think people judge some of these albums based on a few singles, but City and Nightmare, as a whole, are pretty heavy. I will admit that the S/T was all over the place and I can see why people don't dig it. I loved it though. :)

[Thanasimos]

Ehh, we all fuck up sometimes. :D

I'm sad to hear that there is less spaghetti western than I had been led to hope for. I'll half-concede the Waking the Fallen -> City of Evil stuff. When you mention the vocals, you're right. However, I feel the music was very, very different between them -- City of Evil was hard rock -- staccato -- plus shredding half the time; Waking the Fallen was a gigantic wall of sound from start to finish. The difference between rain and the tide coming in. Regardless, it's not my place to decide who thinks what. (Or is it? Maybe. . . no, it couldn't be.)

The talk of the S/T does remind me of something that reminds me of the S/T which I think you might appreciate, so I'll share it with you/throw it at you now. I feel like it's sort of treading on the same ground as the S/T, but it does approach it differently. Half cartoon, half metal, half vaudeville show: Da Comrade!!*

tjdI07x611k
http://www.myspace.com/dacomrade

Also, a real treasure trove: http://dacomrade.bandcamp.com/album/da-da (Check out "Victory Song")

Whether its your speed or not, I can't tell, but I thought I might share the love.

*The italics are correct. Only one of those exclamation marks is my excitement.

[Ultima Thulian]

I dug it! :) I'll check out more when I get a chance. I'll have to show this to the girlfriend...she's always into something different.