The new A7X album is... well, another A7X album...
Avenged Sevenfold have truly mastered their craft. The gnarly vocals, the Iron Maiden-like dual guitar parts and solos, the jackhammer drums, etc. WE GET IT ALREADY. You're Avenged Sevenfold. We got it ever since we heard your other albums and songs some months ago. If you liked Waking The Fallen I'm sure you'll like this. But to think this resembles any sort of change for A7X, you'd have to be disturbed. OR to even think this is their best album It has the elements of a normal A7X album except that it resembles a hamburger: processed and ready for consumption. You'll like this hamburger if you like hamburgers because it tastes like a hamburger and goes down easy. If you liked the other three, there'll be more for you quite easily and it'll have more meat in the bun. Unfortunately, like the aforementioned Big Mac, not enough substance to it. A7X are better than that. They have TALENT. They know how to write songs and put out great albums. Simply put, this is just a wake-up call from the record label telling them to get their arses back to the studio because it's time to get back on tour again. With this being said, it's an A7X album. Not a new A7X album, just another A7X album.

I believe this album will be in pieces in the afterlife
Having been an A7X enthusiast for the past eight-teen months, I eventually purchased this album against my better judgment. I heard "Almost Easy" and "Afterlife" both live and on the radio at the gym, and thought they were a little obnoxious. Now that I've heard the album a number of times, I can offer a critical review, as opposed to those who hear it one time and pass judgment on it, which is the modern fashion of reviewing. Some who would pose as critics have sought to belittle A7X's work by saying they've sold out. That's partly true, but as artists they must change with the times. Like an experiment, they have tried different things, and for that, they are to be applauded.

That said, there is plenty to like and dislike about the album. Shadows' diction has improved tremendously and nearly all the words can be understood, at last! But his singing and technique have not improved. Now the quality is more nasal, less attractive, and occasionally out of tune. There is a great deal of variety in the music, but the lyrics are pretty samey throughout. Nearly every song says something about death or loss or endless misery. (Gee, slit your wrists over it, great topic. What a novel idea.) Gone is the perspicacity of "Bat Country" and it is replaced with an absolute defeat.

The album starts out with lively and energetic tracks, all sure to be hits. If lively performances and good diction and the singing of The Rev could make the album a success, it would be a success. When "Gunslinger" pops in, it is so like a rock-ballad that it sounds like a totally different band. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it comes out of nowhere and it's like you flipped the station over to the soft rock channel. If contrast was desired, it has been obtained.

The appearance of girls voices are a welcome addition, but even they can't save "Unbound" or the inaptly-named "Brompton Cocktail." For the ninth track, "A Little Piece of Heaven" is really a little piece of psychotic music. It is the most insane thing Shadows ever penned. I have never burst out laughing like that during a song - the laugh was like Florence Jenkins' famous laugh. The song has one foot in the world of horror, another in comedy and a third in ballad songs, without really achieving the best of any of these. Is it meant to be funny? Because the humour (if it can be called such) is too dark and too bizarre even for A7X, and I'm still not sure what to make of it.

Lastly, "Dear God" is sorta like a country-western ballad, but only for the first couple minutes. It later descends into pop-rock, which is all that saves this song, and it's really quite enjoyable if you just open your mind to it. If it is truly a country song, consider that perhaps they are mocking country music, and in that, they've achieved their goal. But the album ends there and leaves one with the slight impression that it could not have been better or worse.

I like this album, but it is not "City of Evil"; it is not "Waking the Fallen"; it is not even "Warmness on the Soul". It is an unusual step further into light hardcore, and for the next album (if there is one), I would hope they return to their roots and stop experimenting like this. It is a failed experiment, or maybe too modest a success, but I'm sure that a lot of fans feel like Track 10 on "City of Evil" --- Betrayed.

One of the best CD's I've ever heard
This CD is excellent. This band is one of the best. The songs are very well written and thought provoking but still well worth rocking out to. "Afterlife" and "Piece of Heaven" are my favorites. "Afterlife" has become an obsession of mine because of it's message and the way M Shadows sings and the guitar playing by Synyster Gates. These guys are very talented. "Piece of Heaven" is an adventure of a song and not what you might think from the title. It's crazy and wonderful. The rest of the CD is great and that's something I can rarely say. If you're looking for a different sound this is definitely worth it.

Awesome!
I think that this is a great album. Granted, at first, I was a little unsure of it because it is quite a bit different from past albums. But after listening to the whole album, I loved it. "Critical Acclaim" is an amazing song. The fact that they were able to not only write a political/patriotic song, is great. What's even better about it is that what they are trying to say is the truth, and I think most people would agree with it. The fact that they wrote it and wrote it extremely well is great. "Gunslinger" and "Dear God" are also amazing songs and two of my favorites. "A Little Piece of Heaven" is my absolute favorite on the entire album. It sounds completely different than anything that they've ever done, and I think it's a song that really stands out. Anyone that loved Avenged's past albums should love this one too.

some sick music
The self titled album that avenged sevenfold put out was just awesome with it's cool orchestra in many songs and some wicked guitar playing. Previous albums by A7X were boring and similar, but this album really told a story in each song. and i would definetly recommend this album to anyone. BUY IT!!!!