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Avenged Sevenfold is a band that definitely has a huge range of styles. They describe themselves as "heavy fucking metal," and after a few listens of "Sounding The 7th Trumpet," that's about all that I can say to describe their music. Sometimes they sound as heavy as Poison The Well, sometimes they sound like a classic rock band, and at other times, they rip out some very punk influenced music. The drummer can pound the skins like its nothing, whether he is playing at a blazing punk speed, or kicking the double bass during a breakdown. But not only can Avenged Sevenfold play multiple types of music, they are also able to mesh the styles together with much talent, making for some rocking music with plenty of variety.
"Sounding The 7th Trumpet" kicks off with a slower, more metal/rock influenced song, consisting of 100% singing, but doesn't carry on into "Turn To Other Way," which is a heavy, metalcore rocker. From the very beginning, Avenged Sevenfold's metal influences become very apparent, with some classic 'chugga-chugga' guitar work and speedy double bass. The vocals shift into full blown screaming on this track, which continues through much of the remainder of the album. "Darkness Surrounding" and "The Art Of Subconscious Illusion" both start off sounding like a speedy punk rock song, but quickly change into a much more metal influenced song fairly early into the tracks.
Avenged Sevenfold's songs are, for the most part, really long. Many of them end at around five or six minutes, which is a bit tiring on the ear, and after 13 songs, the length can seem to be a little bit long. I don't know how the drummer can perform live, considering how long the songs are and how complex the drum parts are. He can drum amazingly well, and it would be a site to behold in a live setting. The other four members of the band, too, are quite talented. Vocalist M. Shadows (as he is called in the album's liner notes), can rip out some gut wrenching screams, but also has the ability to sing nicely. Both guitar players play some very complex parts, and the bass tops off the sound with some deep, heavy action. Also, I must give credit to the band for the piano interludes that are placed in a few spots on the album, accompanied by the vocalist's very pleasant singing voice.
As long as the album may be, it is really quite difficult to want to stop the album before its finish. The songs don't bore you out of your mind even though they take time to finish, as the tempo and styles are constantly changing. At one point they may be playing at the speed of a punk band like NOFX, but it never seems to last, after being interrupted by a monstrous breakdown. The lyrics on this disc enhance its "dark" feeling, for example, in the first track, the vocalist screams "Slit my wrists, take away the pain / Slit my throat, everyone's to blame." But as haunting as some of the lyrics may be, others have a definite positive feel to them, such as "They are the few, with all the power / Our system screams, we can't let them tear our hearts out / Screaming, pulling on our pride / Stand together for the right cause, one system to our demise," from the track "Breaking Their Hold."
Hopeless Records definitely made a good pick-up by signing Avenged Sevenfold. They appear to be expanding the style of their bands to more than just punk rock, and Avenged Sevenfold was a damn good start. Tons of variety, huge breakdowns, and a production that gives the band a very full, but not overbearing sound. I can't ask for too much more out of an album. Check this band out if you have any interest in metal, hardcore, metal-core, or punk rock. There should be something to satisfy any one of those musical tastes.
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