Avenged SevenfoldWaking the Fallen
By
Jeff Kerby,
Contributor
Wednesday, December 10, 2003 @ 5:19 PM
(Warner Bros.)
Mascara? Check.
Black T-Shirts? Check.
Spooky Cover Art? Check.
Tour with “cool” band like Mushroomhead? Check.
Inclusion on numerous video game soundtracks? Check.
I should hate Avenged Sevenfold. After all, they look sort of like AFI, and the mainstream press has been all over this band like a blister on the vagina of a two-dollar whore. These days, it seems that whenever Rolling Stone, Blender and Spin -- or any other magazine that actually deems Radiohead a substantive musical force -- condescends to cover metal these days, it’s usually to either heap praise on The Darkness or give props to Avenged Sevenfold for incorporating guitar solos into their songs as if that alone is enough to successfully meet all criteria required to be considered an authentic metal musician. Hell, most of the mainstream rags actually consider St. Anger to be a “return to the classic brutal, Metallica sound.” That being the case, it was still sort of interesting to hear of a band traveling around on the Warped Tour armed only with a box of black eye makeup and a repertoire of tunes typically logging in at six minutes or more in length.
The festivities on this disc begin with the sonic backdrop of “Waking the Fallen,” which thumps eerily along with dissonant lyrics imploring the listener to “Wake the ones and rise tonight.” This minute and forty-two seconds of moody atmosphere set the stage for the vibrant pulsing ache that is “Unholy Confessions.” M. Shadows’ vocals tend to be most effective when he actually sings rather than falling into a type of new metal or hardcore squall because when given a chance, songs like this one truly display many of the old school metal constructs wherein the chorus is the focal part of the selection. When the elements of classic metal sensibilities are adhered to by the group and combined with their Maidenish guitar work, it truly does become possible to transcend the appearance of the band and actually take the music for what it is—a successful experimentation in expression that, although not perfect, is at least a lot more interesting that most of the other newer bands currently appealing to the mall rock aesthetic.
“Chapter Four” and “Remenissions” have to be considered two of the strongest tracks on Waking the Dead due to their proficient display of Avenged Sevenfold’s strengths. The drumming and axe playing provide the perfect backdrop for lyrics about desperation, skeletons, murder and vengeance, which have always been staples of metal imagery since its inception. The screaming is generally downplayed and shouldn’t distract listeners to the point where they can’t concentrate and appreciate the intricate six-string artwork of Synyster Gates. All of this culminates in the epic, sprawling two part ode to suicide and its after-affects, “I Won’t See You Tonight” Parts 1+2, which contains about fourteen minutes of some of the best metal angst and theatricality attempted on a release this year.
“Clairvoyant Disease” combined with “And All things Will End” bring the disc to a close in the tightest possible way and should serve as a testament to this band whose virtuosity is to be respected even if their execution is somewhat flawed by the occasional inclusion of newer metal or the clumsier aspects of hardcore. If Avenged Sevenfold ever decides they want to simply play traditional metal minus all the fashionable trappings, they have definitely proved that they have the feel and instrumentality to do so. Besides, growing old and flourishing in metal is still actually possible today whereas remaining relevant to the Madden 2004 playing youth of today is probably an exercise in futility—long live guitar solos and heavy metal balladry… and black mascara.
* * 3/4
A7XFanRob - 1/23/2006 5:55:22 AM I completely agree with this review. You have good taste dude.
A7XFanRob - 1/23/2006 5:54:07 AM Waking the Fallen is A7X's BEST album yet. City of evil is great, but now too many posers are screaming about songs they haven't even heard.Sounding the Seventh Trumpet was good too, but that had too much screaching for me. To End the Rapture was awesome though!
A_Rising_Hero - 5/18/2004 9:40:34 AM This is addressed to cerealkiller333, I think you received the wrong message from this review, you seem very inexorable, and I believe you probably feel you are very intelligent, when in truth you might be, but what you said in your statement about his/her review on A7X, was very illiterate, and backed by no proof of anything at all... obviously they do listen to " THE MUSIC" (I’m sure you didn’t read the whole review... if you even have the mental capacity to do so) because it seems as if them comparing the exceptional "guitaring" if you will ( I’m not sure if that’s a word though)to other mainstream bands was making it seem as if they were complimenting them on doing so. Next time I feel you should read the whole review, and get a dictionary for the words you don’t know... good luck.
salvationends - 4/26/2004 11:54:36 AM my dad used to listen to knac back in the day too bad it got shut down. im 16 and i like iron maiden and all of those old bands because thats the music that i grew up listening to. while the next door neighbors were listening to rap and shit, i was in the room head banging to poisen and rat metallica pantera i live for metal fuck yea
salvationends - 4/26/2004 11:50:17 AM metal all the way mother fuckers
MisterCrowley - 12/25/2003 5:22:48 AM Merry Christmas to all you metalheads young and old alike.
trilogy88 - 12/19/2003 6:00:51 AM holy shiy! - there's this kid at work who is usually listening to more punk oriented music, but yesterday as i walked by his work area i heard some "metal" sounds coming out of hir radio - i asked who he was listening to, he said avenged sevenfold - he let me listen to the disc when he was done - i played the first track & really liked it - i cranked up the rest of the disc - thanks to "little johnny", i will be purshasing this disc - this is an excellent disc from a fairly new band that sounds"metal" & not nu-metal or punk - a must have for true metal fans
sublevel - 12/17/2003 4:02:14 PM well...whatever can be say about A7X, but, who ever have a chance to see them live...go and judge!!!!
wakin is a great album, warner just sign them, that is something, if there is people doubtful bout' em well....i don't know maybe they know more about metal than a small, dusty company like WARNER BROS. ehh
hand_of_doom - 12/16/2003 7:58:18 AM what's up with the overkill logo?
SoulKeeper - 12/12/2003 6:45:46 AM I agree with cerealkiller. Jeff Kerby is very biased to old school metal and hates everything in between hardcore and nu metal. Where he gets mall rock in the equation is a mystery. Avenged Sevenfold fuses all their influences (Maiden, Metallica, Pantera, Punk, hardcore, and some death metal)and transitions between all them flawlessly. Its an excellent CD, it kicks serious ass.
Fizzy_Claus - 12/11/2003 3:42:48 PM asily the worst band name since Lollipop Lust Kill.
cerealkiller333 - 12/11/2003 2:29:15 PM who gives a flying fuck if the band looks like AFI? and last time i checked, iron maiden wore mascara for a little while too. Try to actually listen to THE MUSIC, and if rolling stone pisses you off, then don't read the fucking magazine! Avenged Sevenfold is a melodic combination of good hardcore and old school thrash (with some gothenburg nuances, for the true metal heads out there). It's that easy to say. Oh, and they're kicking serious mainstream ass if they get that much coverage. It's about time the media and the mass public catch a glimpse of this underground style, so next time someone like you writes a review, look past the bands image and at least keep an open mind, jackass.
dtx - 12/11/2003 7:49:46 AM The song Chapter Four comes out on Madden 2004, it sounds like Helmet.
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Mascara? Check. 
