"Nightmare! (Now your nightmare comes to life)". The opening lyric from Avenged Sevenfold's fifth studio album, "Nightmare" released in 2010. And really that lyric sums up exactly what the band was going through during the writing and recording of the album due to drummer "The Rev" passing away in December 2009. This must have been an incredibly difficult album to make but I think it was something the band had to do as part of the healing process. As you can imagine the main theme of the album is around "The Rev's" death, so it is a pretty dark album but at the same time it is such good music. This is Avenged Sevenfold in full flow and I think it is more about them releasing their frustration and anger while doing what they love. But they have always been a metal band so it was not really a change in their musical style.
After their breakthrough 3rd album "City of evil", then their 4th self titled album. "Nightmare" propelled A7X even more in terms of worldwide appeal and even though this album is littered with amazing songs. I think 6th track "So far away" is the reason the album was so successful. Probably the main reason for this is because it is not as heavy as their other songs and is a total anthem. Their is one main moment of this song which will send a shiver down your spine. When M'Shadows sings "Cause as soon as I'm done, I'll be on my way........to live eternally". Then the guitar solo kicks in. It really is just epic. Throughout the album, including this track, you will hear the word "Forever" which they use as clever word play to remember their drummer. You just need to read it as "foREVer".
Another classic track on the album is "Buried alive". The open guitar part lasts 50 seconds before the other instruments including the drums kick in is amazing. Such a gentle, weaving way into a track. One thing which A7X are really good at, and this song is a fine example of it. Is their build up to the choruses and the change of pace in M Shadows singing. It makes the songs more interesting and keeps the listeners attention. This track is 6 minutes and 44 seconds and you honestly wouldn't realise it if you didn't know. This is a characteristic of a lot of their tracks which just shows the strength of their songs. Making 6-10 minute tracks and keeping things flowing enough for listener not to get bored must be hard. But these guys do it effortlessly.
"Victim" is another long track coming in at 7 minutes 30 seconds and is my favourite track off the album. I feel this is one of those tracks that really just display all of AX7's talents. M Shadows vocals are phenomenal and the guitar work is just amazing. Not only that but the compisition of the song, highs and lows, twists and turns. In saying that, with most albums their are weaker songs on the album with the likes of "Natural Born Killer" and "God Hates Us" which don't quite hit the spot for me. But then you've got the likes of "Tonight the world dies" and album closer "Save me" which really do hit the spot. Those particular songs and some of the others, there are certain parts in them where they manage to create these magical moments which I really look forward to and it is not necessarily the chorus.
Overall this is a great album and in my opinion having listened to all the albums by them upto and including 2016's "The Stage". This is A7X's best work and has been in my car for many months now. For something to qualify as a car album, a) it has to be a good enough for me to buy it on CD, b) It has to be be better than all the other CDs I have at the moment! So yeah I rate this highly :-)
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