Avenged Sevenfold
City Of Evil
(warner)
reviewed by lex

*****

This is quite possibly the most important album of Avenged Sevenfold’s career. This is their first release on a major label. It’s the release that will either make them or break them.
The opening track ‘Beast and The Harlot’ begins whith a very metal intro before breaking down for the verse and then unexpectedly going into a catchy, poppy sort of chorus. It’s clear from this that City Of Evil is going to be completely different from it’s predecessor Waking The Fallen.
First and Foremost there is no shouting on this album but there’s still an edge to vocalist M. Shadows’ voice. Secondly this is more of a metal record rather than  metalcore. It’s full of more searing riffs and twiddly guitar solos. It a bit cheesy and a bit 80s but that’s great!

City Of Evil is very eclectic, for example, one moment there’s spanish style guitars on ‘Sidewinder’ then suddenly you have an orcestra and choir on ‘The Wicked End’ playing something that sounds as if it should be on a Tim Burton soundtrack .
Highlights of the album include ‘Burn it down’, ‘Bat Country’ and ‘Trashed and Scattered.’ but then every song on the album offers something different.
Fans of the previous albums might be disappointed by A7X’s new release but this needs to be approached with an open mind to fully appreciate it.
At the end of the day this is an amazing album and you won’t hear anything else like it this summer.