Avenged Sevenfold

On the one hand, I was opposed to their whole brand of shallow, image-obsessed, machismo-drenched pap.  On the other hand, their technical skills, particularly on guitar, are absolutely top-notch.  Not only that, but they write undeniably catchy songs.  It’s just so hard to get into a band if you think they’re a bunch of douchebags.

But the potential has always been there to rise above their collective flaws, which is why I gave this band another chance to win me over with their new album Nightmare.

And I’m glad that I did.  Nightmare is the definition of everything that can be good about the genre of pop metal.

Nightmare works because the band finally toned things down just a bit.  The tragic loss of their drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, back in December from a drug overdose no doubt left them shaken but also more matured.  Gone are the overt party-animal instincts, replaced by a greater focus on writing anthemic pop songs.

And at their core, that’s exactly what this album is made of – pop songs.  Pop metal is an inherently difficult genre to get right since the two styles would seem to be at odds with one another at a base level.  The road to pop metal success is littered with countless failures like Theory of a Deadman, Buckcherry, Hinder, and every hair metal band from the 80s.  Avenged Sevenfold have always chased the aesthetics of Guns N’ Roses’ version of hair metal (which is probably the only good band to ever come out of that cesspool of a genre), and they’ve finally come close to matching not just that band’s affinity for bandannas but also for musicality.  But Nightmare isn’t some straight-up knockoff of GNR.  There’s also a distinct Death Magnetic-era Metallica influence (just listen to “Buried Alive”) and of course they retain their classic metalcore sound as well.

Guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance (there’s the douchiness creeping in again) shred with Slash-like abandon, and their work is really the centerpiece of the album.  Almost every song features multiple guitar solos, and they aren’t all just vain exercises in showmanship.  Sure, some are, but for the most part, the shredding fits into the songs like a glove and really adds to the songwriting.  Legendary drummer Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater filled in on drums, and in a nod to Sullivan played everything pretty much as he had written it before he died.  Singer M. Shadows is still wailing cliched lyrics in his Axl-wannabe adenoidal voice, but it’s not quite as extreme on this record so it’s much more tolerable, although his paper-thin singing pipes are no match for the slow ballads that populate the second half of the album.

In a strange twist of fate, Sullivan’s last recorded song was the ballad “Fiction” which he also lent his vocals to.  It’s a bit spooky to hear him portend the future with lyrics like, “I hope it’s worth it out on the highway / I hope you’ll find your own way when I’m not with you.”  The band may not be certain about their future in the wake of his death, but the final product that they have produced in Nightmare is a worthy tribute to a fallen friend.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click here to view the embedded video.

-Sam

* Anyone who watched the second season of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab is quite familiar with former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler’s drug problems.  That man has done a lottttt of drugs.  So in true rockstar fashion, it makes sense that Adler would release a book detailing his experiences with those drugs.  Titled My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N’ Roses, Adler’s tell-all is scheduled to be released on June 22.

* Drummer Will Hunt has been chosen to replace Craig Nunenmacher in Black Label Society.  Hunt has most recently worked with Evanescence and Dark New Day.  He likely will continue to pull double duty with Evanescence and BLS.

* Slash recently collaborated with Fergie on a cover of GNR’s “Paradise City” to be included as a bonus track on Slash’s upcoming solo album.  I guess he got a lot of flack for it, so he took to Twitter to defend Fergie’s performance (which can be heard HERE).  He said: “Until now, not too many people have heard Fergie sing rock &  roll but she sings it better (than) most dudes I know. She’s a screamer at heart.”  He then said in an interview that Fergie has talked about wanting to make a rock record outside of the Black Eyed Peas and that he would like to work with her on it.  I actually think Fergie could pull that off, but maybe I’m in the minority in that belief.  There’s no question that she has a really strong voice tailored to dirtier rock and roll as opposed to having her voice drowned in computer effects like on “Boom Boom Pow.”  I’d be at least interested to hear more rock songs from her.

* 10 Years will be entering the studio soon to start work on their third album, Feeding the Wolves.

* Nonpoint have debuted their new song “Miracle.”  Listen to it HERE.

* Ray Davies of The Kinks will be releasing a collection of new versions of old songs.  He said that he would like to talk with Metallica about collaborating on a song.  If you remember, Davies joined Metallica onstage at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame where they performed “You Really Got Me” and “All Day And All Of The Night.”

-Sam

We all know how much Haiti needs any assistance we can muster at this time.

Today, a group of artists working with Music For Relief has issued a compilation of music available to download called Download to Donate for Haiti.  You can then donate any amount of money you choose to the charity.  No donation is too small.

And to top it off, all the music on the compilation is exclusive and never before released.

Here’s the link: http://www.musicforrelief.org/

The tracklist for the album is:

1. Not Alone – Linkin Park
2. Mother Maria (featuring Beth Hart) – Slash
3. Never Let Me Down (produced by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes) – Kenna
4. Heroes – Peter Gabriel
5. Still (Acoustic, Vancouver Sessions) – Alanis Morissette
6. Resurrection (produced by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park) – Lupe Fiasco and Kenna
7. We Are One – Hoobastank
8. The Wind Blows (Skrillex Remix) – The All-American Rejects
9. It Must Be Love – Enrique Iglesias
10. Typical Situation (Live) – Dave Matthews Band

From the press release:

100% of funds received will go directly to the Haiti efforts. In partnership with the UN Foundation’s Central Emergency Response Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and Dave Matthews BAMA Works Haitian relief efforts, Music for Relief is working to support immediate relief with food, water and emergency medical supplies as well as long-term sustainable housing solutions for the people affected by this catastrophic natural disaster.

This is a magic moment in time, when technology, coupled with generosity, talent, and ingenuity has created a unique opportunity to do something positive through the power of music.

So if you are at all able to donate even a dollar, this is a great charity to donate to and they’ll hook you up with some exclusive music in the process.

-Sam