CD Review: Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
Published April 27, 2006
Every so often an album comes out of nowhere and just captures your attention. City of Evil has taken control of my auditory canals and refuses to let go. However, it has been a journey getting to this point.
For the longest time, I avoided Avenged Sevenfold like the plague. It wasn't because of the music; it wasn't really for any worthy reason at all. Despite hearing all the rumblings of how good they were, I had a hard-coded preconceived idea of what I expected them to sound like. Considering how popular they seemed to be, I figured they were another post-hardcore/screamo band. Those things just keep multiplying, and so many of them sound similar that I can't tell them apart. There you have it, my main reason for avoiding these guys.
At some point, a few months back, I broke down. I gave into all the whisperings and mentions of Avenged Sevenfold. I went out and picked up City of Evil. What did I have to lose? An hour listening to it? And that's assuming I listened to the whole thing. Well, I made it through that initial time, and I haven't looked back. The disk has continuously found its way into my CD player and on to my playlists.
City of Evil is the first album to grab me like this since I first heard The End of Heartache by Killswitch Engage. Much like that album, I have fast fallen in love with the music contained on the little shiny disk.
Avenged Sevenfold completely smashed my preconceptions. What I thought they would sound like and what they actually do sound like could not be further removed. From the opening strains of "Beast and the Harlot" through the closing notes of "M.I.A." had me trapped by the ears.
Avenged Sevenfold has captured the sound and feel of the LA glam scene from the 1980s. They have managed to take that look and sound and brought it into the new millennium. The sound is definitely reminiscent, but it is so much more than a mere throwback to those old days of my youth. Instead of a shadow of a past that many would like to forget, they have taken that inspiration and forged new ground, delivering a rock album that is as stunningly original as it is familiar. Not an easy feat to accomplish.
Not content with the sound, they have gone the extra step. The band photo looks as if it would have been right at home amongst the liner notes of a LA Guns or Guns 'n Roses album. It's like looking into the past yet remaining firmly entrenched in the modern age. The hat, the sunglasses, the sleeve tattoos, the black t-shirts, the aloof "I'm cooler than you" attitude, it is like looking into an alternate past. A past where the glam scene developed past the superficiality of which it collapsed under, it retained the edge that made it cool and grew into an epic behemoth. Avenged Sevenfold is the culmination of that era.
Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings, as well as Film School Rejects. 
- CD Review: Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
- Published: April 27, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Metal, Music: Hard Rock, Review
- Writer: Chris Beaumont
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Comments on this articleComments
Saw 'em live on MTV and I wasn't impressed but I did like your review...very thorough. In my opinion, the drums sounded triggered and what work they do with two guitarists doesn't really showcase much talent.As for the bass,it reminds of the mind numbing bass lines from "And Justice..". Yeah, so mind numbing that you can't hear 'em. You are correct in one facet,Chris,they are definately reminiscent of the cheesy bands that ruined the so-called genre from the 80's.
couldn't agree with you more. great album, great review and to be honest i did avoid them at one point too, but their performance at last years warped tour sealed the deal for me.
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personly i had to people ask me if i had heard of avenged sevenfold and i siad no i hadn't, so after that second one, I found a place with some previews of there songs earlier today and now i love the band! i don't know, they just get me pumped up and i skate better...
Dude waking the fallen was avenged sevenfolds best fucking album, they were a badass hardcore band! Then they went all soft which pissed me off but they are still my #1 favriote fucking band of all times and will be until I die! Just like Matt Shadows tattoo, U know the one he got when he was 15 the true till death tattoo, well im true till avenged sevenfold till death and thats why I have the same fucking tattoo! City of evil wasnt there best album but, they are still a badass band, and your right Synester Gates and Zacky Vengeance are the most fucking badass guitarist of all times! Im saying that those two together fucking rock! I try to learn to play all there songs, well Zackys part any ways I havent tried to much of Synesters his stuff is a little to advanced for me I mean the solos and every thing, for example I wont see you tonight part 2, that guitar solo is way the fuck to crazy for me! Well im gonna go, and avenged sevenfold is the number 1 most fucking bad ass band ever, Matt Shadows if you ever see this shit please scream a little more your scream was so fucking bad ass!!!!!!
good album, i agree. but the one guitarist name is zacky, not jacky, like you wrote. just thought i'd point that out
A&X is the best band out there, by far. There awesome to see live. I have met two of them, now I just have to meet the other three. I love WTF more then any other cd that they came out with..COE is full of attitude and all that good stuff! I cought COE the first day it came out, It was awesome. At first I didnt't like Bat Country as much as I did the other songs, but thats okay! There still the best band of eternaty. Thats why I'm getting Tattoo of them..I designed it..its awesome. People will say that I'm going to hate it in ten years. I wont it will remind me of my childhood and shit.
For everyone out there go buy COE.
Logan Nick...how did you find out what that tattoo said?? I've been searching forever!! When I saw that you knew I started freaking out. Anyways, Avenged Sevenfold is the greatest band ever. They never fail to surprise me. I loved the Seize The Day music video. It was awesome. Chapter Four is my favorite song!! Does anyone have any idea when their next cd comes out??
you guys fuck'n rock, you are my freak'n god's. I love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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i liked this record too.
nice review chris.