Avenged Sevenfold
If someone mentions about a band called Avenged Sevenfold, what thing that would come up first in your mind? For me, I might say they are one of the most talented bands in this world. I think, my assumption is not taking too over, and perhaps you would be agree with it.
Avenged Sevenfold is a band that was formed in 1999 (if I am not mistaken). The band itself comes from Huntington Becah, California. There were 3 guys who formed the band i.e Matt Shadow as the vocalist, The Rev as the drummer and also Zacky Vengeance as the guitarist. Later, Synyster Gates joined the band as the leader guitar as well as Johny Christ as the bassist — he replaced the previous bassist. Now that band has released 8 album since their first released one back then.
Honestly, I do not really recognize what genre Avenged Sevenfold are. Some people say they are Metal band while some others say they are a Hard Rock band. And actually, their genre was progressively going to be different in each album since their debut. In the Sounding The Seventh Trumpet album (2001), their music looked more likely as a Metalcore where the songs had so many scream vocal. Then, their second album Waking The Fallen (2003) was still a little the same as the previous one, but Matt Shadow was like had been improving his vocal. He did not sing by relying on the scream; Matt also set himself to sing in the higher note. You can hear it in the songs like Second Heartbeat, I won’t See You Part 1, Desecrate Through Reverence, Radiant Eclipse, Chapter Four and so forth. You might hear that the vocalist sang with the clean vocal and was in a higher note.
I think, Waking The Fallen album was ther revolution of Avenged Sevenfold. It was not only about vocal, Synyster Gates who play as the leader guitar was also improving his way playing. No, I am not saying he was bad back then; what I mean is started from Waking The Fallen and within some next albums, Gates filled in almost every song by melody. Moreover, the band set the special part for Gates so that he is able to show his guitar skill. The songs like Second Heartbeat, Remenission, Chapter Four, Unholy Confession and the others are some which sounded a bit melodic combined to their first album songs. However, it is only my own point of view.
In the City of Evil album (2005) and Shelf-Titled (2007); I think each personel has done such a revolution toward their song. All of the members have improved the way how they olay music. Yet, the most stand out ones are clearly look from Matt Shadow and Synyster Gates. Matt really changed the way on how he sings; he rely on the high note while singing as well as improving the way how he did screaming. On the other side, Gates has become the most vital person of the band alongside with The Rev, (while The Rev was a beast since the first album. His technic on playing drum in every song was incredible).
I am really into a song titled Afterlife from Self-Titled Album. Personally, I think that song is one of their best creation; the sound of music inatrument as well as Matt’s vocal… those are just perfect on their own. Every time I listen to the song, my ears are getting orgasm.
Why Afterlife? Because that song is like structered well. It is begins with the violin and then the whole member enter it with playing their own music instrument. In this song, I give more credits to Matt Shadow, Synyster Gates and The Rev. Matt’s vocal is powerful; Gates play a beautiful melody on his guitar; while The Rev did his amazing job on the drum — he even filled in the backing vocal well. On the other side, Zacky played so good on the rythym; and Johny’s bast is nearly perfect to make the song much colorful.
Afterlife is one of many Avenged Sevenfold’s songs which show how good the band have improved since their first debut. It should be noted that, they not only improved the way how they play music; all the members also improved on how they perform on the stage. I think, most of Avenged Sevenfold fans would agree that their best performance was in 2008, in the LBC. The band performed well and all the members did the job amazingly.
I like hard music like Rock and Metal. I am even just feel okay though the music is full of instruments only without vocal — and some of Avenged Sevenfold songs have awesome music instrument like Unholy Confession, Afterlife, Save Me, Chapter Four and so forth. However, even though I am into of Rock and Metal music, know that it is not all of those genres could match to me. Moreover, I love how every band shows up the skill especially on the drum and guitar. And I know, some of Metal musics sound a bit samely from one song to the other ones — even I can predict what the members do after one part to move up to another part. Yet, some Metal bands have an awesome skill and technic; some are taking the inspiration not only from Metal genre — they started to learn more about the other genres like Pop or Jazz, and then combined it on their own taste music until then it becomes a Metal music.
The Rev himself learnt a lot from any genres in order to improve his skill and also to create his drum sound uniqe but it still good to be heard. In the Sounding The Seventh Trumpet album, the drummer was like relied on the speed. Yet, he improved it in the next albums until the very last one; Self Titled. Perhaps, the most memorable The Rev’s parts are on the songs titled Beast and The Harlot, Bat Country, Unholy Confession, Almost Easy, A Little Piece of Heaven, Scream… even a song like Dear God has a beautiful drum play. He had good speed and technic which made his playing a bit uniqe — but The Rev also has his own character. If you are a big fan or often listen to Avenged Sevenfold from their first album until Self Titled, you would recognize what character he did ever had at that time.
Avenged Sevenfold are one of the most talented band. They are not only good in recording but also in live performance on the stage. The way how they improved their music from the first album until the latest one was impressive. Though some people argued that the reason why that band did a revolution on the way they play music was because Matt Shadow has suffered sore throat due to scream technic; however, for me they are still good and even are getting better in each album. I am not talking about one member only but the whole members. Like I spelt out previously, it is not Matt Shadow only; Synyster Gates, The Rev, Zacy Vengeance and Johny Christ have improved themselves to get better and keep being better since their first debut. Even, after The Rev passed away in 2009, the band keep doing their job and keep creating many amazing songs. The album like Nightmare, Hail to The King, The Stage and the latest one named Life Is But A Dream; those are the evidance that the band keep doing their best.
It is not easy in order to keep maintaining the best. Avenged Sevenfold is one of the sample bands that manage to maintain themselves to be on the top over years. Whereas there are some bands that are getting dim after releasing one or two albums. Since, working in a band is not only about creating songs; moreover it is also about keeping the healthy relationship in each personel. Many bands have changed their first personels due to one or some other reasons; and some even have broken up as every members have already busy on their own business. In addition, those who keeps working together in the same band since the first formed are the examples. They can unify any difference ideas to be combined it in many song even in some albums. That is impressive and I give my credit to the bands, especially those who have been together on or out the stage within 10 or even 20 years more.
