Growing up, I started listening to a heavy metal band named, Avenged Sevenfold. A band that originated from Huntington Beach, California caught my attention.  While growing up, I listened to everything from Backstreet Boys to Avenged Sevenfold. I am not sure of what caught my attention. It could have been M. Shadows, the lead singer’s voice, the crazy guitar riffs from Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates, or even the drumming skills from The Rev (R.I.P.). Whatever it was, had me hooked on listening to them all the time. Back in 2009, when the band lost their close friend and drummer, as a fan, I thought it was going to be over for the band. No more albums, no tours, no nothing. But they then brought out ‘Nightmare,’ ‘Hail to the King,’ and now, ‘The Stage.’

Unexpectedly, the band released a single from the album entitled, ‘The Stage’ a few weeks ago. A few nights ago on live stream concert, they also unexpectedly, announced the release of their new album. The last album, that the band released was in 2013. This is the first album release for their new drummer, Brooks Wackerman who replaced their old drummer Arin Illejay who was drumming on ‘Hail to the King.’ Brooks drumming skills works really well with this album.

I could not hold in my excitement anymore. Finally, one of my favorite bands are releasing an album 3 years later. Also under a new record label. Avenged Sevenfold were under the record company, Warner Brothers and now under Capital Records. (In my opinion, they are doing a better job promoting than Warner Brothers ever did).

The first song entitled, “The Stage,” had me hooked. It might have been that they were finally releasing a single that I wanted to hear or just the fact that they were releasing something after 3 years?! With an 8 minute song, this was just the beginning of what Avenged Sevenfold was going to bring.

The next song, “Paradigm,” includes M. Shadows screaming for a bit. Which allows me to remember the days of their second album, ‘Waking the Fallen’ when the entire album was screamo. M. Shadows, a while back had bursted his blood vessel which made him unable to scream in the albums after ‘Waking the Fallen.’ However, it makes me feel happy that he is trying to bring the old Avenged Sevenfold into their new album. The following songs are, “Sunny Disposition,” “God Damn,” “Creating God,” “Angels,” “Simulation,” “Higher,” “Roman Sky,” “Fermi Paradox,” and their longest track on the album, with about sixteen minutes, they concluded with, “Exist.”

My 3 favorite songs off of this album are: “God Damn,” “Creating God,” and “Angels.” These are my favorite songs because they sound like what Avenged Sevenfold used to sound like.

It sounds like a new start for the band. Now knowing that they are signed to a new record label, the band are doing much more promo than before. The band had a pop up shop in New York and in Los Angeles where they sold new merchandise, promoted the new album, and did a meet and greet for both pop up shops on October 29-30. Which I was unable to go to. It was such a bummer. I grew up listening to this band and they were finally in town and I was unable to go meet them. (Yes, I will probably hate myself for not going for a while but life goes on).

This album is way better than their last one. There are parts on this album where I want to release the inner headbanger that is in me. Yes they dropped this album unexpectedly, but it was the best surprise they could ever do.

Do I ever think that they will go back to their old stuff? If they could go back in time where The Rev was still alive and before M. Shadows bursted his blood vessel, I think that they probably could if they wanted to. I think that as they got older, they would want to change their style to what they have right now.

I am beyond happy that Avenged Sevenfold released a new album. They took a break and to come to think and it was a well deserved break. They came back and created music that all Avenged Sevenfold fans including myself have been waiting for.