Avenged Sevenfold
The Stage

Avenged Sevenfold is a band that, whether you love them or not (and with them, there are no half measures), deserves a few words. This group formed in California has repeatedly shown that beneath the tattoos and tough style, there is often sensitivity and skill.

A7X has had various phases, and they've been loved and hated many times. They’ve also gotten us used to waiting a long time before seeing a new album on store shelves. And it's precisely because of this that when the result disappoints expectations, fans lose patience.

In fact, what makes news regarding "The Stage" is not the fact that a new album has come out. But that a good new album from Sevenfold has finally reached completion.

M. Shadows and his band have many faces. Despite the change in direction due to the frontman's vocal cord surgery, the California band had stepped away from the core sounds and dominant screams that characterized "Waking the Fallen" (among the band's best works), losing a good portion of their style. But they got back on track and continued to thrive, finding their footing with a high-quality album like "City of Evil," followed by the good "Avenged Sevenfold."

Let's be clear: we are no longer seeking Avenged Sevenfold of the splendid Radiant Eclipse, or the vigorous Trashed and Scattered, or even the fun and well-played A Little Piece of Heaven. No, we're not romantic to that point. And frankly, we're not that young anymore, either. However, at the same time, we didn't expect the disastrous fall of "Hail to the King," which, in its declared attempt to pay homage to the legends that influenced the band, turned out to be a copy/paste of smooth and unoriginal pieces (to not be overly harsh). Especially after that excellent album "Nightmare," which clearly felt the strong hand of Mike Portnoy (always praised).

So, after the long (perhaps too long) preamble, what makes "The Stage" a good album?

Matthew Shadows' voice shows a certain decline, a sign that the ticking clock on his vocal ability has started moving a bit faster. But this matters little (at least for now), because the frontman still has plenty of drive to sell, and hits the notes like before.

In the title track, one enjoys a taste of the old Avenged, in the prolonged intro and drum intrusions, in a piece that initially makes you exclaim "too long!" but then you end up enjoying it. The tracks never fall below four minutes, and we finally find a certain originality which, arguable as it may be, recalls the Avenged Sevenfold style. The genuine one, whether you like it or not. The only exception is God Damn with its 3 minutes and 41 seconds, but it delivers the truest Avenged Sevenfold: M. Shadows' voice is edgy, as is the lyrics. The guitar riffs are those of the best Synyster Gates, always perfect, without flaws, with the distorted guitar just enough to be recognized in a blink. The accompaniment of Zacky Vengeance is also excellent, delighting us once again with the acoustic guitar.

But above all, and here we touch a sensitive point, throughout the album, the drumming is like it used to be: crisp on the snare drum, decisive, punctual, with cymbals cracking in perfect A7X style. It's almost as if dear Jimmy gave lessons in dreams to Brooks Wackerman.

Also noteworthy is Higher, with its gospel-like intro setting the stage for the entrance of the guitars, sharp as those we admired in Chapter Four, and Angel, in which we find a solo worthy of the best Syn.

A final observation must be made on the final track, Exist: a piece of nearly sixteen minutes. Now, we're not facing the excellent track that was Save Me (Glory and praise to Mike for all ages), but the final result is still appreciable and full of potential.

So, let's answer:

- what makes "The Stage" a good album?

- The fact that Avenged Sevenfold took inspiration from themselves, without tapping into those who have already made history to the point where it can't be repeated.

Don't believe it? Go see what they're planning with their next project (alas).