Passing the Guard

I realized something the other day. If anyone asked me who my favorite band is, I'd probably say Iron Maiden, with Metallica or Judas Priest a close second. But, my favorite band today is really Avenged Sevenfold. And I realized it happened the same way it happened with those bands.

I bought Number of the Beast, I bought Ride the Lightning and at the time I thought those bands were really good. But then a release came along (for me with Maiden it was Live After Death, for Metallica it was Master of Puppets) that, when I heard it, I loved it so much that I went back and listened to the old albums again  and released they were much better than I'd first thought.

Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold has been in constant rotation in my CD player since it came out. Having seen them live, I've gone back and fallen in love with the self-titled CD all over again and realized that, while I liked it at the time, it's even better than I originally thought. I know some people have no interest in even the bands of the 80s releasing new material, but it makes me feel great to know that there's new metal bands that are doing what the old bands did: releasing CDs, touring, building a fan base and making music every bit as exciting and relevant as the songs I grew up with. Of course, I still love Metallica and Iron Maiden, and I do buy and enjoy their new CDs, but, pound for pound, I like the new A7X better. They combine showmanship, song writing and killer chops: all the things I've always loved in a band.

Comments

[bryon]

I'm with you 100%. Metallica has been my favorite band forever, but A7X have been at the top of my list for the past 3-4 years now. Like Iron Maiden & Metallica, they are masters at mixing heavy with melody.

They also put on an incredible live show that is reminiscent of the way rock bands used to do it. Gut-crunching volume, huge pyro, effects & real rock-star stage presence. These guys are the real deal.

[Florentine]

Agree new avenged is in my opinion the best new music out their.

[Spence]

Never been a fan, which is weird considering they came out when I was in high school.

[Metalboy!]

I'm with Spence and Weddingdresslove.

They are NOT even close to being on the same plain (or plane, for that matter) as Iron Maiden and Metallica.

But I will give them this -- their music is as stupid as the majority of those band's catalogs, which is somewhat of an achievement.

Don't get me wrong, I fully acknowledge some of my favorite music (Motley Crüe, Ratt, Poison, Cinderella, Def Leppard, etc.) is all pretty inane, but it's better songwriting, bottom line.

These guys are not nearly as catchy as the bands I like, nor the diseases that would be airborne at the hospital in this video if this guy's "nightmare" was a reality.

p.s. I will give this, too -- The video is very well produced and directed and I like the touch of the guy singing from the gurney.

[Metalboy!]

We do agree (God forbid, Christian, hahaha!!!) on Judas Priest, however, who I forgot from my list of bands I like.

[Christian]

Hey Metalboy. You're obviously entitled to your opinion. As someone who writes songs, I definitely disagree on the songwriting front. I love that A7X deviates from verse/chorus/verse/chorus/middle 8/solo/ and then either chorus/verse chorus or just chorus twice. They often have a shorter chorus that gets longer later in the song, which I love. I suspect part of the issue is simply that it's hard for any new music to compete with music you've loved for 2 decades. A7X did it for me b/c the guitar playing is brilliant, I think the song writing is excellent, and so I just kept listening until it dawned on me that these songs have worked in to my skull as much as Sanatarium, Electric Eye, and Hallowed be thy name are lodged in there. I do think that my being a player of guitar changes my perspective a little, and of course, taste is always subjective, that's what makes it fun to talk about.

[Metalboy!]

Hear, hear! Like I said, hey, we really do have common ground with our mutual love of Priest. And, don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you that A7X have killer guitar playing and musicianship.

But, and here's the fun part for ya, the singer's just okay, and I'm glad you like their "songs".

I just personally don't think they are capable of writing an actual song.

[Metalboy!]

AND I also happen to like a lot of songs by other performers that aren't what you'd call classic song structure. Listen to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", The Beatles' "A Day In The Life" or 999's "High Energy Plan", for example. But I do admit, as far as Rock'n'Roll goes, the only newer stuff I like does have more traditional songwriting -- bands like Black Veil Brides, Kissin' Dynamite, Reckless Love and Hansel (did you see them, yet, bro?! They're Australian,), for example. And, dude, gotta say, I almost like "Almost Easy" by A7X. Now, if the guy could only sing,
hahaha!!! Okay, and don't forget, we both dig (hahaha!!!, "dig"!, I really am old!) Accept. Have you ever heard the Sabaton song, "Metal Machine"? If not, check it.