By: Renny Logan <[email protected]>

Avenged Sevenfold released its new self-titled album Oct. 30 to thousands of hungry fans. The self-produced CD did not disappoint.

However, the new and diversified sound could be a potential shock to long-time fans, just as the group’s last album “City of Evil” was. Musically, the band continues to extend beyond their bounds. With each new release the quintet proves its loosely defined “metal” categorization means nothing to them, showing both progression and growth that most modern bands fail to achieve.

Thus far, the members of Avenged Sevenfold haven’t gotten the credit they deserve for either their brilliant song composition or their skilled musicianship. While numerous bands enjoy widespread recognition for their mediocre attempts and half-witted lyrics, Avenged Sevenfold has slowly climbed the ladder despite continuously exceeding its own capabilities. The band’s album is just another example of the band’s development.

Lyrically, the songs are both emotional and personal, reminiscent of the group’s first two studio albums, “Sounding The Seventh Trumpet” and “Waking The Fallen.” However, in contrast to “Sounding The Seventh Trumpet” and “Waking The Fallen,” the lyrics on “Avenged Sevenfold” reject a despairing tone for an emotional but strong-willed attitude instead. For example, on Unbound (The Wild Ride) lead singer Matt Shadows howls, “This ride that takes me through life/Leads me into darkness but it merges into light/No one will ever slow me down/I’ll stay unbound.”

In comparison to the lyrics, the songs have the same musical intensity that can be heard on “City of Evil .” The band members’ musicianship never fails them. With ragged but precise guitar solos, heavy drumming and rhythmic bass, they’ve yet to lose their edge.

Beginning with an in-your-face political rant, the CD is an intense and progressive ride, with drastic emotional ups and downs. Critical Acclaim, the first track, antagonizes the politically correct mindset of today with lines like “…Shhh…quiet, you might piss somebody off.”

Don’t get the wrong idea, even though the song is a political rant, it steers entirely clear of being anti-American and is very much the opposite. “…How does it feel to know that someone’s kid in the heart of American has blood on their hands/Fighting to defend your rights so you can maintain a lifestyle that insults his family’s existence?”

As the album progresses, it’s filled with musical diversity. Soaring from the thrash-influenced Almost Easy to the jazzy A Little Piece of Heaven, the CD has a little something for fans of every genre.

Speaking of “A Little Piece of Heaven,” the song is backed by a 25-piece orchestra; talk about extravagant. Apparently the song title was no accident. The Danny-Elfmanesque composition and vaudeville flair contribute to the song’s excellence. The lyrics are an epic story of two lovers. True to their nature, the band throws in a morbid twist, along with a touch of humor. This song is guaranteed to be a favorite.

While a full-blown orchestra isn’t present on all the songs, there are a couple others that feature additional instruments, including piano, organ, upright bass, violins and so forth. To name a few, Lost, Afterlife and Gunslinger all include additional musicians.

The entire album consumes the listener with each song, completely enveloping the listener’s attention. Considering there are only 10 tracks on the album, the listener can easily see the craft and concern the band focused on each song.

In that regard, the CD is much more successful than most 15-track releases. This pivotal album is bound to become Avenged Sevenfold’s trademark CD, unless, of course, it one-ups it again, just as it has with its past three albums.