Click Here To Open The Spotify Playlsit
Week 1:
Avenged Sevenfold
Artist Introduction
Vin Cascella
Most Popular
Hail To The King
With almost twice as many listens as any other A7X song it is by far their most popular song. Surprising to me, its a perfectly okay generic hard rock/metal song. It's off the first album that has no influence of their former deceased drummer. The previous album was mostly complete when he passed. Kind of generic, reminds me of Metallica.
Nightmare
Fun song, good mix of what they used to sound like and the direction they were heading into at the time. Still pretty heavy, lots of fun drums and melodic guitar, a little theatrical but also a lot tighter than their older stuff, moving in that "Metallica-esque" direction. The lead single of the album that was released a few months after the death of their drummer.
Afterlife
Realized that these first three songs are off their 6th, 5th, and 4th studio album respectively which is very representative of their change in sound. Great song off my personal favorite album. If they had a scale that went from their original sound to their newer sound this is probably right in the middle. Fast, fun, heavy, but also radio friendly.
Personal Favorites
Unholy Confessions
Continuing the trend of bouncing around all of their albums this song is off their second studio album. Their first album is a mess; still figuring out their identity, lots of screaming, minimal production, drums sound like they were recorded in a garage. Their second album which includes one of my personal favorites Unholy Confessions is still relatively heavy but features more singing and melodic guitars. Probably my favorite song of theirs played live. Much heavier than the rest of the list but not a bad thing.
Beast And The Harlot
Why not another different album. Their third studio album, and my personal second favorite. Most of the album sounds like this song. Melodic speed metal with tons of dueling guitars and drum solos. A little more theatrical than their previous work but not in a bad way.
So Far Away
Probably their “best” song in my opinion. Originally written in honor of a family member (I think) the song has taken on more of a life as a tribute to their late drummer. Most of it was already recorded when he passed but they changed it a little. Probably the most mature sounding song on this entire list. Also the first time we return to an album (5th studio, same as “Nightmare”). They have more than a few “lighter” or “stripped down” songs but I think this is their best version of that style.
Unique Songs
A Little Piece Of Heaven
Fan favorite, and an absolutely insane song. A rock opera meets an R rated version of Tim Burton films. Tons of production with a full orchestra and choir. Ridiculous themes and by far their most theatrical song. But yea… fun song, they did something different and its became one of their most well known songs.
(O)rdinary
Off their most recent album (8th studio, 7 years after their previous album) and part of a 3 song set “G”, “(O)rdinary, and (D)eath we got this monstrosity. I mean the song stinks, but it’s definitely different. Considered an “Avant-garde metal” album the whole album is a bit all over the place. I added this song not because I like it but it tells a story about how the band has been around long enough and has been successful enough that they just do what they want. Their previous 3 albums were continually more generic and after not putting out an album for 7 years they come back by putting out an album that has a song that could be a Daft Punk B-side.
Dear God
To round out my list we go back to my favorite album, their Self-Titled 4th studio album. Like I had mentioned before they have had a trend of putting out one or two lighter or stripped-down songs per album and this one is no different.
Conclusions
Overall, a nice conclusion song to the album and to this list. Also, I get a kick out of this song wrapping up the album and then the following album having one of their heaviest modern songs in “God Hates Us”. So you know…. Theres a fun fact to wrap up my list.
8.8/10
Cascella Family Reviews
Joe Cascella
A7X was an enjoyable listen as I was racing through the backroads of southern NY to the Catskills. I feel as if they carved out their own lane is music. They are a fast progressive metal type band with a unique sound that has lasted multiple decades. Songs like Afterlife and Beast and the Harlot were especially nostalgic to me, and I was pleasantly surprised with a few of the songs I did not recognize. Specifically, 'So Far Away' is a beautiful piece of art, and was immediately added to my all music playlist. Also, 'A Little Piece of Heaven' was a wild adventure, but still a very fun listen. Overall, I rank this band as talented, unique, fun. Great first choice of band, fun listen, looking forward to week 2 (My choice of band)! Yeet!
Dad Cascella
HAIL TO THE KING- Good opening, first thing comes to mind is James Hatfield and Metallica. Hard rocking song hooked me in right away.
NIGHTMARE- continues the Metallica sound, fairly solid, nothing I haven't heard before
AFTERLIFE- Good song, I've heard this somewhere (probably at Vincent's), the chorus raises the song.
UNHOLY CONFESSIONS- I thought it was kind of all over the place, does he want to scream or sing with harmonies (I don't know), fair song
BEAST AND THE HARLOT- Theatrical (almost like MUSE), very heavy, I really liked this one, sensing drummer is a monster, love double bass drums.
SO FAR AWAY- Holy Cow!! A slow song. Really enjoyed this one, didn't know they had it in them. Will add this one to my playlist.
A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN- Good song, theatrical, a bit like but not as good as BEAST, tho really liked this guy banging those drums
ORDINARY- Wow! That was different, would not have guessed this is the same band. Not sure what they were going for in this one, but I didn't get it.
So there's my first review. I'm just getting my sealegs for writing music reviews, they will get better. Avenged Sevenfold surprised me, I didn't know this is a very hard rocking band, sometimes in my wheelhouse, sometimes not. They absolutely have a similar sound to METALLICA, but I don't know, they didn't draw me in like METALLICA. I'll give them a 6.5 and would I go see them in concert, Probably Not.
Mom Cascella
First of all, titles are very dark.
Hail To The King and Nightmare (their version of Sandman?) are both very Metallica.
Afterlife-the beginning to me sounds like Muse, I know this one, and liked the chorus.
Unholy Confessions- NOPE!!
Beast And The Harlot, too fast.
So Far Away, definattly different and my favorite song so far.
Little Piece Of Heaven, theatrical,meh!!..
Ordinary, Boring!!
Last but not least, Dear God, very good song, my second favorite. This was fun, looking forward to next.. I give them 6.8
Uncle Vin Cascella
Altho I find good things in all music, Heavy Metal is my least favorite genre. And screaming metal is kind of difficult for me.
Hail To The King- nice riff but repetitive. Great lead. 5.8
Nightmare: cool music, vocal style rough. Am I hearing a Brian May influence on guitar? 6.0
Unholy Confessions: Interesting group vocal, cool song structure. Too much screaming.
Brian May influence again? 6.4
Beast and The Harlot: cool Guitar, cool vocal, cool song structure. Me likey- somewhat! 7.0
A Little Piece of Heaven is one f...ed up, sick song. Interesting but f...ed up. 4.666
Ordinary- WTF? Really? Is this the same Band? 6.8