Album review: Avenged Sevenfold's 'Nightmare'

The major labels may continue to wither, but they won't go out without a bang. After all, there's no other way to explain the recent promotional tie-in between the new Avenged Sevenfold track "Welcome to the Family," and its ideological brethren, the ultra-violent video game, "Call of Duty: Black Ops."

Set to a string of explosions, helicopters and assault rifles clutched by solemn young men with shaved heads, the unabashed militarism is frightening and almost pornographic in its zeal. Whether you appreciate the veteran hard rock/metal hybrid depends on your tolerance for spiraling guitars, avalanche drums and satanic screams. Or your inclination to the aesthetic spelled out in the video for lead single "Nightmare," with its bloody and cackling children, experimental surgeries and morbid obsessions. Consider it Edward Gorey as re-conceptualized by Hannibal Lecter and Korn.

Metal doesn't die, it mutates, and sonically, Avenged Sevenfold has cribbed from the usual suspects: Linkin Park and the Nu-Metal school, a little Black Sabbath, and the Orange County punk-thrash that inevitably influenced its formative years. The sincerity is palpable even if the style seems synthetic, particularly on "So Far Away," which presumably addresses the untimely death last year of their drummer, James "The Rev" Sullivan.

With imagery haunted by death and lyrical allusions to alienation and angst, Avenged Sevenfold's fifth full-length is almost impossible to appreciate unless you fit the prime demographic: tormented teenage boys.

— Jeff Weiss 

Avenged Sevenfold
"Nightmare"
(Warner Bros.)
Two stars (Out of four)

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Comments

[musiclover]

This is the most obscene and biased review I have read in a very long time. I'm in my 40s, a female, and a professional, so your assessment of the so-called prime demographics of individuals listening to A7X is most incorrect. Satanic screams? Wrong, but then what would Mr. Weiss know. He seems to have formed an opinion on a video, a video game, and his alleged knowledge in music. Presumably addresses the Rev's death? Do your homework - the members give tribute to a talented individual whose loss was felt by many. Mr. Weiss, I will give you a second chance. LISTEN to the cd, and then come back and write a God-honest review.

[heather]

You call that a review? Lol moron.

[ELITE]

Horrid review. Horrid. First off, you failed to mention that the ENTIRE ALBUM is a tribute to the late Reverend Tholomew Plaugue. Second, to compare Avenged Sevenfold to Linkin Park is assanine. You didn't hear the influences of Guns 'n' Roses, or Metallica, or the similarity of "Victim" to the Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd??? You must be deaf or just stupid. The video for "Nightmare" is a visual representation of the nightmare they were going through, not disturbed images for little boys to be dazzled by. Who hired you to be a music critic? You and they need to loose your jobs.

[Carlos]

Jeff I have one question? Why are you reviewing this? First off, you are clearly more interested in the gossip and horrid sound of rap/hip hop/ and R&B. Why? Let's see all your other blogs. I find it Jeff very pathetic and childish of you to write this. You sound like a grandmother that has never missed a mass service in 45 years and believe everything is satanic; yet you go off having more interest in Rick Ross, due to all the inappropriate sexual harassment to women, illegal drugs, and the suicidal ideology to die young. Now Jeff please refrain from your hypocrisy, and don't review something you have no clue what it is talking about. Also stop with the Simon Cowell act to gain fifteen minutes of fame. This review is unbelievable inaccurate and is all based off the music video, rather than the album itself. Also you have only talked of Welcome to the Family and So Far Away, two songs released a week before the album's release. Also the music video was premiered 10 days before the album. Now tell me Jeff did you even listen to the album? Get off youtube and try to write a more believable review. I respect reviews, but clearly you don't have the proper sources and information, therefore you are reviewing an album for the wrong reasons. By the way I believe Lady GaGa is coming up with something else, so why don't you go review that?

[zack93rh]

Really? i'm not a tortured teenage boy, the album has one song with screaming at all, and the Call of Duty video isn't an official video. Someone fire this reviewer. Now.

[Bruno]

Who trusts reviews anyways? If you read a bad review about a movie, for instance, you can bet it's a heck of a good movie... on the other hand, if you read a review worshipping a movie, and you go watch it, it turns out to be horrible! Same happens with the music industry...

[Neno]

LA Times should be ashamed of such crap they wrote up there...

[Erik]

Jeff, have you ever listened to music before? And how in the world did you get this job? Please stop huffing paint and let someone who's been outside and knows how to differentiate linkin park's sound from Avenged's.

[Me]

Dear Jeff,
First and foremost just an idea - instead of making assumptions of a band's new record by just going to their facebook, picking a random video (what i can tell you picked the Machinima video to "Welcome to the Family") and basing a complete album review on that, without listening to the CD is a poor job quality which you have.
Second I did a little research on you - you only seem to give a listen to pop/rap. I did not see any previous article about any other type of genera. So why you pick/or were assigned this CD to review is beyond my knowledge.
Third - this was a tribute album to The Rev. It was going to be a concept album early in its production, but when The Rev passed that idea was scrapped and they decided to do it as a tribute. So obviously lossing a best friend from 90% of their lives is going to make the songs kindof strange and full of pain.
So in conclusion, I would implore you and also The LA Times to give this type of genera to someone who actually listens to it and can give a decent review. Also someone who will acutally listen to the album and not go find a random video about a song from the album - and mind you they didn't even do that video.

Sincerely,
An A7X fan that is dissapointed in your job preformance.

[Dietrick Vasquez]

HAHAHAHAHAH this guy has absolutely no taste in music, hes better off tearing up his ears with the horrible sound of pop music like lady gaga. he does not know music at all! Satanic screams???? complete BS! this guy has obviously not listened to the whole album and past albums to appreciate the full entirity of this album.. RIP REV

[sa888]

did you even listen to the album? most of the review is irrelevant.avalanche drums,wailing guitars,satanic screams?if you dont like this type of music then why in the world are you reviewing it? guess your gonna be the angst teenage boy when this album goes platinum and wins album of the year!this is what metal is all about if you dont like it go listen to your crappy music and leave this piece of art alone

[Kris]

I must agree with the other comments. It doesn't seem as though you approached this album with an open mind, nor even listened to it all the way though. It was shocking to read your blatant disregard of the instrumentals and technique in God Hates Us, Victim and Buried Alive. And for your information, yes, So Far Away was written with Jimmy Sullivan in mind. It's been mentioned quite a few times, combined with the fact that it's Synyster Gates' lyric-writing debut. Although the worst was your neglect to even mention the song Fiction, which, prophetic of death, miraculously features vocals from The Rev. It's melodic piano parts and the eerie lyrics combined with the idea of a voice beyond the grave is chilling, and absolutely amazing. We're all allowed to have our own opinions, but I actually found your lack of research on the band, the music and the message and meaning of the album rather offensive.

[Sioned Hughes]

I must say, reading this made me scream out in anger.
I have been an Avenged Sevenfold fan for a while now and since the new album 'Nightmare' has come out I have been on every website, that has given it a review, and this has got to be the worst. I am honestly unhappy with this review and totaly disagree with it.
I do not understand how someone could rate this album with a very low rating and only mentioning something from a videogame which has absolutely no relevance to the album. A complete and utter dissapointment... Oh and one other thing, did you actually listen to the album or did you just look at the music video to 'Nightmare' and COD: Black Ops because you wanted to rant on about unrelated garbage?
I would love it if someone were to replace you who is an actual fan of metal and will give a review that isn't a bunch of lies.

For Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan, this would be his worst nightmare to see this review, for an album that his brothers worked so hard on. May Jimmy rest in peace.

[Namless]

How can you say that? You obviously did NOT listen to this album, let alone realise what it was all about. It's a tribute to The Rev, their brother.
This most certainly was NOT a review, hell no, it was an opinion, which sure we like hearing, but for god sake, it's not menna be biased! This album is on the way to be A7X's best selling album, so obviously it can't be as bad as you say it is. And god, cut them some slack! They're mourning, so obviously, it's won't be the best they can do, but hell, they done a better job that you can do Jeff. And how is this album for 'tormented teenage boys'? Please, explain to me. One, I am a girl, I love this. I've found adults, plain boring adults, who like this song. So don't pull that crap, you just obviously can't review an album like you're menna. Next time can you please pick a proper person to review an album, not someone who fails to hear it.

[Kim]

uhmmm actually I'm a optimistic, happy teenage GIRL & I happen to love Avenged Sevenfold and this album. So maybe next time you write a review you'll take the time to actually listen to the album & not make general STEREOTYPICAL assumptions. always and foREVer.

[A Synful Vengeance]

This has to be the worst review I have seen, I am not into metal and I am not a teenage boy but Avenged Sevenfold is my favorite band out there it is disrespectful to the band and its fans you'd think a newspaper as big as the LA Times would have someone who likes all music working as there reviewer. The album is epic and its going to be album of the year, we should be proud that where able to get out such a meaningful album after losing The Rev it is the only album that has every has made feel with so much emotion.

[Anahid Juarez]

It would help a lot if the people who write album reviews actually knew a little something about music. LA Times should really try to match writers with a genre they're familiar with, that way they can give an unbiased REVIEW not a closed minded personal opinion . This is a really good CD and he barely even talked about the actual content of the album. I'm a member of today's youth so I never read newspapers or LA Times articles for that matter but as soon as I read Avenged Sevenfold I didn't even think twice about clicking the link and what do I get for doing that? A crappy article. One thing I know though is that LA Times will not be a a reliable source for Avenged Sevenfold fans or Metal fans in general when it comes to album "review" articles, thanks to Jeff Weiss.

[Roger]

how do you work for the L.A. Times? I've negative reviews about that album but at least they're constructive.
Get somebody that knows about music to review it and if it still gets a 2 out of 4 stars, at least i wanna hear a logical reason why.

[mike]

Jeff weiss please be quiet

[Doug]

im not even a metal head and i am smart enough to know this was a very well though out and creative record this review is a opinion but an absurd one i listen to bands like silversun pickups wilco and stuff like old 97's all along the internet this album is getting 5 out 5 stars and for this band to lose a brother like they did and come out with music like this i don't think it is fair to write a review this crazy and by the way the "satanic screams" god hates is the only song that has that kind of screaming and unfortunately it is there worse song the rest of the album is initiative and a masterpiece and the victim guitar solo is the best solo and think i have ever herd to date i am just saying if i was to rate this i would give it 5 out of 5

[Jonah]

What a horrible review. First of all, who rates out of four stars? There are 5, 10, and 100 but 4? Really?
And you obviously have not gone deep enough into the background of this band to realize this album is a tribute to their drummer and friend so that's why it's all about death.
Their screams are not "Santanic". If you consider those screams anti-christ well then every song that has screaming in it must be santanic.
I am a Christian and I absolutely love this album.
Pick a better reviewer next time or just don't review at all.

[Ben]

Jeff Weiss you are a complete idiot. How the hell did you end up reviewing cd's?!?

[bRAD]

This isn't even a review. At least explain about more than two songs and a music video. Terrible review.

[Kel]

Excuse me? Did we listen to the same album? Because I love this album. It's disjointed, but it makes sense for it to be so. So Far Away is an amazing song and says what I have been unable to for so many years about people how has passed before me. These guys have been through hell, we're lucky to have this album and you can't find one nice thing to say about it? I think you owe the band an apology and a retraction of this review until you listen to it a few more times with an open mind.

[bRAD]

This isn't even a review. At least explain more then just talking about two songs and their music videos. This is one of the worst reviews i have ever seen. I dont care about the 2 out of 4 but at least have a reason!