Coming off a Best New Artist Award at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, the members of
Avenged Sevenfold returned to the studio, ambitious to create an exciting follow-up to
City of Evil, and their self-titled release often focuses hard on pushing the songs into non-metal territory. Their signature blistering
Yngwie Malmsteen guitar arpeggios and lightning fast double-kick drums are still evident, while
AS show their unbridled enthusiasm to be as inventive as possible as they run through a staggering amount of production enhancements: four songs have string arrangements; violinists, pianists, and vocalists make guest appearances here and there; "A Little Piece of Heaven" is a strange
Mr. Bungle-type number with sax, clarinet, trombone, and trumpet; and "Unbound (The Wild Ride)" throws in the most un-metal addition of all -- a children's choir. Some of these enhancements help take the songs to the next level, while others give the sensation of inappropriately mashed-up styles. Vocalist
M. Shadows, who required surgery on his vocal cords after
Waking the Fallen, shows that his training with
Ron Anderson (vocal coach for
Layne Staley,
Axl Rose, and
Chris Cornell) has been for the greater good. Rather than screaming or doing the metal growl, he sings in a few gritty voices, showing an obvious
Mike Patton influence, and actually sounds pitch-perfect. His skills and the entire band's technical ferocity are flawless as ever, and although they get lost in a cluttered vision, their willingness to experiment is admirable. ~ Jason Lymangrover