Hail to the King

I admit, the first time I heard the single "Hail to the King" I was scared. I wanted something that was more Bat Country, I wanted something with The Rev's type of writing, I wanted the ultimate Avenged Sevenfold album. Though I always loved classic metal, I really wasn't sure how to feel about the song. After a few listens, I got into it, but I was still fearful before the albums was released. But on release day, I immediately downloaded the album and waited till I had time to listen to the whole album straight from the beginning, hell, I'd turn down my XM Radio to 0 when "Planets" or "This Means War" would come on. I wanted my listen to be as fresh as possible (title song didn't count to me as that was more like the trailer to the album). So when I actually sat down to listen to it, I was star struck. Once I stopped thinking about what I was afraid of what the album wouldn't have (it would have been unfair to ask of them to write like the friend they lost, that we all lost) I started to love it. It was dark, it was medieval, and it was a strong classic metal album. This was something I didn't know I wanted. It brought back my hope that metal would return to the roots of it all. The album has a strong central theme, a story, something I crave and love. When I play this album, I can't help but think and feel of the Skeleton King from Diablo and Diablo 3. It's a gothic taste while still retaining that Metallica feel, that Led Zeppelin inspiration, and that Black Sabbath heart. Though "This Means War" does sound too much like "Sad But True" by Metallica, it's still unique enough to stand mostly on its own. "Shepard of War" is an awesome start to the album, like a war cry for what's to come. "Doing Time" I'm not entirely sold on, but it's still a fun song and has more of that high energy. The rest of the album is great. However, the songs that stuck out to me was "Hail to the King" "Coming Home" "Planets" (the creepiest of them all) and "Acid Rain" as each has a very distinct sound and brings the album together. However, my favorite song is by far "Heretic" as it does have the most Avenged Sevenfold feel to it and some of the best guitar playing on the album. I love this album and I know a lot of other fans may hate it, but we can't choose how our favorite artist chooses to grow. That was my mistake when I listened to the single "Hail to the King" and that's very unfair to Avenged Sevenfold. They are growing whether we like it or not and I have to say, you guys are great and thanks for delivering one of my favorite albums of all time. I wish Arrin was given a better chance to show his true chops, but I do understand more articulate drum beats may have broke the classic feel to this album. Either way, I say only one thing to Avenged Sevenfold and this album, Hail to the F***ing King!

Hail to the King was meant to draw inspiration from the Pantheon of Metal, imitating the sound of such bands as Metallica, Judas Priest, Motley Crüe and Black Sabbath. The result was a sound that either pays great homage or quite simply carbon copies the bands that they drew inspiration from. Knowing A7X like I do, having listened to them faithfully since City of Evil, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. All eleven songs produced for Hail to the King are solid, and though I am sad to see Portnoy leave the lineup, Arin Ilejay is a fantastic technical drummer and his work is excellent in this album. Shepard of Fire begins slowly, with a crackling fire that seems content to burn slowly, as if from a nearby string of steel drums with a homeless person warming his hands. The guitar and orchestra come in slowly, and once Ilejay starts his deliberate pounding on those bass and floor toms and the licks begin on the guitar, it's difficult to stop banging your head. The title track has an insane riff that continues through the entire song, riding that e string the whole way. The pace of the song itself is much slower, though no less intense than Shepard. Doing Time seems to be this albums Blinded in Chains or Danger Line, a heavy hitting masterpeice that lets M. Shadows' vocals compete with the feirce guitar work of Synyster Gates. This Means War is the first slow song on the album, but its a deliberate measured tempo that isn't afraid to shred just as hard as the surrounding work. Requiem comes off as biblical, with the chants in Latin at the beginning and towards the end of the song, and its measured cadence comes with sosme of Shadows' best vocals on the album. Coming Home features Papa Gates on the guitar, performing the outro solo as only he can do. The rest of this songs, while solid, are unremarkable, content to blend in with the rest of the album rather than stand out and make themselves be heard. Saint James, the bonus downloadable song included with the limited edition of Hail to the King, is (I assume) another tribute to James "The Rev" Sullivan, but not a touching, down-tempo tribute like So Far Away was. It keeps in line with the rest of the album, another example of how to pay respect to the Old Gods of Rock, named for the Rev. (( foREVer )) In short, Hail to the King is a prime example of what A7X does best, and is quite possibly one of their heavier-handed albums to date. Though the technical guitar can be heard here, this album is more content to grind the E and A strings with most of the technical musicianship being left to Ilejay on the drums. Still a very solid, pulse pounding album, and an excellent tribute to old school rock.

Their best record to date in my opinion. Contains some of their best tunes ever. Heavy and melodic. Modern.

c'est un album super bien produit (trop ?) c lourd et ça envoie !

Hail To The King is US metal band Avenged Sevenfold's sixth album and, probably, their most commercial release so far. Straddling the thin divide between the rock and metal genres with ease with the aid of new drummer Arin Ilejay (who actually only recorded this one album with them), replacing sadly deceased sticksman Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, it is probably their most controversial album amongst their fans. Although the majority of AX7 admirers seemed to like it, there were many people who referred to it as their covers album or dismissed it as being too mainstream and not heavy enough. I'm actually a little shocked that, being someone who values originality so highly, I like this album so much. There are so many obvious "influences" on this album that they absolutely smash the line between homage and plagiarism, however, they do it with such style and have made such a listenable, enjoyable, well crafted album that I have forgiven them for it. My appreciation of Avenged Sevenfold comes courtesy of my Stepson, Jamie, who has often referred to them as his favourite band, so it's fair to say that I've heard a lot of their material and have really grown to love them myself (my particular favourites are Nightmare and City Of Evil). This album, however, harks back to one of my favourite periods in metal history, the eighties and early nineties, with ideas, arrangements, riffs and lyrics lifted, lock, stock and barrel from acts such as Iron Maiden (Hail To The King), Metallica (This Means War), Guns 'n' Roses (Doing Time) and, if you know these bands well, you will be left open-mouthed in amazement at the cheek Avenged have shown with some of the tracks. Having got that out of the way, I cannot help but give respect to Sevenfold for obviously loving the kind of metal I've loved over the years and replicating the appeal that era of music had so convincingly, even adapting their playing style and vocal delivery to suit the particular band they are, ahem, paying tribute to. Although I enjoy this album in its entirety, there are a few stand-out tracks for me; yes, it's basically a re-written Sad But True, but This Means War still manages to be one of my favourite cuts from this release. The classically influenced (I'm thinking Orff's Carmina Burana), dramatic Requiem is also a highlight and the guitar solo on Crimson Day is nothing short of spine-tingling gorgeousness, making what could be a slightly ordinary song something special. In fact, Synyster Gates' impressive guitar work throughout the album is almost a masterclass in a wide range of metal guitar styles and he has surely earned the title of one of the true greats of heavy rock. My last pick from the album would be the final track, Acid Rain which has a bit of an III Sides-era Extreme feel to it and is an ambitious, string-filled ballad. Indeed, M. Shadows gives a performance Gary Cherone would be proud to call his own. If you get your reservations out of the way, this is an entirely enjoyable album with impressive musicianship from the band being demonstrated throughout. Of course, some people may not be able to get past hearing Avenged being the ultimate tribute act for their musical heroes, but I think they have made what could easily be described as a classic heavy rock album and also probably the most accessible record in their catalogue to date for those who know nothing about the band. For Avenged fans who particularly love their early material, that may not be a good thing, but for someone like me who has been a fan from Nightmare onwards and hasn't particularly enjoyed all of the earlier output, it's a huge positive. You can tell that there has been intricate attention to detail on this album and it is a dark, Gothic, classy piece of work from start to finish, brilliantly produced and mixed too. My love of metal has definitely faded over the years, but Hail To The King is the kind of quality rock/metal release that is more than capable of reigniting my love for the genre.

Maravilhoso! Um dos melhores álbuns do Avenged Sevenfold!

Bonne qualité rapport/prix livraison qui prend du temps sinon c’est impeccable!