Even though I’ve seen this well-regarded metal band live twice in my life, I think this is the first album of theirs that I’ve actually listened to in full. In fact, the last full length album they released was seven years ago – I didn’t even have a blog then! But Avenged Sevenfold is back with Life Is but a Dream… and I gave it my full attention with zero expectations.
Sure, I have listened to a number of their songs in the past and expect a certain grit, shredding riffs, and overall loudness to their work, but this new album presented me with that and more! And by more, I mean different. Like really different. So different that I’m sure a lot of longtime fans are probably pretty pissed that they waited seven year and got this. I know my sister has at least one foot planted in that camp. She’s warming to it a little after some more listens, but she was not really about it. In comparison to their last album, The Stage, I think they went in some wildly new directions with the overall sound. Sometimes I’m all in for a change and other times I’m not, but I was quite pleased with this new album.
When I saw the band a few weeks ago, they played one of the singles off the album, which I hadn’t heard until that point, “We Love You.” Maybe a live setting wasn’t the best place to hear that for the first time because I was not about it. But hearing it with some headphones in, I was digging it. It’s hard to describe and almost comical in parts, but it did a great job of keeping you on your toes with both the tempo and style. I found that to be the case with a lot of the songs off the record. “Nobody” is hands down my favorite track off the record, which keeps a pretty gritty riff throughout most of the song, but several minutes in you’re treated to something more ethereal and then it ends with an epic solo from Sinister Gates.
“Mattel” is probably the song that will most appeal to old fans of the band as it is more in the vein of straight metal. I can’t imagine the opening track, “Game Over” probably appealed to many people, myself included, but I did think it was a good choice to get people into the mindset of what to expect for the rest of the album. A trio of tracks at the end were all super out of left field for the band, channeling their version of a Daft Punk sound, featuring female vocals (SO random), and even dabbling into the realm of ballad – strings and all. “Easier” was another track that really had a Daft Punk feel to it, and it’s so funny to me that M. Shadows was wearing one of their shirts when I saw them a few weeks back. I would have to assume that they were an influence on parts of this record.
I think those diehard Avenged Sevenfold fans will also find happiness in “Beautiful Morning” and at least some of “Easier.” “Cosmic” was a track that really got me because as it went along it had me thinking that this is what a metal song from Arcade Fire would probably sound like. I’m totally on board with that! Perhaps one of the most interesting songs on the album was the closing and title track, “Life Is but a Dream…” it was a fully instrumental piece, which I learned was mainly Sinister Gates on the piano. What talent! Strictly instrumental songs are not something I would normally choose to listen to, but I can an least appreciate the artistry in the song.
So yes, I can understand why diehard fans of Avenged Sevenfold would be initially disappointed in this album after waiting so long for new music, but, I challenge those fans to listen again with a more open mind. There is some really great stuff on there!