Avenged Sevenfold 'Nightmare' review

Band: Avenged Sevenfold
Record: Nightmare
Genre: Melodic metal
Label: Warner Bros
Release date: Out now

When I first played Nightmare on my computer I didn’t like what I heard.

Don’t get me wrong – the self-titled opening track which was previously demoed by Sevenfold is a great song, but it follows a pattern that can scream warning signs at the listener.

I’m not a fan of albums that start off with their first released and best song. Take Muse’s Origin of Symmetry and Foo Fighters’ respective New Born and All My Life tracks for example. They’re fantastic songs to start off each album, but that’s the problem. The only place is downhill from there.

After listening to the entire record, I was disappointed. No tracks seemed to stand out, which immediately reminded me of Green Day’s experimental Warning. The downside – it sounds weird and not as enjoyable as their earlier stuff, the upside – it’s a grower.

Thankfully, Nightmare falls into the second category and not the first. Four or five listens later and I’m loving what I hear. The lead guitar from Synyster Gates is sublime, clearer and crisp as ever. M.Shadows sings with more passion than before, with lyrics clearly inspired by the sad departure of drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan late last year. And there are plenty of dark, addictive riffs we’ve come to know and love from A7X.



“I hope it’s worth it, out on the highway,” Shadows bleeds in Fiction, a heart-rendering track about The Rev accompanied by a haunting piano melody.

“I hope you’ll find your own way when I’m not with you. So tell everybody, the ones who walked beside me, yeah, I know you’ll find your own way when I’m not with you tonight.”

This is the first album released by Sevenfold since his death, but hasn’t altered their musical style. In fact, most of the songs were written before he passed away, including the drumming beats and fills. This is a blessing and a curse.

Temporary replacement Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre) is brilliant, and fills in for The Rev well, but… it’s not the same. These may be the very beats Jimmy wrote, but the production is not what we’ve come to expect from classic tracks off their earlier records like Beast and the Harlot and Scream. The cymbals are too quiet in places, and fills aren’t played with the same vigour as The Rev. Still, it’s a worthy alternative to Jimmy himself and I’m sure he would be proud of Portnoy’s performances.

From the off some tracks stand out more than others – Danger Line leaps out like a powerful current from an electric fence, while the main hook from Natural Born Killer reeks of awesome heavy metal. To top it off Save Me ends the album in traditionally epic Sevenfold fashion.

It’s another welcome addition to the band’s impressive back catalogue, but Nightmare is no Waking the Fallen. Fans will buy this anyway, and for newcomers there’s never been a better time to fall in love and darkness with the Sevenfold.

As track two – Welcome to the Family – hints, and rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance says: “Being an A7X fan isn’t always easy because it means you’re not only gonna laugh with us, but cry with us and defend us on occasion.

“If you’re part of the family it's for life.”

And I hold my hand up – it’s a very pleasurable family to be a part of.

Score: PPPP
Top tracks: Danger Line, Fiction, Save Me
Reviewer: Dom Sacco