Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold's new release The Stage is by no means a complete shift in direction, but rather introduces prog-rock elements and tightens of many of the things we loved in Nightmare and Hail to the King.

A7X has always been a strong bridge between two sound worlds.  One is the caustic, rusted-iron sound that dominates bands like Lamb of God and Gojira, and the other is the melodic thrash-like scene (such as the Dream Theater releases near the end of Mike Portnoy's tenure).  This album pushes these styles to their extremes, resulting in a variety of brutal, wistful, lush, and lyrical colors.

A concept album that explores various cosmological and scientific topics, from artificial intelligence, simulation theory, silencing of scientific thought, nuclear war, and the concept of God, it becomes increasingly progressive as its end approaches.  The closing track, an epic reminiscent of Dream Theater and Symphony X, brings this album full circle.

Continue reading: Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage Album Review

Download Festival 2014 was a tamer affair than in previous years, largely owing to the event's tightened alcohol and drugs searches, bands being instructed not to encourage the crowds to mosh, more mainstream main stage headliners, fewer boobs being shown on the live camera feed, and the sombre tone of the renamed 'Stephen Sutton Stage'. Instead of holding a silence for the cancer-struck teen, festival attendees took part in a minute of respectful applause, which was paralleled by comedy pop punk band Bowling For Soup's tribute to the late comic, Rik Mayall.

In memoriam sections aside, the festival managed to transform what could be perceived as a weaker line-up compared to its preceding year into a three-day celebration of a broad range of the rock spectrum, filled with bespoke performance gems and quality heavy metal memories. First night closers Avenged Sevenfold brought a larger stage to Donington than they'd ever taken out of the US and combined imposing crypt-inspired adornments with an explosive set that proved on a world stage that they are worthy successors to titans Metallica and Iron Maiden.

The beady-eyed punter will have had a ball spotting the odd and hilarious happenings across the weekend, including a "face-melting" washboard solo from Berlin faux cowboys The BossHoss, punk's immature popsters Bowling For Soup asking a knight to decapitate a giant inflatable sheep, full contact medieval fighting from Battle Heritage, and Killswitch Engage's Jesse Leach inviting the crowd to "dance responsibly" to a particularly heavy breakdown. Ribs were probably broken in the latter instance.

Continue reading: Download Festival 2014 Review