Avenged Sevenfold’s 8th studio album, “Life Is But A Dream,” is a wild ride that breaks all the rules. The band spent four years cooking up this masterpiece in Los Angeles, with Joe Barresi and Avenged Sevenfold themselves at the production helm. They mixed it up in the Poconos, PA, with Andy Wallace. This album is like a rollercoaster through the ups and downs of life, grappling with the big questions of existence and the shadow of death. The writings of Albert Camus, a French-Algerian philosopher known for his deep dives into existentialism and rebellion, sparked many of the lyrics.
The album starts with a classic metal vibe but doesn’t stay there long. It morphs and evolves, pulling in jazz, grunge, electronica, and psychedelia sounds. The band’s fearless experimentation shines in tracks like “(D)eath,” where Shadows channels the smooth crooning of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett over a jazzy backdrop, and “(O) ordinary,” a poppy alternative track where Shadows’ vocals get a heavy auto-tune makeover.
The title track, “Life Is But A Dream,” is a stunning instrumental piano ballad that shows a whole new side of Avenged Sevenfold. Despite the radical sound shift, the band’s killer talent is undeniable, proving they can rock any genre they set their minds to.
This album is like a treasure hunt, with each, listen uncovering new gems. It’s a challenge, but one that’s worth the effort. Only time will tell how it stacks up against the rest of Avenged Sevenfold’s killer discography.
- 🎵 Album: “Life Is But A Dream”
- 🎤 Band: Avenged Sevenfold
- 📅 Dropped: June 2023
- 🎧 Genre: Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
- 🎼 Inspired by: Albert Camus’ deep thoughts
- 🎸 Sounds: Jazz, grunge, electronica, psychedelia
- 🎙️ Vocals: M. Shadows
- 🎸 Guitar: Synyster Gates
- 🎚️ Produced by: Joe Barresi and Avenged Sevenfold
- 🎛️ Mixed by: Andy Wallace
- 📍 Cooked up in Los Angeles
