thelastcoolgrind

We’ve heard the new Avenged Sevenfold track and they’re hitting back with a vengeance on ‘Nightmare’!

Avenged Sevenfold’s new track ‘Nightmare’ has hit the airwaves at US Radio and Metal Hammer have heard the track! Check out our preview of what you can expect from the track below!
First off, it has to be said that weighing in at an epic 6:16, ‘Nightmare’ includes all of the colossal twists and turns that fans of the Orange County ragers have come to expect. It’s a rock n’ rollercoaster ride with truly spectacular moments peppered throughout the track.
Opening with a simple piano that sounds like a sinister musicbox, guitars and drums pound in together that mirror the initial musicbox melody. The drum fills are intensely furious and mirror the classic style of The Rev, machine-gun styled and militaristic. Epic lead-guitar leads soar across the track before M Shadows wails “Nightmare!” and chugging rhythm tracks take over.
The verse kicks in trademark Avenged fashion. Shadows vocals punctuated under a killer riff in similar style to that of Critical Acclaim. Punchy, anthemic and ready for war. The Twitter message last week (“Dragged ya down below, Down to the Devil’s show To be his guest forever… (Peace of mind is less than never)) provides the first lyrics to the track. The verses are classic Avenged but have the power of Black-album era Metallica and the swagger of early GNR. Massively impressive.
The 30-second clip that has been doing the rounds on YouTube is the chorus of the track. Uplifting and instantly memorable, it’s easy to see why ‘Nightmare’ serves as the first single on the album.
Something that becomes apparent throughout the track is that Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy has done an incredible job of replicating The Rev’s drumming style. It has always been such an essential part of the A7X sound and Portnoy has it down to a tee, throwing in unconventional rhythms but remaining solid at all times.
Following the second chorus, a hearty Shadows laugh is followed by a change in pace and the first blazing guitar work from Synyster Gates. The rhythm tracks thuds away as Gates unleashes a lead-line that could strip the paint off the walls of the room you’re sat in. The fuel-injection quickly kicks in underneath Gates’ wailing solo. If you’re an Avenged fan, this will blow your brains out of your ears.
The solo ends with a confrontational call-and-answer vocal line from Shadows. What impresses is that, there’s so much going on within the track and all things impact like a punch to the bridge of the nose.
‘Nightmare’ is an Avenged Sevenfold classic in-waiting. The hard-rock meets metal hybrid that Avenged have perfected over the years is on the top of it’s game. If this doesn’t have you salivating over the release of A7X’s upcoming album this summer, there’s almost no hope for you.
Avenged Sevenfold are back and it sounds awesome!