Artist: Avenged Sevenfold Album: Waking the Fallen

Year: 2003
Duration: 2:26:11

A of the Album: Waking the Fallen by Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold, the infamous Orange County band, rose to fame in the early 2000s, making their mark in the metal world. Straddling the line between heavy metal and hard rock, their sound has developed over the years, gaining a vast and dedicated fan base worldwide. Their second studio album, Waking the Fallen, released in August of 2003, showcased the band's raw talent and growth as musicians. In this post, we'll dive deep into the creation of this album, the music genre it represents, the best songs on the album, and its most innovative parts while keeping up with a critical eye.
Waking the Fallen is an embodiment of the metal genre's spectacular sound. The album has a dominating punk influence, epitomizing the raw aggression of the genre. The opening track, Waking the Fallen, sets the mood of the album, with its melodic guitar riffs and powerful drumming. The guitar solos effortlessly flow in different tracks, like in Eternal Rest, where they showcase their musical virtuosity. Chapter Four and Second Heartbeat are strikingly fast guitar-driven tracks, featuring aggressive and melodic choruses that make them a fan-favorite.
One of the most innovative parts of this album is how it showcases both punk and metal genres' energy, making it unique from the mainstream genre. The band flawlessly blends their music, making it an excellent representation of the metalcore sound that was starting to take shape in the early 2000s. Songs like Unholy Confessions and Desecrate through Reverence are standouts on this album, displaying the quintessential power and gravity that Avenged Sevenfold brings to the table.
However, the album is not without criticisms. The album feels repetitive at times, with several tracks sounding too similar, and the epic tracks becoming cumbersome. I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1&2) is an unfortunate example of this. While it showcases the band's musical versatility, an unrelenting darkness that pervades the track, the long instrumental and interlude sections make it too long.
Waking the Fallen undoubtedly cemented Avenged Sevenfold's status as one of the most iconic bands in the metal industry. Its punk roots, coupled with the energy of the early 2000s metal sound, results in an album that is timeless and a fan favorite. The band's reimagining of the traditional metal sound is on full display here, with numerous memorable solos and hard-driving choruses. While the album has its shortcomings, it boldly showcases just how much the band has progressed since their debut. The creative genius seen in this album is what makes it stand the test of time, making it one of Avenged Sevenfold's most loved works.