Nightmare

Listening to Metal can be either a way of liberation and rebellion, or simply the sort of music to be listening to while doing tasks. Since its emergence, it has evolved in such a way that nowadays there are thousands of subgenres that belong to it, such as dark metal, trash metal, alternative metal, black metal, etc. This is why many members of the metal community argue whether some bands should be considered part of this genre or not. An example of this is one of the most controversial bands in the community, and also one of my favorites, which is Avenged Sevenfold. However, I am not writing this in order to share my position on whether the band is metal or not, but to recommend the best album they have ever made according to my opinion, so that you as readers make up your own mind on the topic.

Avenged Sevenfold, also known as A7X, is an alternative metal band, created in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998. Jimmy Sullivan, better known as The Rev, was the one who came up with the idea of forming a band, along with the vocalist Matthew Charles Sanders, better known as Mr. Shadows. Since its inception, many members have passed through the group, but it began to take form with the arrival of Brian Elwin Haner, better known as Synyster Gates, to the band in 1999, while recording their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. Yet the album that shot to fame A7X, was Walking The Fallen, and later they released City of Evil, and their self-titled album Avenged Sevenfold. Success after success, in 2009 they began to compose the songs that would make up their fifth album, Nightmare, which I consider the best one they have done so far. The reasons why I think this, range from its instrumental value to the great sentimental value that Nightmare has.

In the first place, Nightmare evokes a melancholic feeling for Avenged Sevenfold fans, as it was the band's first album released after the death of their drummer, The Rev, who was found without vital signs by his girlfriend after ingesting a mixture of antidepressants and other medicated substances and alcohol. This is why it is not just a collection of heavy, distorted riffs and aggressive vocals, but it is a deeply emotional music piece that reflects on loss, grief, sadness, and the search for meaning in a meaningless world. Likewise, the lyrics are introspective and thought-provoking, while they commemorate the times when the members of the band were teenagers, and The Rev was still alive. To add more sentimentality, Fiction, one of the songs on the album, was the last song that the drummer wrote, as he said that with that piece the album would be finished. He died three days later. If one listens to its lyrics carefully, one notices that it was a way of saying goodbye to the people he loved. For this reason, when he was found dead, the album changed completely its direction and was dedicated to the memory of The Rev, as can be proven with the facts that it features a tribute in the form of a hidden track, "4AM", which was written and performed by him, and that the album cover contains a tomb where it says "forever", with REV in capital letters. 

On the other hand, Nightmare represents a departure from Avenged Sevenfold's original sound and style, since compared to the rest of their projects this album incorporates elements of progressive rock, classical music, and even hip-hop, while not only having their songs surpass the usual length of other compositions, but also incorporating many unique musical features, such as the use of dynamics, tempo changes, and harmonies, that will not let you get bored. In the same way, the band combines intricate guitar work, powerful drumming, and soaring vocal harmonies to create an intense, immersive listening experience. Finally, the album was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and selling 163,000 copies in its first week. This is why, whether you're a fan of metal or simply have a good ear to appreciate high-quality musicianship, this album is sure to impress.

In short words, Nightmare is an incredible album, made for both people who love metal and all its subgenres, and for the rest of the world that is able to appreciate good music. This is due, not only to its musical characteristics, but also to the moving meaning all of its lyrics have, that will make you think about many things regarding life and society. So, turn up the volume, put on your headphones, and start listening to Nightmare. I promise, you won't regret it!