Metalheads hate it. Musicheads Love it. I think people will love the songs more if they think of the 3 aspects: Music, Concept, Lyrics Love how they are heavily circling around Absurdism and Existentialism. Here are my short overview for each song. These can still be expounded upon as the lyrics have multiple layers to them : 1. Game Over - Meaninglessness of Life 2. Mattel - Reference to the Truman Show. Simulation/Illusion but in reality everything is predefined. Much like a continuation to The Stage album concept 3. Nobody - Realization that we are "one with the universe" and a "nobody" in the grand scheme of things 4. We Love You - Most say it's about capitalism. But I interpret the song as representation of human ego and the illusion of choice. Thinking about it, Capitalists only 'capitalizes' over human ego and greed to 'manufacture a need' (more more more...build build build...we love you...you're on in a million). Without these 2 human qualities they are nothing. Problem is, we cannot separate these 2 qualities to our humanity. Thus, in the end, we consume what they provide regardless. 5. Cosmic - Cycle of Life and Death. The idea that we are all made up of the same cosmic energy - we do not go away. We just take up a new form or has been in a different form in our past lives. Written in beautiful love song 6. Beautiful Morning - A character who faces an inner struggle and attempt to find meaning. This character they are trying to portray in this song is everyone's worst day of their life. 7. Easier - The same character who wants to Surrender. Suggesting to take the 'easy way out'. Uplifting music but sinister meaning between the lines. I interpret the random 'pew pew pew' sounds at the solo that the character has thoughts about taking that gun to the head. Again another cute sci-fi gun sound a contrast to it's meaning. 8. G - Referencing the story of Creation. And an irritated God is contemplating to just wants to delete what he made and restart. 9. Ordinary - Other songs talk about suicide, emptiness, meaninglessness, hopelessness, etc of human life. This song is an attempt to say that "you got a problem with life? I don't even have one and I desperately want it. you must be lucky to live" from an AI (thus the electronic vibe). This song is perfectly placed in the sequence of the album because right after it, the human in the next song commits suicide nonetheless without regard. 10. Death - The same character from 'Beautiful Morning' and 'Easier' in the end commits suicide 11. LIBAD - Closing the curtains Everything is done with intent. It's chaotically beautiful

The album was at first like " oh this is weird but I dig it" and the more I listen the more I appreciate it

They're going into a new Era. This album and their new aesthetic almost makes it feel like we're time traveling on a spiral to the future.

Never in my life would I have expected A7X to just casually drop prog metal album of the year but this album is a wild awesome ride start to finish. The sheer number of different influences they are drawing from here is incredible and they still make it sound undenyably A7X. Cosmic is one of the most emotionally impactful songs ive heard in a long time.

The drumming was insane. The entire album is produced so well.

this dude went from a normal dude to a metalhead with sleeveless shirt and an undercut 😂 i witnessed his transformation

Timestamps 0:30 Game Over 6:21 Mattel 13:30 Nobody 20:08 We Love You 26:46 Cosmic 35:30 Beautiful Morning 43:16 Easier 47:53 G 53:46 (O)rdinary 56:54 (D)eath 1:00:20 Life Is But a Dream... 1:04:48 Final thoughts

Art for the sake of art instead of money is one of the greatest things ever. such a sweet album

The last few lines of 'Death' always break my heart. When the guy jumps off the edge and says 'in my dreams, I fly away'. I interpret that as meaning that he actually didn't want to end it all, he just wanted to escape. In a perfect world he would've stepped off that edge and flown somewhere he could be truly happy, but in this world this was the best he could do.

I did not like Nobody at first. At all. Now it’s on my walking list.

One thing I love about the final chorus in "Mattel" is how he sings "Hell" as opposed to screaming it in the first two, implying that by the end of it all, he's come to terms with what his life is. It may not be peace, but instead acceptance.

People dont give (d)eath enough praise. I never thought id hear something like this from them. I feel like they do a great job of bringing the sinatra vibe while making it their own. The instruments were beautiful

I’ve found myself just sitting there THINKING about this album in my free time even when not listening to it. I’m feeling things I’ve never felt listening to music before and I just, don’t know how to feel. It’s incredible. Best album I’ve heard in literally years, probably the best metal album since Fear Inoculum from Tool

If you're a fan of A7X and music in general then this album should check every box. Love the homage to Alice in Chains, the Beatles, Mr Bungle/Mike Patton, Yes and Daft Punk. Love the evolution of this band so much. Waking the Fallen and The Stage are my 2 favorite albums and they are SO different.

I’ve loved A7X for many many years and they never cease to amaze me. I’m addicted to this album. Jimmy would be proud. You can feel Jimmy in these songs

As a fan of A7X, this album doesn't feel like listening to anything that bears resemblance to past work. As a music enthusiast in general... Holy shit, this is one of the best artistic albums I've heard in forever. I have no doubt it will be divisive, but I personally loved the album.

HATED Nobody. Wasn’t a fan of We Love You. Only listened to the whole album when it came out just to see how right I was that it was gonna be absolutely awful. I was wrong. I love them both on their own now, I love this whole album. It’s something you won’t understand unless you listen to the whole thing first. Knowing most of the “effects” are from Syn using all sorts of different pedals and whatnot on guitars and that they had a whole orchestra with no synths makes the musicianship that much more impressive. Syn also spent literal years learning how to play the title track so they didn’t need a session guy for it. I have so much more respect for them for not letting themselves be confined exclusively to metal, and for embracing the idea that music is ART.

This album is the perfect mix of heavy, creepy, atmospheric and ethereal and I am HERE for it

Avenged just released the freshest thing in music in a decade... and the metal community is crying because it isn't City Of Evil!! This is album of the year all day long!!

I’m disappointed in some avenged fans claiming they have been diehard fans yet, they act so surprised that A7X are always different per album. How can you call yourself a fan but you’re still shocked that they always experiment every album? This is not news to anybody lol. They stated they don’t want to give the same material back to the fans because they believe it’s insulting to give the same thing back over and over and over again. I don’t get why a fanbase wants to sit there and claim a band doesn’t try anything new and when they do, you take back what you said and you instantly say you want them to sound back how they used to 20 years ago, and when they do that. YOU take back what you said again and you want them to be more original. Honestly, make up your goddamn mind!! 😬

This album is god damn masterpiece. You can feel the anxiety and pressure in the music. This album really creeps you out when you really think about it. Unreal album.

Honestly, no "mainstream" rock band has made a modern-day Queen record... It's divisive, it's honest, and it ROCKS!!! This album is the current days "A Night At The Opera". It has so many twists and turns, you don't expect what's next. I agree with you Alex!!! This is the band doing exactly what they want to do. The Rev would've been SUPER proud!!! G is a song STRAIGHT out of the Frank Zappa vein. IMO the title track is like the end credits to a movie.

This album is a timeless MASTERPIECE! They really knocked it completely out of the park here. The first listen caught me off guard, but every listen since has been a new experience. The replayability of almost every song on the album is there as well. 10/10

Funny you mentioned the Truman Show parallel in Mattel, cause I'm pretty sure the line "And in case I don't see you again, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight" is a direct quote from the movie!

Cosmic just hits different more than any other song! The vibes! And the guitar wails reminded me of the self titled album

I love that you think you’re overanalyzing things, but you’re not, you’re getting it, you understand the themes and underlying messages, great video dude!

Cosmic is my favorite by far. It makes me feel some type of way. I also think it could be a radio single, but that's just me.

First person I noticed that made the connection between the plastic daisies in Mattel and Nobody.

At first I was like WTF? Didn't like it at first but then kept listening and it grew to me. Then saw them live with Falling In Reverse Oct. 2 and their show blew me away. Then started listening to their album again and now I tear up when I listen to this album. I am emotionally sold for this album. I finally get it...yeah they have evolved and grew and not the same band years ago. Okay I get it and I'm now 49 and I appreciate their new sound. When I tear up with these songs I know I have grown with this band. A++++ Thumbs UP!!!

Did anyone else get chills when they first heard Mattel ? Just me?

People call this album a chaotic mess, but people forget that The Rev had a very psychotic, chaotic method to his drumming. I believe that this album is their final ode of their love for Rev. The lyrics in Cosmic also feels like M's finally letting go of Rev so he can rest. I fucking love this album.

I can't lie, when I first heard the singles I was devistated, the whaling guitar on Nobody really grinded me, We Love You just didn't gel with me but ever since Monday I've had them on repeat. For me this album is just completely misunderstood on the first listen but over time it somehow becomes more and more enjoyable over time and you really appreciate the music. I know some people will dislike it and they're entitled to and others will say "well music shouldn't be like that, a song should be good the first time you hear it." And that again is fair. But for me I'm enjoying falling in love with the album from initially disliking it. Easily in my top 3 so far this year.

I gotta say I started seeing your first reactions to metal and I feel like a proud father seeing you accept this album when so many of their fans can't even do that

The song before the "GOD" trilogy is Easier, and if you spell it all out it says "EGO DEATH", which is something M Shadows has mentioned quite a bit for inspiring the writing process for the album

Best way to describe this album is this: its a audio book album. You really have to listen to it from beginning to end in order to truly understand and appreciate it. Seriously a masterpiece of an album.

I really think they fulfilled everything I as a fan wanted from a new avenged album. They’re my favorite band so I love when they put out new stuff, but I would’ve been pissed if I waited this long just tor them to play it safe. This album is everything I could’ve wanted from a new album!

I lost my grandfather about a month or 2 ago, Cosmic has been such a healing song for me

You have no idea how heartbroken I was when you posted the first video and it was only 3 minutes. I was waiting to see how you reacted to this album! But specifically a Cosmic! Thank you for releasing the whole reaction!

It’s funny how many people think Talkbox and Vocoder are Auto-Tune. So to help identify the differences: Auto-Tune effects one voice and you really hear it in note switches. Talkbox makes a solo voice sound like a synth. Vocoder takes a vocal track and makes it into chords with a synth sound. Most (if not all) of the vocals in this album that people think are “Auto-Tune” are actually Vocoder using the same vocal tracks in other parts if the song and running it through a synth playing chords. The sample from “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo (which is from Imogen Heap “Hide and Seek”) is the most recognized use of Vocoder. Hope that helps clear it up for any interested (especially if you’re a music nerd like me)

The songs have massive replayability. You just need to listen to the album a few times. The songs tie themselves together

Brooks Wackerman steals the show in the first half! Amazing🤘

I am a card carrying member of the A7X fan club, have the deathbat tattoo, when they released the 2 singles I had no idea what they were doing. But listening to the album in its entirety, this is a masterpiece

Cosmic is one of the few a7x songs that just left me speechless, i literally had to take 5 minutes just to gather my thoughts before continuing, what a ride EDIT: and i should say, the whole album was like that, it made me go deep into thought about things i had never really thought about for prolonged periods of time, this is the first album in at least a decade that made me actually think, perfect to me, 10/10 (and one last thing, easier would have been a complete banger with less autotune, just saying

Sleep token: has so many different music styles and super creative. Avenged sevenfold: hold my bat wings!

I love the idea of Cosmic so much, it’s taking inspiration from different ideals from different parts of the world of what happens after we die, but also saying we’ve always been here regardless of whether we had individuality or not, we’ve always been here, “there you’ll find me”, to those who need to know you’re still there. It’s beautiful. This could just be my take, but I enjoy the thought.

the end of Mattel gives me, camera zooming out as someone walks slow in a city full of people zooming everywhere , while they feel meaningless to life. This album was literally a full experience. Love every bit of it.

For me Musically A7X's discography, is the most complete. I am so glad they never stuck to one single sound. For me personally. One of the greatest bands of all time. This album for me is top 2 from them.

This album is such a breath of fresh air. Every listen it gets better and better.

Mattel and Cosmic are such incredible songs, some of the best they’ve ever made. I cannot wait to hear/ see these songs live! The whole album is a masterpiece imo. 🖤💀🦇🤘🏻

i think you hit it right on the head when you said this album is about human experience from a unique perspective. beautiful album

This album is cool, absolute trip of a record and I greatly respect them making an album so out there especially because it has no commercial value so it’s gonna sell horribly compared to their past shit, they don’t care tho and just want to make what they wanna make and I respect the fuck out of it. Not one of my fav A7X records but I still think it’s a good and cool record that is incredibly unique. It’s just flat out not gonna be for some people and that’s fine, the people who act like it’s horrible just because they don’t like it are annoying as shit tho. Lastly Ordinary is a certified fuckin jam, that song could fit perfectly on daft punk’s random access memories record, my only complaint is it’s not longer.

Some really interesting notes...The Rev is credited for some lyrics for Beautiful Morning and the bridge melody on Mattel. Synyster Gates played piano on 10 songs, including the final instrumental. He also played flute and Mellotron. Not bad for a lead guitarist.

This album is something like having a door at the edge of your comfort zone locked for years then finally a timer counts down to unlock and you can see through a peep hole to see a portion of what’s inside, upon opening you enter to feel uneasy and somewhat un-intrigued but after taking time to adjust to the difference and focus on the content you feel as if there is excellence in every detail.

This album is so deep, I have listened this album complete like 5 to 6 times, and every time I listen the conclusion of this album "Life is but a dream" it makes sense for me. According to the science when you are dying you have a lucid dream of your whole life, so everything you did in your life it turns into your last dreams

Thank you for doing a video for the whole album, as you said the experience wouldn't be the same if you listen to each song as a single. This album surpassed my expectations. What an amazing job and what a trip!

Shocked so many fans dislike this album, honestly this is the most exciting album they've made since City of Evil. Album goes places! Love it!

I was the same way halfway through the title track. my friends and i were listening and we were all pleased with it, and i was like "wait imagine if they end it on a piano piece" and i was thinking "please let this be just piano" and i was really happy to find out it was. it felt like the natural and perfect way to end an album of this magnitude

Game over is dope. Cosmic is amazing I really like G because it's so different and feels like another "a little piece of heaven" almost just because it feels so random and all over the place. But Mattel might just go down as one of the best songs they've ever made imo

Honestly this album really surprised me. Happy for it and really appreciate it. As a whole its amazing. Some songs really stand out (Nobody for example is a massive Jam.)

I remember seeing a reaction video of yours to “A Little Piece of Heaven” a couple years ago, mostly just doing a dive getting a kick out of seeing strangers react to the absolutely appalling nature of the lyrics. I’ve been yearning to show this whole album to anyone I think would actually take the time to listen to it, and it absolutely made my day when you turned the phone off to take it all in. When “Nobody” and “We Love You” dropped I was viscerally disappointed, but Avenged is my favorite band, and as someone whose played guitar for 20+ years I will always give Syn the time of day out of respect for the absolute genius he is. This is music at its best, story telling with sound, full artistic realization for 55 mins. It’s not comfortable, it’s not mellow, it’s rarely sparkly, but it just embodies the entire vague nature of existence in every note. Those that don’t enjoy or “get it” just never will. Nothing but love for giving the boys the ears that this album deserves.

In Beautiful Morning, they say "Don't Let It Be" a bunch, and I feel like the middle of the song was inspired by The Beatles. And then you were saying that this song is like nihilistic. The Beatles song "Let It Be" is about Mother Mary and it's like The Beatle's preach about having a hand to hold and someone to guide you. A7X is saying "DON'T Let it be" here, to enforce that there is nothing and it's all meaningless. Just a thought!

This album shocked me because based off the singles i didnt know if id like it. It came out and I listened to in its entirety and I absolutely love it even the singles. The flow is incredible

0:30 Game Over 6:21 Mattel 13:30 Nobody 20:08 We Love You 26:46 Cosmic 35:30 Beautiful Morning 43:16 Easier 47:53 G 53:46 (O)rdinary 56:54 (D)eath 1:00:20 Life Is But a Dream... 1:04:48 Final thoughts

I absolutely love your take on these songs, the concepts, the lyrics, and your analysis. The lyrics really drive these songs more than any other A7X album.

This album is my new favorite of theirs. So much creativity flooding throughout every song. It's been refreshing and pleasure to listen over and over since it's been out.

Alex, if you love the craziness and genre-bending of this album... check out any Faith No More album "Angel Dust" and later albums. Additionally...I would love love love to hear a Ween reaction video ..they are so bizarre and I love Ween!!!

Man at first was like eh, it's ok, after a couple for more listens I started to really get it then your video pushed that new understanding where it needed to be. This album is BRILLIANT! You just gotta understand it's not about coming out shredding although there's plenty of that, there's a story here and a big message. Honestly I think it's on another level, great great album!

Only thing I can say about this album is that it's not music, it's a work of art. I know, those two things aren't mutually exclusive, just saying. Not all music rises to the level of pure art, but this one does. I do agree with Alex though about the individual songs not being something you would just throw in a playlist. This is the kind of album you have to sit down and listen to straight through, and really think about the meaning along the way. So it's great that you reacted to it in this format. One of the very few times I will actually watch a KZfaq video longer than 20 minutes or so. Also, the imagery in the video for Nobody hits a lot harder once you've listened to the whole album a few times. You see little references to other tracks thrown in there. I doubt they will do it, but I would totally be down for a stop motion animated video for every song.

I don't know what you're going to say, but imo it is one of the best albums of recent years and is a complete masterpiece. This album will be their defining legacy and will open so many doorways for other artists in the genre to explore, as well as for people to become fans who otherwise would steer clear of rock and metal. Absolute genius work by the band.

I know you did this one 5 months ago, but just caught it. First time through this album, I was so unsure… my friends who I spoke to about it listened to me muse, rage, think, love, complain and gush about it, unsure how I felt. However, after listening again and again and again, at least once a day for about 2 weeks, trying to figure out how I really felt it dawned on me that I loved it. Each time I listened it gave me exactly what you describe, and introspective experience. I love progressive rock and metal, and this is a masterpiece of the genre and that I am so happy A7X went this way. It’s stands up there with some of my favourite prog albums from masters like Steven Wilson (In Abstentia from Porcupine Tree) and even much heavier stuff from Opeth (Ghost Reveries), truly a masterclass.

G.O.D. is basically robot gets created, asks for a soul and to have feelings, kill itself.

im so glad you're covering this entire thing, let's go bro

I still feel that Game Over is such a hardcore song, reminds me of crossover like dri or suicidal tendencies, also the prechorus is so bad religion

Btw Alex there's legit autotune on Ordinary, but that vocal effect in Cosmic and Easier is called a vocoder. So you sing into it, and the output can be a bunch of new notes. It sounds autotuned as a result! Really classic effect that was popularized in the 80s.

It took me about 3 listens to really get into it, but I absolutely love it now. The homages to the Rev, the use of newer instruments and techniques, it’s all so good. Absolutely love the title track. It’s got huge I won’t see you tonight vibes with WTF Resurrected vibes but overall a solid 11/10

Fun fact, easier is a completed song that they were gonna release in 2006/07 but replaced it with almost easy. I’m so happy they made this into reality again. There’s a demo of the og version called “It’s easier”

How many songs can give you goosebumps on every play??? They absolutely nailed it with this album. So moving and emotional.

Damn I thought I was the only one who thought LIBAD was the absolute perfect way to end the album!

I waited 7 years for this album and it was all I could ask for and more. I get what you said about being proud of them like they’re your own children putting out this music. I feel the same way. I wanted this so badly since I bought and over played “the stage” back in 2016. 9.9 out of 10. Easy! Top album of the year

Alex, you are a treasure mate, love your vibe … been waiting for your reactions to the songs , this album is an actual masterpiece

Let me pop back in and say Easier is also epic-on the guitar solo it’s almost like a video game back in the 80s like asteroid shooting

It's insane that you made the connection between mattel and the Truman show. One of the lyrics in that song is a quote from the movie

32:37 M. Shadows made me want to cry!! 😭😭😭

So glad I got to see your full-on reaction to every song :D I love to talk about song lyrics because poetry is a song but with no music and I love hearing people's understanding of songs I enjoyed seeing your take on each song of the album!! Thank you so much, Alex again for your reaction to the whole alum and to tell you the truth when I listen to "Death" I waltzed to it no lie I love this album so much!

Never expected to love Ordinary so much coming out form Avenged. It was a shock at first, but an awesome type of shock. Will definitely bang that driving by the beach.

Love the new album! Glad you’re reacting to the whole thing

Bro. Excellent review. I appreciate hearing some of the mature thoughts you conveyed that many wouldn't be able to even think. It does the album justice and gives me a deeper insight into it.

One thing I loved is how the end of life is but a dream and the beginning of game over when playing the album on repeat fits so well as if the cycle is starting again and it’s just a loop. Just like life and civilisation

Thank you for giving the album the credit that it deserves. This album is phenomenal. I am beyond proud to called A7X my favorite band. Now, it is time to continue enjoying of this masterpiece!!!

Fun Fact, on the self titled album ,"Lost" has auto tune in the chorus. Syn was against it, but Matt still did it. Sounds really good though

I'm so grateful for this review. I've listened to this album so many times. And everytime it gets better. I can explain it but this album really dug at my soul. Knowing that Shadows and Gates had their awakening is a beautiful twist for this album. This album takes you on a journey. They were able to kill their egos and just their souls be free. Idk, I'm totally rambling now. But this isn't everyones cup of tea. Thank you for this review

I’ve listen to this entire album like 15 times in 5 days. It won’t leave my head. I absolutely hated it my first time thru and now wish there was more of it.

This is one of those albums where you end up a different person than where you started once you go front to back

What a great review. Probably one of the best I’ve watched. Bravo! AMAZING album

This album is totally like anger suicidal and we get into sad melancholic accepting of death And then nothingness.

The auto tune thing I agree on but I’m (o)rdinary I’d say it’s integral to the story of the song. It’s from the view point of an AI. “Will you give me my own soul”

amazing album! and amazing reaction/analysis as well. Loved experiencing this album again with you sir

One of the best first time listens out there 😂 you took us all along for the ride that is this album. You brought up so many good points about the songs I didn’t even think of so thank you for that! Really good album especially as an art piece they’ve nailed it.

Thank you for having such an open outlook on this album. I'm constantly seeing popular KZfaqrs trash this album, but you give it the praise it deserves. Big subscribe from me

Perfect coda (ending) as well. Very melancholy. He’s saying “oh well, I guess it is what it is”