I have to give these guys credit for being the first (mainstream-leaning, US) metal band in a fairly long time to go all-out with shredding guitar solos. It had been like a decade since popular metal bands had done it (notable exceptions being Pantera and almost every European band), and Avenged Sevenfold just appeared out of nowhere with this album. They didn't half-arse it and ease into solos; it was just instant dual-guitar shred. I do have to credit them for that. I also have to say that I really do like the album Nightmare. It rocks start to finish, really gets the blood pumping. Hail to the King is pretty cool too. On this album, I dig the first half, especially beast and the harlot and bat country. That's my only real issue with this album - two songs stick out, the rest is just kinda average metal, and it's a LONG album. Also, here's some extra criticism: this band is FUCKING DUMB TO LOOK AT. I know that's such a shallow thing to say, but oh god the fucking skinny-goth-boy Top Gun look? Spare me. Similarly, the whole military vibe they've managed to build up around themselves, sorta like a less-retarded Five Finger Death Punch... ew. I know it works for them and my opinion doesn't matter, but EW all the same. Also, the singer fucking sucks. He has some weird quality to his voice, like Axl Rose's late-career Mickey Mouse impression. It's bearable, but only just. Despite all that, I still think they're kinda cool. Anyway, those are my conflicted feelings on Avenged Sevenfold. 4/5.