City of Evil

City of Evil is the third album, on which Avenged Sevenfold made a large step from metalcore to its own heavy rock. On this move to Warner, screaming is almost entirely dropped, and M. Shadows turns fully to clean singing. Twin-guitar harmonies, long songs and dramatic structures recall Iron Maiden and Guns N' Roses, establishing a broader, more powerful sound different from the early metalcore. Mudrock produced. The racing "Beast and the Harlot" vividly declares the album's direction, and "Bat Country" became one of the band's biggest hits with its robust hook. From the lyricism of "Seize the Day" to the drama of songs running past six minutes, the material shows varied faces. The Rev's drumming and Gates' solos hold presence throughout, and the band took a large leap in playing too. Earning gold certification and lifting the band into the mainstream, it is an important record that marked a turning point in the career.