AVENGED SEVENFOLD are one of today's biggest Rock acts. With a huge fan base, a powerful record company, amazing live show and amazing musicianship, they managed to build themselves a new breathing empire as one of Rock's / Metal influential and high quality acts.

"Hail To The King" is AVENGED SEVENFOLD's 6th studio album. This album is the first one without any written contribution from the great Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan and the first with Arin Ilejay on drums. The guys mentioned on the pre-production that this album is going to be a Hard Rock / 80s Metal influenced album and that is exactly what it is, as promised.

"Shepherd Of Fire" is the first track, a straightforward traditional AVENGED SEVENFOLD song, with their typical rhythm style and a power chorus. The title Track "Hail To The King" opens the door for a more Hard Rock style with awesome lyrics, catchy chorus and a line of quality solos. My favorite is "Doing Time", a song with a GUNS N' ROSES feel, reminded me a lot of "Bad Country" from city of evil with that "It's So Easy" vibe. "This Means War" sounds like a METALLICA tribute with an AVENGED SEVENFOLD chorus, the main riff sounds as if it was ripped off one of METALLICA's hits.

"Requiem" is another great song with an awesome classical intro; on the other hand, "Crimson Day" is what I call good memorable marketing. It might suit 16 year old girls that like the band, as for me, and with a name like that, I expected a better song...

Overall I was satisfied enough, the band sounds well-tuned, Shadows is an amazing singer, Johnny Christ and Arin Ilejay sound tight even though I expect to listen more from Ilejay and see more of his talent because this is a pretty forthright and no too complex album, the guitar work is great but I didn't loved the over the top panning, solos are there to be heard even if it's just a melody. The production is perfect for this kind of music and the mastering sound simple and not to compressed and pushy so if you want more volume just crank it up because this is how a record should sound.

In conclusion this awesome young group of musicians is here to stay with another hit record.