Anyone who is a true fan of this band will aprreciate this (their debut album) cd. Yes shadows does growl alot but then there are songs like warmness of the soulwith a great piano melody and shadows distinct voice that make sieze the day sound kike an amature did it.
Then the opening track - to end the rapture has the most incredible guitar solo i think i have ever seen live!

People dont like this album because they hear the latest album and assume that is what the band have always been and slate it because its different. Like city of evil, waking the fallen and the self titled cd this one stands out just as much as a top quality listen.

AX7 are and have been for a while, my favourite band and the one I recommend most to my friends, but this album is shockingly bad. I bought it and within a day the disc first became a coffee coaster, then a frisbee for my dog. They have produced absolute billiance with the last 2 albums and I wish I could remove this one from AX7 and say it was written and produced by another band who I shall not mention. For me they are the band who have produced by far my worst (this) and my favourite CD. Overall rating, brilliant band who wrote this CD after too much Absynth!!!!!!

For all those who have come to know Avenged Sevenfold by songs like 'Bat County' off their 3rd album, then you will be in shock when listening to this album.

You will be amazed of the difference that a few years can make to a band as this album is raw. M.Shadows growls the lyrics of the songs with such verocity, it's definately one for the headbangers. Also the instrumental side is superb, fast, heavy, screaming at you and penetrating your eardrums.

Labelled 'EMO' I strongly disagree, yes the lyrics are beautiful, but emo surely doesnt rock that hard??