“Waking The Fallen” is the first song on this masterpiece of an album. The song is a short 1:42-minute-long song. The way M. Shadows sings in this song gives it an eerie vibe and really sets the tone of the album. In my opinion, this introduction song is one of the best opening tracks in metal.
“Wake the ones and rise tonight
Fallen souls, we shine so bright
Rise now and ever
Leave your memory
Rise now and ever
Leave your memory
No one can touch us”
Rating: 8/10
“Unholy Confessions” is the second track on the album and is Avenged Sevenfold’s 10th most-streamed song, coming in at 200,573,036. The main riff in this song is one of the most recognized riffs in metalcore. The amazing lyrics and crazy breakdown are what cement this song in the history books. Shadows nailed the mix of screams and clean singing that makes this song stand out.
“Nothing will last in this life
Our time is spent constructing
Now you’re perfecting a world, meant to sin
Constrict your hands around me
Squeeze till I cannot breathe
This air tastes dead inside me
Contribute to our own plague
Break all your promises”
Rating: 10/10
“Chapter Four” is the third song on the album. This song is super fast, and it gives us hints of what is to come throughout the rest of the album. It’s super energetic, and both guitars going at the same time are insane, and the drumming is outrageous. The storytelling in the song is what gives it the Avenged Sevenfold feeling, and it is easily a song that could be played on repeat.
“Far away in this land I must go
Out of the sight of the One
A punishment sent from his hands
A hardship that no one should know
Now go out of the sight of the One
Away in this land you must go”
Rating: 9.5/10
“Remenissions” is the fourth song on the album. The song starts heavy, and then it slowly transitions into a nice, slower melody about halfway through. When it transitions to the melody, it still sounds huge without losing heaviness. The song is definitely a hidden gem on the album. Fans often find themselves bringing this song up when they talk about the album.
“If they didn’t have one how would they act?
If we didn’t have hope how would we behave?
Would they still feel remorse if they slaughtered innocent beings
Or is hope the only thing that keeps you sane?
A good friend once told me you are memory
Without them we equal nothing
All I can see is the place I wanna be
Suddenly my life was so free”
Rating: 9.5/10
“Desecrate Through Reverence” this song is the fifth song on the album, and it is definitely one of the most metalcore songs on the album. With aggressive riffs, fast drums, and nonstop power from the whole band. It still makes it stand out on the album. Although it’s not as lyrically emotional as the other songs, it still has an impact on the listener.
“Hard news, taken harder, don’t look to meDisappointed, we don’t agree, we don’t need your praiseNever asked you to like meWe don’t need your praiseLook down on me, spit in my faceYou’re nothing to meNot to me”
Rating: 9/10
“Eternal Rest” is the sixth song on the album. The song is super dark, angry, and hits hard like no other. It starts insanely fast and is easily one of Synyster Gates nastiest and most impressive guitar riffs in A7X’s discography. It’s one of the heavier songs on the album and it’s super chaotic.
“Dark in their hearts,I can feel it burn inside of meTormented young with no souls, haunting mePain in their lives all they know is miseryTake these chains away that are holding me down”
Rating: 9/10
“Second Heartbeat” is the seventh song on the album and is definitely a fan favorite. With M. Shadows’ way of singing emotionally and writing the lyrics, the way both guitarists harmonize the guitars, and easily having the best guitar solo on the album, makes this undeniable. The outro of the song is massive and also emotional. This song is a perfect example of how a song should be laid out.
“We keep writing, talking and planning, but everything’s changing
We all know what to do but know one does itNow this time has passed and full of regretTwo in my heart have left me a while, I stand aloneWhen they get back, it won’t be the same”
Rating: 10/10
“Radiant Eclipse” is the eighth song on the album. It is way different from any of the songs on the album. It has a slow start, but it still hits so hard. The guitar gives an eerie vibe, and the drums are insane. It’s definitely darker and has an experimental style, but it is just not as memorable as the other songs. The song still slaps so hard!
“Two nights ago I was shot
A bullet sunk straight through the skull
A friend pulled the trigger that silenced me
No pain as I awoke, but dead
Seeing the face of the man
The time as he lays down his gun
I knew this was going to take place
White silence, so peaceful, so numb”
Ranking: 8.5/10
“I Won’t See You Tonight Part 1” is the ninth song on the album and is one of the most emotional songs A7X has written. It starts as a super-powerful song before transitioning to an emotional song. Shadows’ clean vocals sound amazing on this song, and are a straight-up legendary
“Cry alone, I’ve gone away
No more nights, no more pain
I’ve gone alone, took all my strength
I’ve made the change
I won’t see you tonight
Sorrow sank deep inside my blood
All the ones around me, I cared for and loved”
Ranking: 10/10
“I Won’t See You Tonight Part 2” is the tenth song on the album and is completely different from Part 1. The energy behind this song is completely unforgettable. The screaming, the change in tempo, and the straight-up anger behind the lyrics make this song uncomfortable, but it sounds so perfect at the same time. The second half of the song is heavy with the offset of the guitar, lyrics, and drums.
“Come back to me, this is unconceivable
Breaking apart the ones you love
Hate runs deep for what you’ve done to us
Left alone through suicide, suicide
I just wanna die, take away my life
Lay by your side”
Ranking: 9/10
“Clairvoyant Disease” is the eleventh song on the album, and in my opinion, is critically underrated. The clean haunting lyrics make the song feel more personal than most of the album. The track helps create a difference between the metalcore aspect and the more melodic style they play.
“Don’t acknowledge right, just dwell on wrong
This spot in hell’s where I belong
I’ve come so far, it’s been so long
Don’t know why it started or where it came from”
Ranking: 8/10
“And All Things Will End,” this song is the twelfth song and is absolutely a perfect way to end this masterpiece of an album. Although it starts pretty fast, it sends us off in a long, dark, dramatic way. I love how it slows down and gets heavier and darker right at the end. In my opinion, there is no better way for this album to end.
“Sometimes life is altered
Won’t turn out right, can’t turn out right
When I see you, I can read it in your eyes
Fate misunderstood
Swallowed the lies, can’t blame you for
Thinking with your heart”
Ranking: 10/10
