Avenged Sevenfold Adds Dimension to Proggy New Album ‘Life Is but a Dream…’ at Madison Square Garden: Concert Review
variety.comWilliam Earl In 2023, Avenged Sevenfold is playing like it has something to prove. The metal quintet — singer M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman — released its first new record in seven years on June 2, “Life Is but a Dream…” This project, the group’s eighth full-length, pushes proggier instincts to the surface, in a departure from the more straightforward work that brought them millions of listeners and a reputation for an energy-forward live act.
When Avenged Sevenfold hit Madison Square Garden on Friday night, it was only the band’s fifth show since 2018. But the rockers rose to the occasion, not only delivering a bruising set of mosh-pit classics, but bringing riskier new material into clearer focus with a live spark.
Starting with “Dream” openers “Game Over” and “Mattel,” the band added enough stomp and grit to the tracks to keep energy high, as it quickly followed with booming back catalogue songs “Afterlife” and crowd-favorite “Hail to the King.” Despite the group’s physical makeover — trading in their mostly-black get-ups for more vibrant duds, as well as a different set of hairstyles — they didn’t lose a beat in their roles.
Shadows is comfortable as the ringleader, working the crowd while focusing on his deep bellow, Wackerman spent an outrageous amount of time playing his double bass drum to preserve the metal feel, and Gates did his rock-star posing on lead, while Christ and Vengeance held the fort down.
Read more on variety.com