Aaron Hazard

When the first single dropped for this new album of nearly 7 years in the making, it thoroughly psyched me up for what was to come. A7X was BACK. The song happily occupied my daily repeat playlist, and was always cranked up whenever it came on. Then the second single, We Love You, was released. It was very different, to say the least, but it did not take long to grow on me, and I found myself singing along every time it came on. I had no idea that song's style was only a small taste of what was to come. Friday, June 2nd, the album is released on all major streaming platforms and I fired it up soon as I woke that day. "Is this System of a Down?" No, that's definitely M Shadows' distinct vocals, but they're *clearly* channeling SoaD's style on this intro of Game Over. I like it. Mattel comes on. Wow. I'm in awe. The solo...it's that solo that does it. Nobody and We Love You are to follow, and we know what that brought. I'm liking this all very very much. Then on comes Cosmic. And here begins the big changes we are treated to for the rest of the album. This is Avenged Sevenfold?! I found myself tearing up by the end of Cosmic. Wouldn't be the only time I do. The rest of this album is a trip. I can only describe it as theatrical. Like a Dream Theater show, guest starring Daft Punk, Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, Frank Zappa. What a ride. This is going to be an incredible show live.