Avenged Sevenfold Premiere New Video for New Track "The Stage"

Avenged Sevenfold has been keeping their cards pretty close to the vest for their upcoming album. However, they have finally decided to grace us with a single from it attached to a music video titled "The Stage" (which can be viewed below).

The video itself seems a little goofy, though to be fair it's kind of difficult to take anything with puppets too seriously. However, the creepy theater and the way they utilize the puppets more than makes up for the rather surprisingly childish at first visuals. It of course doesn't take long for us to see that this is meant to show us just how violent humans can be and how we are all controlled by someone or another. I won't give too much away though so that you can see just for yourself what I mean.

The song on the other hand is definitely a winner. It's definitely a step up from anything that was on their previous album, 2013's Hail to the King. It seems they have dropped the whole trying to sound like older band thing and gone back to doing what they do best: making powerful ripping and running songs with great technical details while also being fun and accessible. The Stage is dark, punchy, and has all of the blistering solos that we've missed from them for years. It also has multiple distinct parts to it, so in a way it's like a suite. Some are driving and heavy, some are softer and even acoustic. It definitely reminds me of something you would have heard on City of Evil, but at the same time it still sounds like they are pushing forward rather than trying to copy themselves.

Personally I'm kind of surprised that A7X didn't put out something shorter and more catchy as a first single, but I respect them for making a bold move by putting out something longer and more progressive sounding. It takes balls to put out an eight and a half minute tune as a first single of an album, let alone one as on the technical side as this one is. Props to them for that. That said, I am definitely stoked for hearing the rest of the album. If it's anywhere near as good as The Stage, then I have a feeling it will definitely more than make up for their rather lackluster previous release.

The new album is said to come out later this year. It will be the Avenged Sevenfold's first album on Capitol Records after having left Warner Bros. due to the fact that none of the people who were there when they got signed were still there and they weren't being treated the way they thought was fair and right. Now that they seem to have a bit more creative control again, I'm sure things will turn out just fine.