Diamonds In The Rough Review

Released: Sep 16, 2008
Genre: Hard Rock, Metalcore
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Number Of Tracks: 11
Avenged Sevenfold’s latest CD/DVD Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough is likely to reinforce the love-hate relationship the band has with audiences.

Sound: I seem to recall there being quite a split among Ultimate-Guitar users during 2007’s end-of-the-year “best-of” poll, with one particular band causing the greatest division. The group in question was Avenged Sevenfold, and in many ways the quintet’s latest CD/DVD release Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough is a good indication why there is such a rift. Namely I’m referring to the DVD portion, which broadcasts the best and worst of the band. On one hand you get exceptional guitarists and some truly catchy melodies, on the other hand Avenged Sevenfold often has a tendency to convey the “I’m-a-big-rock-star attitude.” Some DVD viewers out there might not even take notice of it, and in the end Avenged Sevenfold does at least know how to put on an engaging show.

The CD portion, Diamonds in the Rough, features quite a few bonus tracks and/or intended B-sides from the self-titled album of 2007. If you purchased the original 10-track version of the Avenged Sevenfold CD, the new release should have quite a bit of unheard material for you. The studio quality is just as strong as any of the singles, with every track emphasizing the amazing technique of guitarists Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates. Highlights in that area include the insanely good scale-oriented solo on “Demons” and the bluesier, Slash-like “Tension.”

The CD includes alternate versions of the hits “Almost Easy” and “Afterlife, ” although the changes aren’t radically dramatic. “Almost Easy” feels very much like the original except for a few tweaks, while “Afterlife” does feature the addition of a string section. Avenged Sevenfold takes a stab at a few covers as well, with Iron Maiden’s “Flash The Blade” and Pantera’s “Walk” making it onto the playlist. While the guitar work is flawless on “Flash The Blade, ” it’s hard to equal the charisma of Bruce Dickinson’s delivery. They fair better with “Walk, ” with vocalist M. Shadows doing a fantastic job of matching the manly grunts of Phil Anselmo and Vengeance providing a fitting homage to Dimebag.

Going back to the DVD, which was filmed at the Long Beach Arena on April 10, 2008, it definitely keeps your attention and not every band can accomplish that. The only slight annoyance – and it might not bother anyone else out there – is the air of cockiness. There are panties thrown onstage at various points in the concert and Shadows knows he has the crowd wrapped around his finger. There are moments when it does seem like he’s emulating Axl Rose (complete with aviator shades), but if he can pull it off, more power to him. And hey, Motley Crue thrived on attitude/sex during their shows, so you can’t be too mad at Avenged Sevenfold for bringing out a few dancing girls during the course of their show. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: It’s very likely that you’ve already heard a good number of the songs performed on the DVD, and if you’re an Avenged Sevenfold devotee, the B-sides/bonus songs might be old news as well. However, if you haven’t had an opportunity to hear any of the newly released material, you shouldn’t be disappointed in terms of the lyrics. “Girl I Know” might be on the sleazier side, but in general you get a good mix of topics, with the songs “Tension” and “Demons” standing out as a few of the strongest offerings. // 8

Impression: In terms of setting out to entertain the masses, the CD/DVD Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough accomplishes the mission. The CD feels very much like another fresh studio release if you haven’t been exposed to the B-sides, while the DVD features a sound mix that is just as strong as if it was also recorded in the studio. The band does deserve credit for adding a little personality into their extras section, too. There are several humorous skits featuring the band members, and they actually evoke some chuckles here and there. If you felt a disconnect with the band onstage, the offstage antics are likely to change your opinion. Out of everything on the DVD, it was most refreshing to see that a successful, panty-receiving band like Avenged Sevenfold still might juts be a bunch of average Joes when they don’t have thousands of screaming girls in front of them. // 8