What exactly is the case against Avenged Sevenfold?

[SheSaidSheSaid]

I had heard "Bat Country" on the radio a few times, but RB2 and "Almost Easy" was really the first time I gave the group anything close to a proper listen. And I love the hell out of that song, I've got to say. It's heavy, it's catchy, it's damn fun to play in RB. I have most of the A7X DLC as well (ironically "Bat Country" is one of the songs I don't have) and most of them fit that bill, too.

Yet it's always seemed like they're one of the bands that it's cool to hate, that the internet decided was off-limits, like.......well, do I really need to give examples?

I really don't get it. The singer isn't some pitch-perfect virtuoso, but for this style of music his angry growls and occasional plaintive singing work just fine. The lead guitarist plays some of the most complex solos I've heard from recent bands (yes, I'm sure there are scores of examples of guitarists who "shred" better, good for you for coming up with them). Musically, they're certainly no less talented than the 'average' band. And I've never heard of anyone getting their ire up for a bassist

But the drummer...this is really the only thing I can think of that gets people to rage about this band. I've seen the posts too, of some of the downright scary A7X fans who say things like "I was sadder when the Rev died than when my own father died!" I mean, this is kinda creepy. No two ways about it. (The members of the band have tattoos relating to him, too, but this one is just from some guy) I don't understand that level of attachment and I do not want to.

So is that it, or is there something else? Because most of the time I can at least understand why overwhelming consensus is against a band, even if I don't agree. I'm a bit at a loss here.

[www1221]

They are cool to hate. Ive only heard complaints about the singer but I think he is perfectly fine. Also The Rev was the best part of A7X. That being said Im not a fan of them but I dont hate them.

[Tego1in]

I think some music elitists consider them "mainstream," which is unacceptable for some people.

[Mega-Tallica]

Talented musicians, can't write a song to save their lives though. They've got some gems here and there, but nothing I'd get too excited about. I don't hate on 'em (that much), but they're stuff gets boring very quickly for me. Waking The Fallen is the only album I can listen to in full by them.

I think most of the problem people have is that they're popular and are viewed as the face of modern metal and metal elitists get their panties in a bunch every time they hear someone refer to A7X as just that. And the fact that they are popular and of course, anything that is popular is also popular to hate. I blame the internet. It only takes a few to start a trend and before you know it you have a full on hate machine.

[Cubecubed]

They are decent musicians, but I hate them for their annoying gimmick of having dumb names, and their hilariously misguided political opinions. Also, The Rev was an Okay drummer, but nowhere near what A7X fans make him out to be.

[MagicMurderBag7]

I didn't mind them so much before RB2's online multiplayer. Every random and their brother would choose freaking Almost Easy.

I'm also not a fan of getting screamed at by the singer and the drummer spamming the bass drum.

[Lowlander2]

I actually don't find them bad, and in fact, I really like City Of Evil. I thought they managed a bridge between melodic and heavyness that bands like Killswitch Engage hilariously failed at. On their heavier songs like Beast and The Harlot, Nightmare and so on, I will actually listen to them every so often.

That said, they have a few too many slow, orchestral songs, and their lyrcism and composition fails them more in these situations than they don't. Seize The Day is alright, the rest of this ilk is indeed rubbish. So Far Away, the Blitz packaged song, is probably their worst that I've heard thus far.

But yes, for the most part, they're just cool to hate, or people just hate the fanbase and attribute it to the music (a little understandable). They're not even the worst artist on Blitz anyway.

[BachiG]

Going by this weeks experience, I think "Almost Easy" is making a comeback in the rotation. I played with at least 3 random groups the past few days during which that song was picked. It's a fun enough song on drums and i laugh now at how I used to not be able to play it for the life of me and now it's GS all the time.

[darkwinterbeast8]

I think some music elitists consider them "mainstream," which is unacceptable for some people.

This quote makes makes music elitists such as myself seem like the hipster stereotype. If that's the case, I might as well grow a handlebar moustache and drink a Pabst beer and enjoy it ironically.

As for the point regarding Avenged Sevenfold; they are to metal music what McDonald's is to fine dining and Miller Lite is to beer. Beware, this is the opinion of a music elitist and in particular a metal elitist.

Their music itself isn't great by any stretch of the imagination although it isn't audio fecal matter on the scale of Nickleback, Suicide Silence, or BrokenCYDE. I'm not a fan of this band by any means but a lot of my dislike regarding Avenged Sevenfold actually came from interacting with their fans (particularly the ones on internet forums like this one). Using this forum as an example, seeing 5 new A7X request threads daily for a span of months (even the week after a new A7X track pack was released) did fuel to the fire of dislike.

[topdrawer]

i just really don't like their music.