Hail to the King

Hail to the King

This week, Avenged Sevenfold released the title track to their sixth studio album, Hail to the King. At first, I wasn't really blown away by it, but after replaying it a few times, and doing some research into the album I am slowly beginning to like it. Before I go any further, take 5 minutes to listen to it for yourself

It's obvious reading and listening to interviews with the band that Hail to the King will be different from every other Avenged Sevenfold record. Sounding the Seventh Trumpet and Waking the Fallen were classic metal albums. Then, the band underwent a change before City of Evil, in 2005, moving away from the hardcore and more to a heavy metal/hard rock sound. 2007's Avenged Sevenfold, saw the band add a more melodic tone to their music and experimented with everything from country music to an orchestra. 

A7X was riding high, before the unfortunate passing of their drummer and friend Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan in 2009. As a result of that, Nightmare, which was released less than a year after The Rev's passing was an emotionally heavy album, and you can tell that the band was in a dark place during that period.

While Jimmy will never be forgotten, the time has come for the band to move on. Arin Ilejay was brought in to be the the band's next full-time drummer. Matt Shadows has said in various interviews that the band decided to go back and listen to a lot of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, and have come out with a more blues-rock and classic metal sound. 

It looks like the band is going through it's most drastic change since 2005. That being said, I'm looking forward to hearing the entire album on August 27th before I pass any judgement. A7X has never let me down before, and I'm expecting whatever they put out to be good. 

MLB

From the kings of modern day metal, to the king of relief pitching. Mariano Rivera had one more last this week, his last MLB All Star Game. As unlikely as it seems now, unless the Yankees make the World Series, this will be the last time all of Major League Baseball gets to show thanks and say farewell to the greatest closer of all time.

It was a touching moment at Citi Field Tuesday, as every player stood on the top step of the dugout as Rivera ran out to the field with his typical entrance theme "Enter Sandman" blaring through the speakers in Queens, just miles away from his home in the Bronx. A visibly emotional Mariano pitched a perfect 8th inning, en route to being voted the All Star Game MVP, completing the Triple Crown, of All-Star Game, ALCS, and World Series MVP.

The Yankees only have 67 games left on their regular season schedule, and now each appearance Mariano makes in the game will become more special, culminating on September 26th, the team's last home game. Mo will be missed.

On another note, Citi Field and the Mets were great hosts to the Mid-Summer Classic. Matt Harvey and David Wright starting for the NL is a bright spot for a franchise that has had so much go wrong for them the past 6 years. As a Yankee fan, baseball season hasn't been as much fun without our inner-city rival, so I hope that the Amazins' are on the rebound.