Track Listing

1. Beast And The Harlot
2. Burn It Down
3. Blinded In Chains
4. Bat Country
5. Trashed And Scattered
6. Seize The Day
7. Sidewinder
8. Wicked End
9. Strength Of The World
10. Betrayed
11. MIA

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5910 in Music
• Released on: 2005-06-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Explicit Lyrics, Import
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

CD Description
Third album and major label debut from outrageous Orange County metalcore band follows their 2003 release 'Waking The Fallen'. One of a new generation of bands in thrall to the giddy excesses of 80s hair metal and thrash, they have piled the album high with machine gun riffs, superfast double kick drumming and flashily technical guitar solos - and lyrically, have maintained the grandiose, apocalyptic, Biblical imagery of their previous work.

Customer Reviews

No band polarises opinion at the moment...
...quite like A7X. Some consider them geniuses, others sellouts, and its mainly down to this LP (I've never really understood the concept of "selling out" - the bands we love do their thing, and we vote with our feet. Simple, no?).

So then, City Of Evil. This was the first A7X record I heard, I must have listened to it 100 times in the last 10 months, and I consider it an all time classic - right up there with Rage Against The Machine, Master Of Puppets, Mellon Collie et al. It's incredibly well played, structured, written and paced, and is the sort of thing you can really get lost in. It's one of the few records I've heard recently where I really can't fathom *how* they're playing what they're playing, and I love it. Yes, it is different to Waking The Fallen, but they're both classic albums in my opinion; that they're the work of the same band improves them both.

Heavy as hell but with barely a scream throughout it's 70 odd minutes, this is a powerhouse of solos, leads, duels, incredibly tight rhythms and unbelievable, innovative melodies. I have no shame in admitting I am, right now, a total fanboy. Open your minds people - whether its Metal, Metalcore, Classic Rock or whatever is irrelevant to everyone but bricks and mortar retailers who own CD shelves - to us music fanatics, it is simply awe inspiring.

You need to buy this, right now. Album of 2005, hands down.

A far cry from innocence
City of Evil rocketed A7X into mainstream success and so, as is always the case, the fans are very split on this album. Accused by many of 'selling out' because of cutting out the screaming & also probably for atracting little emo girls as their fans (something vocalist M.Shadows said they were trying to avoid). However, that's rubbish. City of Evil's success is based purely on the fact its a GREAT album.

The fact is A7X still sound like they always did, still influenced by the greats (ie Maiden & other classic metal bands)but have got a more clean cut direction and some really great songs. Opener 'The Beast & the Harlot' gives a pretty good idea about what this albums about - completely over the top music in every way - speedy drumming, countless solos all over the place & those instantly recognisable high-pitched vocals... brilliant!

The next few songs follow the same trend and are really addictive, especially the live favourite, 'Bat Country' (it will get stuck in your head for days).

BUT, towards the end of the album something goes a little wrong. 'Seize the Day' strays into annoying ballad territory (unlike the brilliant, 'I Won't See You Tonight' from Waking The Fallen), and the others are just simply TOO long. 'The Wicked End' & 'Betrayed' don't need to be half the length they are and 'Sidewinder' only redeems itself with a... erm, 'quirky'/ weird latino guitar thing at the end which is surprisingly cool! The closer 'MIA' isn't bad, but its a bit of a struggle getting there through the overly-long songs beforehand.

But don't listen to my niggly little criticisms, City of Evil is a really great listen & is a bit different to alot of things around at the moment. There's bound to be a bunch of songs you'll fall in love with here & you won't stop listening to this album for ages.

4 stars

Sit back, adsorb the music and appreciate!!!
Yes! City of Evil is different from their first 2 albums, but by God I absolutely love it. All those who complain about it not being as good as Waking the Fallen, must be out of their minds for the most part (though everyone has their own opinion). If you put it in for the first listen and then come to your judgement, then more fool you. If you're looking for something that is exactly the same as Waking the Fallen, then more fool you, with raised eyebrows. If your looking for a great album, that is brilliant from beginning to end, and shows the progression and musical skill of a great band, then buy this album! Nuff Said