Five Avenged Sevenfold records that hold up, ranked. They've never made the same album twice — that's either their greatest strength or the thing that frustrates you about them.
5. Hail to the King (2013)
The most divisive album in their catalog. A7X stripped everything back and made a straight-up classic metal record — Black Sabbath riffs, Iron Maiden gallops, none of the proggy detours. Critics called it derivative. Fans who wanted "Bat Country Part 2" were confused. But taken on its own terms, it's a solid heavy metal album from a band proving they can do whatever they want.
Standout tracks: Hail to the King, Shepherd of Fire, This Means War
4. Waking the Fallen (2003)
The bridge between their metalcore debut and the band they'd become. Waking the Fallen is heavier than anything that followed, but you can already hear M. Shadows figuring out how to sing instead of just scream. "Unholy Confessions" is still a live staple. This is the album where it started to click.
Standout tracks: Unholy Confessions, Chapter Four, I Won't See You Tonight Part 1
3. Avenged Sevenfold (2007)
The self-titled record where they decided rules didn't apply. A country ballad? Sure. An eight-minute song about necrophilia with a full orchestra? Why not. It shouldn't work, but "A Little Piece of Heaven" is genuinely unhinged in a way most metal bands would never attempt. The album is all over the place — that's what makes it interesting.
Standout tracks: A Little Piece of Heaven, Afterlife, Dear God, Almost Easy
2. Nightmare (2010)
The first album after The Rev died. He'd already written the drums for most of it before his death, and Mike Portnoy came in to record his parts. You can hear the grief in every track — "Fiction" was the last song The Rev ever wrote, and he recorded the piano and vocals himself. It's a heavy album in every sense. "Save Me" runs twelve minutes and earns every second.
Standout tracks: Nightmare, Fiction, Save Me, Buried Alive
1. City of Evil (2005)
The one that changed everything. A7X ditched the metalcore screaming, M. Shadows took vocal lessons, and Synyster Gates turned into one of the best shredders in modern metal. "Bat Country" broke them wide open, but the whole album delivers — "Beast and the Harlot," "Seize the Day," "Sidewinder." This is the sound of a band going for it with nothing to lose.
Standout tracks: Bat Country, Beast and the Harlot, Seize the Day, Sidewinder
What About Sounding the Seventh Trumpet?
Their debut is a metalcore record. It sounds like a different band because it basically is. Worth hearing if you want the full picture, but not essential.
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FAQ
Where can I buy Avenged Sevenfold albums on vinyl? Rock This Town Records carries Avenged Sevenfold vinyl, including standard and limited pressings. We're an Arizona-based online store — orders ship from New York.
What is the best Avenged Sevenfold album on vinyl? City of Evil is the consensus pick — it's the album where everything came together. Nightmare is a close second and hits harder emotionally.
Which Avenged Sevenfold album should I start with? City of Evil. It's their most accessible record and the one that defined their sound.
Are there special edition Avenged Sevenfold vinyl releases? Yes. The band has released colored vinyl variants, picture discs, and box sets over the years. Limited editions go fast — sign up for our newsletter to get notified.
