In 2010, hard rock/metal band Avenged Sevenfold released Nightmare, its last album featuring drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, who died of a drug overdose in 2009.  As he died while the album was being recorded, he was not on every song.  Fortunately for the band, Mike Portnoy, drummer for progressive metal band Dream Theater, filled in until the hiring of Sullivan’s replacement, the unknown Arin Ilejay.  The duo ensured the completion of the album, which was a smash hit for several of its singles, most notably the title cut and “Welcome to the Family.”

 After the release of Nightmare, the band contemplated its future after the death of Sullivan, and ultimately decided to take their new album in a completely new direction.  While previous works, such as the band’s self-titled album in 2007, were more raw (see “Almost Easy”), the band took a more classic rock/metal approach (like the one utilized by Metallica, Megadeth, and Iron Maiden) to Hail to the King, and the results are…interesting.

 The first two tracks, “Shepherd of Fire” and “Hail to the King” are an impressive opening, if not slightly reminiscent (more on this to come) of the works of Metallica and Megadeth, two revered metal acts from the 1980s and 1990s.  Excellent guitar work and technical ability by Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, and the powerful vocals of M. Shadows carry these songs, which have both been released as widely-acclaimed singles.  Such a strong opening gave the rest of this album hope.  However, it is after here that the album begins to falter to a degree.

 The third track, called “Doing Time,” is clearly an attempt to imitate Guns n’ Roses, with M. Shadows doing his best to channel Axl Rose from the Appetite for Destruction days (short of kicking colleagues out of the band and having a hissy fit on stage after arriving three hours late).  Unfortunately, imitation is a theme on other songs as well.  “This Means War” features guitar riffs that sounds suspiciously similar to the beginning of “Sad But True” off of Metallica’s Black Album, and “Crimson Day,” a slower, somber song, is reminiscent of “Nothing Else Matters,” a song from the same album.  With only 10 tracks on Hail to the King, this casts doubt on the originality of 30% of the album.  To a fan of the group, this is a huge disappointment, given Avenged Sevenfold’s status in the modern rock/metal world.

 While the rest of the album seems more original, there are few moments that stick in the memory of the listener.  The operatic opening of “Requiem,” is one, the ominous brass in “Shepherd of Fire,” is another, and a chanting segment present on “Hail to the King” is the third.  This is a shame, as the songwriting has markedly improved, and the band demonstrates a technical proficiency in the classic metal genre, something it has never attempted before.  The guitarists (always one of this band’s strengths) prove their worth once again, and bassist Johnny Christ demonstrates the level of skill Cliff Burton once did.  If such a thing is possible, the vocals and lyrics have actually improved as well, with Shadows screaming less, and utilizing lyrics open to interpretation, rather than the straightforward approach the band has used at times (not all of the time) in the past.  For whatever reason though, the latter part of this album drags on, despite the band’s instrumental and vocal prowess.  It seems like the band recorded some solid songs, then got bored and kept playing to kill time.  The end result is usually good, but will bore those who are not fans of the group.

 Though good, this album is not the band’s best work either, thus earning a weaker 7/10.  A strong opening carries this album, which is weakened by a possibly plagiarized middle, and a drawn out end.  However, though the last few tracks of this album are drawn out, they are instrumentally solid, well-written pieces, which is enough to pull this album to where it was rated.  Had this been billed as a tribute album, rather than a return album after a three-year hiatus, a higher rating would be justified, as the band nails the classic rock/metal approach more than it misses it.  Purchasing the songs to your liking is the move to make here, rather than downloading the album in its entirety.