A man tries to patch up relationships on “Almost Easy” (“I’ve treated you so wrong/Now let me make it right”). The upbeat “Unbound (The Wild Ride)” embraces the roller-coaster ride of life. There’s also a sweet message from a soldier to his girl (“Gunslinger”) and a prayer for God to comfort a distant love (“Dear God”). A dying man puts his stock in forgiven sins and peace in heaven (“Brompton Cocktail”), while a near-death experience inspires a prayer and a promise to change (“Afterlife”). The band wants people to avoid phoniness and self-righteousness, however …
That criticism of the wealthy and apathetic is a profanity-strewn rant. The f-word appears again on “A Little Piece of Heaven,” the dark, twisted tale of a guy stabbing his girlfriend 50 times, eating her heart and having sex with her corpse. “Scream” is another marriage of murderous violence and eroticism. Both tracks are shocking, not just because they show up on a disc containing truly positive material, but because of their sick, descriptive detail. The subject of “Brompton Cocktail” arrogantly plans to take his own life and confront eternity on his terms.
This bizarre band’s name is derived from Genesis 4:15. That and some spiritual allusions may draw Christian teens to Avenged Sevenfold’s ferocious metal assault. Pray it doesn’t. They’ll also get hit with off-kilter theology, obscenities, suicide and audio torture-porn.
After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.
