The Stage
by Avenged Sevenfold
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Oct 28, 2016
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Q Magazine
    Dec 13, 2016
    60
    Even if Avenged Sevenfold are guilty of occasionally overreaching in places here, it's undoubtedly made them more interesting. [Feb 2017, p.117]
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  2. PopMatters
    Dec 1, 2016
    50
    Despite being a concept album, The Stage doesn’t break much new ground for Avenged Sevenfold. They sound like the same band doing pretty much the same thing.
  3. Exclaim
    Nov 22, 2016
    50
    Though Hail to the King failed to live up to the royal expectations of its titular disguise, The Stage's grandiosity smells of overcompensation; Avenged Sevenfold's crown lies somewhere in between.

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Most Discussed Album of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 77 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 77
  3. Negative: 3 out of 77
  1. Xevon
    Jan 18, 2017
    6
    The Stage is an album that flips flops between good ideas and bad ones, ultimately crafting an uneven record with few consistently great songsThe Stage is an album that flips flops between good ideas and bad ones, ultimately crafting an uneven record with few consistently great songs and much tedium between the genuinely good bits. It's almost as if the album forgoes it's opportunity to be 'catchy' and deliberately goes in the opposite direction to prevent it. It's not to say that The Stage is a bad album, but perhaps distressingly middling for a band of this calibre. Even some of the albums highlight tracks such as 'God Damn' fail to reach the level of songwriting proficiency to be found on recent albums like Nightmare - The Stage seems too preoccupied with being a 'progressive' concept album to actually deliver the musical mastery we've come to expect from Avenged Sevenfold. The band is going to need to do a lot better than this next time around if they want to remain relevant within the Heavy Metal community.… Full Review »
  2. GerardistheWay
    Nov 28, 2016
    10
    Avenged Sevenfold's most focused work in years is also one of their smartest, most inventive, and addictive albums in their repertoire.Avenged Sevenfold's most focused work in years is also one of their smartest, most inventive, and addictive albums in their repertoire. Telling a cautionary tale about the replacement of humanity by artificial intelligence, the band fuses progressive rock style with their classic metal sound for a unique sonic experience you won't forget for a while. As I'm not yet finished listening to it I'll be posting a full review later on, but for right now I must say kudos, boys--you've won back a fan you were on the brink of losing.… Full Review »
  3. Dat_One_Critic
    Nov 27, 2016
    10
    Great Album. It really stands out from their other albums. Avenged Sevenfold having no strings attached, being able to do work with capitolGreat Album. It really stands out from their other albums. Avenged Sevenfold having no strings attached, being able to do work with capitol records gave them this great opportunity. I enjoyed this album all the way though. With Brooks Wackerman on the drums makes the album better. I dont believe the previous drummer would do as good as the new one. This is standout album and it needs to be bought.… Full Review »
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