Riff Police! Pull Over! #118: Vesuvian Vs Avenged Sevenfold!

The number of times Avenged Sevenfold have been in the dock as both the offenders and the offended against is getting stupid at this point, their “Hail To The King” practically a tribute to Metallica from start to finish. But we digress. It’s actually “Waking The Fallen” by Avenged Sevenfold that is an album which seems to be a highly influential one in its own right. Released at the height of the Metalcore era in 2003 and injecting a certain amount of adrenaline thanks to the interplay between guitarists Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates. Listening to it and getting the same buzz as “Use Your Illusion” by Guns n’ Roses thanks the fast and free sound with perfectly precise riffs makes it easy to see why.

Vesuvian aren’t the kind of band your might think could be influenced by Avenged Sevenfold. They specialise in Melodic Death Metal with Power Metal lyrical themes but the then it takes all sorts. “The Burden Of Truth” from the bands latest offering “Devotion To Infinity” has the riff from “Second Heartbeat” subliminally present within its whirlwind of activity…