Commenting further on Avenged Sevenfold, they get a bad rap because their fans are predominantly scenester bitches.
They are NOT like Guns 'N Roses, that's the second most popular dismissal right after "pffft metalcore/hardcore OMG suck guuuh." Now that they've nixed the screaming and growling (which is due to the singer straining the necessary parts of his anatomy for said gruff vocal stylings), they sound a shitload like IRON MAIDEN and not really at all like GUNS 'N ROSES.
But Iron Maiden doesn't nail down their sound either, because they still have elements of SoCal punk in their lyrics and their overall songwriting. Bands like Bad Religion, AFI, The Offspring. That might be a bad thing for some of you ? oh well. I think it's a damn good thing, and I think Avenged Sevenfold are a damn good band.
Live, by the way, Shadows doesn't sound quite so whiny and he actually has testicles (or so it sounds like). And the nigh virtuoso-level musicianship remains intact. I was impressed.