Avenged Sevenfold's new single 'Buried Alive' is epic. Not just in a critical sense, but in the song's construction. Like any good power ballad, it builds up to a massive, earth-shaking explosion.

The track, the latest single off 'Nightmare,' is not too far removed from Metallica in that it's contemplative and thoughtful for the first half, showing off the softer side of A7X.

That doesn't mean that they've gone soft. Not even close. All you have to do is stick around for the second half of the song, because that's when things really start to boil over.

Singer M. Shadows demonstrates that he is a capable singer, crooning his lyrics over steady guitar work that slowly starts building into the type of pummeling riffage that could make thunder shoot out of your speakers.

The percussive roar is another standout feature of the song. That's when and where the arena rock energy starts to assert itself. Where them lighters at?

A7X up the ante by the fourth minute of the song, turning a thoughtful tune into an aggressive and agitated monster, replete with galloping riffs. Seriously, it reminds us of those classic, six-minutes-and-counting tunes that Metallica peddled to great success in the '80s. A7X climb the stairway to dynamics and employ a time-honored musical device of building up for a breakdown. The band's Iron Maiden influences are also quite present in the riffage.

'Buried Alive' is full of moods and tempos and is easily one of their best tunes from 'Nightmare.'

Listen to Avenged Sevenfold, 'Buried Alive'