The long-gestating follow-up to 2016's ambitious concept album
Stage
,
Life Is But a Dream...
sees
Avenged Sevenfold
go further down the rabbit hole with an innovative set of progressive metal epics rooted in existential crisis. Inspired by the band's dalliances with hallucinogens and the writings of French philosopher
Albert Camus
, the LP covers a wide swath of sonic terra firma, from punishing thrash and hardcore to operatic,
Pink Floyd
-esque space rock peppered with
Daft Punk
-inspired vocoders and lush orchestral flourishes.