The Stage (Deluxe Edition)

This 2016 concept album from Orange County metalcore marauders Avenged Sevenfold envisions artificial intelligence run amok and the self-destruction of civilization. From the proggy, soaring title track and brass-enhanced pounder “Sunny Disposition” to acoustic-thrash hybrid “God Damn” and 16-minute space epic “Exist” (featuring a spoken-word cameo from astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson), it’s the band’s most diverse album yet. Bonus live tracks and covers of The Rolling Stones, Mr. Bungle, and Pink Floyd only sweeten the pot.

A terrific album just got even better. In 2016, AVENGED SEVENFOLD tackled its first concept album, "The Stage", an album rolling off the tongues of many in the same sentence as "masterpiece." "The Stage" is a contemporary metal wonder, bleeding the band's toughened agro chops into savvy progression...