Even if I think City of Evil is their creative peak, and while The Stage is their most mature and complex album yet, Waking the Fallen still remains my favorite. Why? Because that album has the most character and youthful spirit. It’s a perfect blend of aggressive and melodic, and I don’t think they ever again managed to mix the two as good, well maybe on Not Ready To Die.
That album also has those very cinematic and prog moments, so a song like I Won’t See You Tonight, Pt. 1 is basically the reason why they were able to make songs like Save Me and Exist years later.
I just love Waking the Fallen, man. So many good riffs and drum fills, it’s a monster of a record. My favorite album of all time along with Trivium’s Shogun.