RIFF’s best albums of 2023 include Olivia Rodrigo, Paramore, Lana Del Rey, Mitski, boygenius, Slowdive, Hozier, Yves Tumor, Foo Fighters, Corinne Bailey Rae, Kylie Minogue, The Clientele, Avenged Sevenfold, PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, Caroline Polachek, Blur, Feist, Sonic Youth and Billy Woods with Kenny Segal. Our album reviews are…

Avenged Sevenfold performs during Aftershock Festival at Discovery Park in Sacramento on Oct. 5, 2023. SACRAMENTO — Aftershock Festival returned to Discovery Park with an eclectic lineup of acts spanning rock and roll from heavy metal to punk, classic rock and more. Also returning was the Sacramento early fall…

Avenged Sevenfold, “Life is But a Dream…” It’s been seven years since hard rockers Avenged Sevenfold last released an album. The Stage was its first dip into progressive metal, though it still sounded like A7X. The band’s new release, Life is But a Dream…, takes that blueprint and sets…

It seems that things have taken a toll on frontman Fat Mike of NOFX, because Single Album oozes with the sense of decay and instability that comes with uncertainty, insecurity, controversy and tragedy. You can’t say Michael Burkett hasn’t taken these things head-on; however, addressing controversies, watching the passing of his…