YY1,
Hail To The King and Shepard Of Fire was the reason I began to know and like the band the CD I just got (Sept 1st) for a Birthday gift, is my first CD from A7X, and at the time i logged on "This means War" was playing.....Afterall it does say "What are you listening too ?" so, i took it quite literally! The guitar riffs and drums on the whole CD "Hail to the King" is GREAT!!!!!
The older releases heavier or not? as you mentioned they're slightly different sounding, makes me wonder, as thats how most following of a band is started!