Meaning of “Mattel” by Avenged Sevenfold

by Osei Kojo Enoch· Published June 2, 2023· Updated June 5, 2023

Warner Records officially released “Mattel” on 2 June 2023 as part of Avenged Sevenfold’s LP “Life Is But a Dream…”. Both album and song came out on the same day.

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As with seemingly all of the other tracks on the album, the band wrote this one themselves. They also produced it together with Joe Barresi.

Also to note, Avenged Sevenfold performed a snippet of this song during a concert in Las Vegas, which marked “their first show in five years”, a couple of weeks prior to the track’s dropping. And with that in mind, it should be pointed out that the band’s most-recent studio album prior to this one was 2016’s “The Stage”.

The Lyrics of “Mattel”

“Mattel”, as you likely already know, is the name of a famous toy company, with its most famous product seemingly being the Barbie brand. And relatedly what this song appears to be based on is the vocalist noting how he lives in this ideal, plastic world, as with Barbie, if you will.

Or put otherwise, it’s as if he’s saying everyday life in American society as being based more on a fantasy than reality. Or explained alternatively yet again, M. Shadows comes off as if he feels that citizens are compelled to take on the mentality of mindless dolls in order to remain conform to mainstream expectations.

So this is one of those types of songs that appears to be critical of the status quo. But interestingly and unconventionally, the main criticism Avenged Sevenfold seem to have in that regard is adherents suffering from a severe case of boredom, being caught up in a “dedicated loop, same year after year”.

“Now I know this might sound crazy, but I’ve smelled the plastic daisies and it seems we’ve found ourselves in hell”

TONI says:

“The depth of ‘Mattel’ is very profound. The authors did well to paint a vivid and thought-provoking picture of a world where artificiality and emptiness prevail. The imagery of vinyl skin, plastic bones, and button eyes conveys a sense of being detached and devoid of genuine human connection.

The repetition of mundane routines and the lack of significance in the day-to-day activities highlight a feeling of monotony and purposelessness. The song encapsulates the irony and bleakness of a world where superficiality and imitation have taken precedence. It suggests a realization of the artificiality and emptiness that surround us.

‘Mattel’ also delves deeper into the themes of conformity, limited choices, and the semblance of control. It touches on the idea of being manipulated and controlled, as symbolized by the lines such as the following:

‘pull my string and make me cry‘
‘advertisement, moral scrawl, a semblance of choice when there’s no choice at all‘

The reference to being ‘smart enough to know nothing at all‘ hints at the awareness of this manufactured existence, yet feeling powerless to escape it. Overall, ‘Mattel’ provides a powerful critique of a society consumed by superficiality, conformity, and a lack of genuine human connection.”

SAMMUEL RILEY says:

“For me, my favorite line from the song is ‘living feign in porcelain and just smart enough to know nothing at all‘. This signifies the eternal truth that our knowledge is inherently limited. Despite our accumulated wisdom, there will always be enigmatic aspects that elude our comprehension. Certain inquiries, particularly those of an existential nature, transcend the boundaries of our understanding. Take, for instance, the unanswerable question of what lies before life and beyond death.”

MIYA says:

“I listened to ‘Mattel’ at the most opportune time in my life. As I went through some of the most challenging times ever, I found myself engulfed in a sea of desolation and despair. And why? All because I am perceived not to conform to what society thinks as right. The opening verse of this composition resonates deeply with my current state. It paints a vivid picture of someone devoid of substance and purpose, akin to an empty vessel.

The first verse depicts people like me as plastic and hollow, reminiscent of lifeless dolls. This analogy captures a prevailing sentiment in contemporary society, suggesting that many people have become mere replicas, devoid of genuine depth or authenticity. They seem to go through the motions, conforming to societal expectations and playing a predetermined game. This portrayal serves as a commentary on the widespread emptiness and conformity observed in modern times.”