Critical Acclaim song meaning

Critical Acclaim was one of the first songs the band had an idea for. In this particular song, Zacky Vengeance and M. Shadows collaborated and wrote the lyrics together. They say it is the first track on the album, to set the mood for what’s to come. As Synyster Gates puts it, it’s “in your face, powerful, (it) means something, and says something.” Critical Acclaim is based upon the irony, contradiction and hypocriticalness of America, in particular its view on politics and other important issues. It’s primarily based upon the citizens of America that complain about America’s government system, yet rather than actually vote or attempt to make a difference about it, they constantly whine. (For example: “They've never contributed a fucking thing to the country they love to criticize.”) The song also features lyrics about those citizens that are ungrateful for living in such a well-off country. This can be seen in the following lyrics: “So how does it feel to know that someone's kid in the heart of America has blood on their hands, fighting to defend your rights? So you can maintain the lifestyle that insults his family's existence…”