Avenged Sevenfold

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Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold in 2005
Background information
Origin	Huntington Beach, California, USA
Genre(s)	Hard Rock (Newer material) Metalcore (Older material)
Years active	1999 to present
Label(s)	Warner Brothers Records Hopeless Records
Website	A7X Official Site
Members
M. Shadows Synyster Gates Zacky Vengeance Johnny Christ The Rev

Avenged Sevenfold, sometimes abbreviated to A7X, is a hard rock/heavy metal, and formerly metalcore, band from Huntington Beach, California.

Contents 1 History 2 Band members 2.1 Former band members 2.2 Equipment 2.2.1 Synyster Gates 2.2.2 Zacky Vengeance 2.2.3 Johnny Christ 2.2.4 The Reverend 3 Discography 3.1 Demo Recordings 3.2 Albums 3.3 Singles 3.4 Charting Positions 3.5 Videography 3.6 Compilations 4 Trivia 5 External links 6 References

[edit] History

Their first album was titled Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, and was recorded when the band members were eighteen years old. It was released originally on their first label, Good Life Recordings, and then again on Hopeless Records. Their follow-up album was entitled Waking the Fallen, also released on Hopeless, was very well received and was awarded a positive rating in Rolling Stone magazine. Shortly after the release of Waking the Fallen, Avenged Sevenfold was signed to Warner Bros. Records.

City of Evil, released on June 7, 2005, strays from metalcore, heading more towards heavy metal and adds a more hard rock sound with obvious influences ranging from various bands. Although the band have been labeled metal, metalcore, emo, and hard rock in many publications, the band themselves claim that they are a "heavy-metal" band and have no musical similarities to metalcore in any way although this is heavily debated by their peers. During the recording of City of Evil, M. Shadows' vocal styling changed to focus more on melodic singing rather than hardcore screaming. M.Shadows had minor surgery on his vocal cords; however this is not the reason for changing his singing style.

The band's name is a reference to the book of Genesis in the Bible and the story of Cain and Abel, where Cain is punished to live in exile, alone and miserable. Anyone who relieved Cain of his misery by killing him would have "vengeance taken upon him sevenfold." The title of Avenged Sevenfold's song "Chapter Four" references Genesis IV, the chapter of the Bible in which the story of Cain and Abel takes place. The song's subject also appears to be this story. "Beast and the Harlot", yet another song derived from the Bible, comes from the book of Revelation and refers to the punishment of Babylon the great, the world empire of false religion. The song "The Wicked End" also has a reference to the bible, specifically Adam and Eve. In the song, several times it is said "dust the apple off, savor each bite, and deep inside you know Adam was right." making reference to Eve eating the forbidden fruit. Although the band's title and members' stage names make obvious references to religion, Shadows stated in an interview that they are "not really religious at all." "Anyone that read the lyrics and really knew anything about us, they would know we're not promoting either", he said. "That's one thing about this band that I love is that we never really shove any kind of, like, political or religious beliefs on people. We just, the music's there to entertain and maybe thought-provoking on both sides, but we don't try to, like, really shove anything down anyone's throat. There's too many bands that do that nowadays, I think." [1]

Their song "Blinded in Chains" was used in the soundtrack for the video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Another song, "Bat Country", was used in the soundtracks for SSX on Tour, NHL 06 and Madden 06, following in the footsteps of "Chapter Four" which had also been on the soundtrack for NHL 2004, Madden 2004 and NASCAR Thunder 2004. The song "Beast and the Harlot" was in the soundtrack for Burnout Revenge. All the above games, not coincidentally, are produced by various divisions of Electronic Arts. "Beast and the Harlot" appears in RedOctane's Guitar Hero II, released November 7, 2006. The song "Burn it Down" is featured on the October 24th, 2006 release of the Saw III soundtrack.

During recent tours (Coheed and Cambria spring 2006 tour and Ozzfest 2006), Avenged Sevenfold have been performing the song "Walk", originally by Pantera, as part of a tribute to the late "Dimebag" Darrell Lance Abbott.

Recently at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, Avenged Sevenfold received the award for best new artist. They took the award over several other artists--Angels and Airwaves, Panic! at the Disco, Chris Brown, Rihanna, and James Blunt.

After canceling fall and winter 2006 tour dates, the band is planning their unnamed fourth studio album. ^[1]. M. Shadows has stated that it won't be a "City of Evil Part 2" or "Waking the Fallen Part 2", because they want to change their sound once more.

Prior to canceling their tour, the band was scheduled to play with Bleeding Through on their European tour. ^[2]

[edit] Band members

• M. Shadows (1999-Present) (Matthew Sanders) — Lead Vocals
• Synyster Gates (1999-Present) (Brian Haner) — Lead guitar, Backing Vocals
• Zacky Vengeance (1999-Present) (Zachary Baker) — Rhythm guitar, Backing Vocals
• Johnny Christ (2002-Present) (Jonathan Seward) — Bass
• The Reverend "Rev" Tholomew Plague (1999-Present) (James Sullivan) — Drums, Backing Vocals

[edit] Former band members

• Justin Sane (1999-2001) — Bass guitar
• Dameon Ash (2001-2002) — Bass guitar

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Synyster Gates

• Schecter White C-1 FR with Seymour Duncan Invaders
• Schecter Avenger Models (Hellraiser, Custom models)
  • Jim Dunlop Cry Baby From Hell Wah Pedal
  • Digitech Whammy Pedal
  • Visual Sound H20 Chorus/Echo Pedal
  • Boss CS-3 Compressor
  • Boss RV-5 Reverb
  • Boss SD-1 Overdrive (For Leads)
  • Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
  • Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2
  • GCX Ground Control Pro (Located on floor for Pedal Switching)
  • Bogner Ubershall Head and 4x12 Cab
  • Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
  • Ernie Ball 2215 Skinny top Heavy Bottom Strings

Syn has been seen using Schecter Banshee models on special occasions.

[edit] Zacky Vengeance

• Schecter S-1 Models (S-1 Elite, Custom models)
  • Boss NS-2 Noise Suppression
  • Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
  • Boss RV-5 Reverb
  • Line 6 Constrictor
  • Bogner Ubershall Head and 4x12 Cab
  • Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Head
  • Ernie Ball 2215 Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Strings

[edit] Johnny Christ

• Ernie Ball Musicman Sterling Bass
  • Gallien Krueger 4x12 Neo
  • Gallien Krueger 1001 RB Head
  • Ernie Ball 2831 Power Slinky Bass Strings

[edit] The Reverend

• DW w/ maple shells (White Liquor finish/ Black Hardware)
  • 18x22" Bass (x2)
  • 8"x8", 10"x9", 12x10" Rack Toms
  • 14"x12" 16x14" Floor Toms
  • 4x14" Maple Snare

• Hardware:
  • DW 9000 series with all boom stands and 5000 series pedals

• Cymbals:
  • Sabian
  • 14"AAX Metal Hi-Hats, 7" Max-Stax Splash, 10" AAX Metal Splash, 19" AAX Metal Crash(x2), 22" AAX Metal Ride, 19" AAX Metal China

• Sticks:
  • Pro-Mark
  • 5B "The Natural" Maple drumsticks (nylon tips)

• Heads:
  • Evans

[edit] Discography

[edit] Demo Recordings

For information, see Early Avenged Sevenfold releases.

[edit] Albums

Sounding the Seventh Trumpet July 24, 2001 Goodlife Recording	Warmness on the Soul EP August 8, 2001 Goodlife Recording	Sounding the Seventh Trumpet Re-Release March 19, 2002 Hopeless Records	Waking the Fallen August 26, 2003 Hopeless Records #12 (Independent Album Chart) 175,000 US sales
City of Evil June 7, 2005 Warner Bros. Records #30 (US Billboard) 730,000 US Sales	Untitled Fourth Avenged Sevenfold Album 2007 Warner Bros. Records

[edit] Singles

Date of release	Title	Label	Other Info
September 19, 2005	Bat Country	Warner Bros.
February 6, 2006	Beast and the Harlot	Warner Bros.
June 12, 2005	Burn It Down	Warner Bros.	CD/Vinyl Release only.
July 10, 2006	Seize the Day	Warner Bros.	Currently not available as a CD or vinyl.

[edit] Charting Positions

Year	Title	Chart Positions				Album
		US Hot 100	US Mainstream Rock	US Modern Rock	UK Singles Chart
2001	"Warmness on the Soul"	-	-	-	-	Sounding the Seventh Trumpet
2003	"Unholy Confessions"	-	-	-	-	Waking the Fallen
2005	"Burn it Down"	-	-	-	#92	City Of Evil
2005	"Bat Country"	#60	#2	#6	#84	City Of Evil
2006	"Beast and the Harlot"	-	#19	#40	#44	City Of Evil
2006	"Seize the Day"	-	#17	-	-	City Of Evil

[edit] Videography

Date	Title	Notes	Link
March 2001	Warmness on the Soul	Professional video	(Video)
March 6, 2004	Unholy Confessions	Live video with dubbed music	(Video)
June 2005	Burn it Down	Live video with dubbed music
July 28, 2005	Bat Country	Professional video directed by Marc Klasfeld	(video from Bedlam Society)
February 6, 2006	Beast and the Harlot	Professional video directed by Tony Petrossian
June 30, 2006	Seize the Day	professional video directed by Wayne Isham

[edit] Compilations

Date	Title	Label	Song/s
2002	Plea for Peace/Take Action! Vol. 2	Subcity Records	"Turn the Other Way"
2003	Take Action! Vol. 3	Subcity Records	"Chapter Four"
2003	Warped Tour 2003 CD	SideOne Dummy Records	Darkness Surrounding
2003	Metal=Life CD/DVD	Subcity Records	"Unholy Confessions" & Video
2003	Operation: Punk Rock Freedom	Hopeless Records / Subcity Records	"Chapter Four" & "Darkness Surrounding"
2004	Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 4	Hopeless Records / Subcity Records	"Second Heartbeat" & "Darkness Surrounding"
2005	Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 5	Hopeless Records / Subcity Records	"Chapter Four" & "Eternal Rest (Live)" (feat. "Unholy Confessions" video on Enhanced CD)
2005	Masters of Horror Soundtrack		"Beast and the Harlot" (live)
2006	Kerrang! - High Voltage: A Brief History of Rock[2]		"Walk" (Pantera cover)
2006	Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 6	Hopeless Records / Subcity Records	"Darkness Surrounding" & "Unholy Confessions" (feat. "Unholy Confessions" video and "We Come Out at Night" live at Warped Tour 2003 video on included DVD)
2006	Kerrang! - Kerrang! Awards 2006		"Beast And The Harlot"

[edit] Trivia

• M. Shadows has said that he spends eight hours a day, seven days a week, writing songs.
• Zacky Vengeance owns his own clothing line, called "Zacky V. Presents..." It features the popular "Vengeance University" line, featuring shirts and belt buckles. [3].
• Synyster Gates also has a clothing line out now, titled "Syn Gates Clothing."
• The Rev and Synyster were both members of the band Pinkly Smooth, formed with members of the now-extinct band Ballistico. The Rev sang and also recorded drums. Former Avenged Sevenfold bassist, Justin Sane, was also in the band.
• Zacky Vengeance was a baseball player in high school and has said that if he were not in a band, he would have pursued a professional career.
• The Rev (Jimmy Sullivan) and Justin Sane (Justin Meacham) used to be in the widely-known Ska/Pop/Rock band Suburban Legends from Orange County, California.
• The group won "Best New Artist" at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, despite not truly being a new band. The band themselves gave an incentive to those who voted for them (live, unreleased videos for Seize the Day and Bat Country).
• Synyster Gates' father, Brian Haner plays some of the acoustic guitars on City of Evil, including the first acoustic solo on the song Sidewinder. He is often referred to as the band's official acoustic guitarist.

[edit] External links

• Avenged Sevenfold Official Site
• Offical Band MySpace
• Chapter-Four.Net

[edit] References