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 stylings have changed more to focus on melodic singing than on 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 and the destruction of Pagan nations. 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."
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 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. 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 metalcore band Bleeding Through on their European tour.
I'd like to meet:
OWNERS
NAME:xxxNIKKI SHADOWSxxx OR xxxNIKKI VENGEANCExxx
I AM ALSO KNOWN AS THE A7X GODDESS 6661
BIRTHDAY: AUGUST 1
FAVORITE MEMBER: M. SHADOWS BUT I LOVE THEM ALL
FAVORITE GIRLFRIEND: VALARY DIBENEDETTO (SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT I MET)
FAVORITE A7X SONG: I LOVE ALL THEIR SONGS BUT TO NAME A FEW: BEAST AND THE HARLOT, BURN IT DOWN, BAT COUNTRY, TRASHED AND SCATTERED, SEIZE THE DAY, BLIND IN CHAINS, M.I.A., SIDEWINDER, WARMNESS ON THE SOUL, UNHOLY CONFESSIONS, ETERNAL REST, I WONT SEE YOU TONIGHT PART OND AND 2
FOVORITE CD: WARMNESS ON THE SOUL, SOUNDING THE SEVENTH TRUMPET, WAKING THE FALLEN, AND CITY OF EVIL
WHY YOU LIKE THEM: LETS SEE CAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD... I LOVE ALL OF THEIR SONGS... PLUS THEY ARE THE ONLY BAND THAT I KNOW OF THAT TAKE THE TIME TO TRULY GET TO KNOW THEIR FANS... THEY TAKE TIME TO TAKE PICTURES AND SIGN AUTOGRAPHS... THEY DON'T ALLOW THEIR FAME TO GET TO THEIR HEADS... PLUS WHEN I MET MOST OF THE BAND THEY WERE ALL REALLY NICE... I JUST LOVE THE FUCK OUT OF THEM AND CANT GET ENOUGH OF THEIR MUSIC
PERSONAL MYSPACE ACCOUNT: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/UNLUCKYKITTY
YAHOO MESSANGER: VENGEANCEKITTY
CREW
NAME: Jessica(Or JessicaZOMBIE)
BIRTHDAY: August 10
FAVORITE MEMBER: Synyster Gates, but they're all amazing.
FAVORITE GIRLFRIEND: Leana Silver(Sullivan) I love her, She's so pretty and she cracks me up.
FAVORITE A7X SONG: Either Chapter 4 or Betrayed. But, I love them all.
FOVORITE CD: All Of Them.
WHY YOU LIKE THEM: Because they're amazing. They're unique, and they're like nothing I've heard before. They've got meaningful lyrics and a vicious tone, they're just a phenomenon.
PERSONAL MYSPACE ACCOUNT: www.myspace.com/thoughtsofendless
but; I don't add people I don't know.
Music:
STAGE NAME: M. SHADOWS
BIRTH NAME: MATTHEW CHARLES SANDERS
BORN ON: JULY 31, 1981
ZODIAC SIGN:LEO
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
HEIGHT: 6'1"
ROLE IN A7X: LEAD VOCALS
DATING: VALARY DIBENEDETTO
RANDOM:His favorite candy is Twizzlers, he claims it helps his vocals.
He is allergic to grass.
He played basketball in highschool.
He was kicked out of Catholic School in 6th grade.
His girlfriend, Valary DiBenedetto used to be the Tour Manager for A7X.
He knows how to play the piano and the guitar.
His favorite drink is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
STAGE NAME: ZACKY VENGEANCE
BIRTH NAME: ZACHARY BAKER
BORN ON: DECEMBER 11, 1981
ZODIAC SIGN: SAGITTARIUS
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
HEIGHT: 5'11"
ROLE IN A7X: GUITARIST / BACK-UP VOCALS
DATING: GENA PAULHUS
RANDOM:He is left handed.
He played baseball in highschool.
He would play on his dad's Yamaha acoustic guitar, but it was upside down for him, so he'd pretend to play it.
He used to work at a coffee shop.
His favorite cigarettes are Marlboro Red or Lucky Strikes.
STAGE NAME: JOHNNY CHRIST
BIRTH NAME: JOHNATHAN SEWARD
BORN ON: NOVEMBER 18, 1984
ZODIAC SIGN: SCOPRPIO
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
HEIGHT: 5'4"
ROLE IN A7X: BASSIST
DATING: LACEY FRANKLIN
RANDOM:He played soccer in highschool, but wasn't any good
STAGE NAME: SYNYSTER GATES
BIRTH NAME: BRIAN ELWIN HANER JR.
BORN ON: JULY 7, 1981
ZODIAC SIGN: CANCER
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
HEIGHT: 5'10"-5'11"
ROLE IN A7X: LEAD GUITARIST/ BACK-UP VOCALS
DATING: MICHELLE DIBENEDETTO
RANDOM:His father, Brian Haner Sr., helped on the album City Of Evil with guitar work and acoustic.
He lifted weights in highschool.
He studied jazz at MIT (Music Institute of Technology).
His favorite color is purple.
STAGE NAME: THE REVEREND THOLOMEW PLAUGE (THE REV)
BIRTH NAME: JAMES OWEN SULLIVAN
BORN ON: FEBRUARY 10, 1981
ZODIAC SIGN: AQUARIUS
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
HEIGHT: 6'2"- 6'3"
ROLE IN A7X: DRUMER
DATING: LEANA SILVER
RANDOM:He is the tallest member of the band, standing at 6'3".
He was kicked out of Catholic School in 2nd grade.
He used to work at a laundry mat.
He was arrested in the UK.
His favorite band is Slayer.
He is the lead singer for the band Pinkly Smooth
Movies:
MEET THEIR GIRLFRIENDS
NAME: VALARY RENEE DIBENEDETTO
BORN ON: APRIL 7,1982
ZODIAC SIGN: ARIES
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
DATING: M. SHADOWS
RANDOM FACTS: IS A TWIN OF MICHELLE
IN 6TH SHE MET HER LOVE OF HER LIFE MATT
NICKMANE ‘SCREAMING DEMON GIRL’
SCREAMED VOCALS ON THE ART OF SUBCONSIOUS ILLUSION
BECAME BAND TOUR MANAGER
GOING TO SCHOOL FOR ACTING/MODELING
NAME: GENA PAULHUS
BORN ON: OCTOBER 31
ZODIAC SIGN: SCORPIO
HOMETOWN: COSTA MESTA, CALIFORNIA
DATING: ZACKY VENGEANCE
RANDOM FACTS: WORKS AT BAKER STREET WEST SALON
ZACKY’S HAIRDRESSER/STYLIST
HELPS W/ ZACKY V. PRESENTS
NAME: LACEY FRANKLIN
BORN ON: NOVEMBER 15,1984
ZODIAC SIGN: SCORPIO
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
DATING: JOHNNY CHRIST
RANDOM FACTS: GOES TO CAL STATE FULLERTON
STUDING COMMUNICATIONS
PLANNING ON GOING TO LAW SCHOOL
NAME: MICHELLE LOUISE DIBENEDETTO
BORN ON: APRIL 7,1982
ZODIAC SIGN: ARIES
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
DATING: SYNYSTER GATES
RANDOM FACTS: IS A TWIN OF VALARY
FASHION DESIGNER
HELPS SYN W/ HIS CLOTHING LINE
NAME: LEANA NOELLE SILVER
BORN ON:
ZODIAC SIGN:
HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (ORANGE COUNTY)
DATING: THE REV[FIANCE]
RANDOM FACTS: SHE IS NOT A MODEL
LOVES TO BE COMPLIMENTED AND TAKE PICTURES
HATES CHOOSING HER FAVORITES
HAS A SIS THAT SHE LOVES VERY MUCH
WORKS AT BEERNUTZ
Television:
FUSE, MTV
VIDEOS
Avenged Sevenfold-Warmness on the soul
Avenged Sevenfold - Bat Country
Avenged SevenFold - Unholy Confessions
Avenged Sevenfold - Seize the day - Video
Beast and the Harlot music vid
Burn It Down
OUR BANNERS
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