History Music / AvengedSevenfold

In late 2018, they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process, and the project ended up taking a lot more time than expected until its release in June 2, 2023. ''Life Is But A Dream…'' is thought off as a dark, philosophical album that meshes punk and groovy riffs with elements of hip-hop, electro and many other things (the band cite Music/KanyeWest and Music/DaftPunk as influences) to form what is probably their weirdest and most creatively risky effort. The record was released under Warner Bros. once again to finish the aforementioned contract, but the band intend to go fully independent after that.

** "Game Over" title drops Life is but a Dream as part of its very last line.

* ''Life is But a Dream...'' (2023)

** "Game Over" title drops Life is but a Dream as its very last line.

In late 2018, they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process, and the project ended up taking a lot more time than expected until its release in June 2, 2023. ''Life Is But A Dream…'' is thought off as a dark, philosophical album that meshes punk and groovy riffs with elements of hip-hop, electro and many other things (the band cite Kanye West and Daft Punk as influences) to form what is probably their weirdest and most creatively risky effort. The record was released under Warner Bros. once again to finish the aforementioned contract, but the band intend to go fully independent after that.

In late 2018, they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process, and the project ended up taking a lot more time than expected until its release in June 2, 2023. ''Life Is But A Dream…'' is thought off as a dark, philosophical album that meshes elements of hip-hop and electro with punk and groovy riffs (the band cite Kanye West and Daft Punk as influences) to form what is probably their weirdest and most creatively risky effort. The record was released under Warner Bros. once again to finish the aforementioned contract, but the band intend to go fully independent after that.

In late 2018, they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process, and the project ended up taking a lot more time than expected until its release in June 2, 2023. ''Life Is But A Dream…'' is thought off as a dark, philosophical album that meshes elements of hip-hop and electro with punk and groovy riffs (the band cite Kanye West and Daft Punk as influences) to form what is probably their weirdest and most creatively risky effort. The record was releases under Warner Bros. once again to finish the aforementioned contract, but the band intend to go fully independent after that.

In late 2018, they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process, and the band announced they wouldn’t release new material until they felt they could safely tour again. The album is planned to be released in 2023. The band will release it under Warner Bros. once again to finish the aforementioned contract, but intend to go fully independent after that.

Avenged Sevenfold is a HardRock[=/=]HeavyMetal band from Huntington Beach, UsefulNotes/{{California}}. They formed in 1999 while still in high school, with singer M. Shadows, guitarist Zacky Vengeance, drummer The Rev[[note]]Short for "The Reverend Tholomew Plague"[[/note]] and [[ThePeteBest bassist Matt Wendt]].

The band played the underground scene in America for several years, and their first album, the low-budget[[note]]2000$, a budget so low that the drum tracks had to be recorded in one take![[/note]] and very HardcorePunk-flavored ''Sounding the Seventh Trumpet'', got them a small but dedicated fanbase in 2001. While the album's commercial success and reception were modest, ''Waking the Fallen'' was a much more polished Main/{{Metalcore}} album, adding melodic elements, dual harmonies and guitar solos, complex structures, and more singing. It's around that time that the lineup finally stabilized after lead guitarist Synyster Gates and bassist Johnny Christ joined the band.[[note]]Justin Sane, the bassist of the first album, had to retire after a suicide attempt that left him with brain damage.[[/note]]

After the success of WTF, the band took a somewhat different direction with their third album ''Music/CityOfEvil'' in 2005. Screamed vocals disappeared[[note]]M. Shadows actually took singing lessons prior to recording so that he could hit higher notes.[[/note]], the riffs became faster, the melody even more prominent, the solos crazier, the storytelling more epic, and more symphonic elements were introduced. As a result, most of the album has a strong SpeedMetal flavor, sometimes bordering on Thrash. While baffling many of the early fans, the album was their definitive breakthrough hit and remains their highest-selling record to date, as well as their most consistently popular.

After a SelfTitledAlbum in 2007 that was somewhat more pop-ish and veered into various territories, from GrooveMetal to CountryMusic, the band was going for a darker and more progressive release with ''Nightmare'', a concept album where all the songs were gonna tie into one story… Alas, that project went down the drain when The Rev suddenly passed away on Dec. 28, 2009, just after the album's writing phase was finished, from an overdose of alcohol and prescription drugs for his enlarged heart. The lyrics were mostly rewritten after that, and the last two songs "Fiction" and "Save Me" feature The Rev's last vocal recordings. Musically, the album goes back and forth between dark Groove Metal and heart-wrenching {{Power Ballad}}s − often within the same song. [[Music/DreamTheater Mike Portnoy]] covered for The Rev's spot for the album's recording and the following tour[[note]]Some speculate that it might have been a factor in Portnoy's departure from Dream Theater during that same year, although not the only one.[[/note]], before the band found Arin Ilejay (of disbanded Californian metalcore band Confide) who toured with them in 2011 and 2012 and became a full-fledged member in 2013.

For their sixth album ''Hail to the King'' (2013), they deliberately adopted a more straight-forward and blues-based sound, closer to TraditionalHeavyMetal and reminiscent of the '90s era Music/{{Metallica}} or classic bands from the '80s (a bit ''too'' reminiscent for some fans and non-fans). But because of CreativeDifferences Arin was replaced two years later by Brooks Wackerman who had just left Music/BadReligion[[note]]The band had actually been jamming with Brooks for a year to make sure that their styles meshed well enough this time[[/note]]. The following year was a bit bumpy for the band, as around the same time they left Warner Bros. for Capitol Records, resulting in a lawsuit by the former for breach of contract − they were suppose to do 5 albums under the label, they had only made 4.

After that little incident, the next album ''Music/TheStage'' (2016) went back to a more technical and eclectic style, albeit with a different vibe from the pre-HTTK albums, borrowing more heavily from ProgressiveMetal and ThrashMetal, with Brooks bringing in some of his own ideas and stylistic influences. Meanwhile, Arin joined [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islander_(band) Islander]].

In late 2018 they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process and the band announced they wouldn’t release new material until they felt they could safely tour again. The album is planned to be released in 2023. The band will release it under Warner Bros. once again to finish the aforementioned contract, but intend to go fully independent after that.

Avenged Sevenfold (or [=A7X=], as they are often called) are amongst the most popular alternative/heavy bands among teens and young adults the world over, and with ''Waking the Fallen'', were instrumental in the creation of the new wave of Metalcore, a genre that combines hardcore punk with extreme metal. The band was in a state of turmoil after the Rev passed away, but they keep moving forward; no easy task as the five had been friends for most of their lives. Their lyrics are inspired by a wide range of themes, including references to the dead/undead, biblical themes and strong themes such as assisted suicide. They are also very vocal in their support for American troops around the world (which includes playing a concert for the soldiers in Baghdad in 2010), and most of their albums feature at least one song [[WarIsHell from a soldier's point of view.]] Also, at least one of their songs appears to be from a vampire's point of view, whilst ''A Little Piece Of Heaven'' is the BloodyHilarious story of [[UnholyMatrimony a couple of murderous zombies.]] ''The Stage'' is the oddball in that department, as it centers on space, man's place in the universe, and the potential and risks of scientific advances like artificial intelligence.

'''Current members:'''

'''Former members and fill-ins:'''

'''Discography:'''

* StopMotion: The Chris Hopewell directed music video for "Nobody", featuring a skeleton wadering in a society of skeletons, is done entirely in this style.

* ''Black Reign EP'' (2018) [[note]]A compilation of all the songs they made for the ''Call of Duty: Black Ops'' series.[[/note]]

* FiveManBand:
** TheLeader: M.Shadows, the voice and main businessman of the band.
** TheLancer: Synyster, the melodic heart of their music and main backing vocalist.
** TheSmartGuy: Zacky, well-read and self-proclaimed "nitpicking guy" in the studio.
** TheBigGuy: Brooks, the tallest member and drummer.
** TheHeart: Johnny, the prankster-in-chief who's always laughing.

* ILoveTheDead: "A Little Piece of Heaven"

* ImAHumanitarian: Again, "A Little Piece of Heaven".

* MurderBallad: Again, "A Little Piece of Heaven"

* NoPronunciationGuide: Nobody's sure how Arin Ilejay's last name is supposed to be pronounced. Syn pronounces it the Spanish way in an interview ('Ee-leh-high') but can also hear 'Eel-jay' or 'Ile-jay' depending on the person.

In late 2018 they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process and the band announced they wouldn’t release new material until they felt they could safely tour again. The album is planned to be released in 2022. The band will release it under Warner Bros. once again to finish the aforementioned contract, but intend to go fully independent after that.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Their stage names.

** In 2017, following up on ''The Stage'', they started to release a whole series of covers, including Chingon's "Malaguena Salerosa", a metal version of Music/MrBungle's "Retrovertigo" ,a punk-rock version of Del Shannon's "Runaway", as well as rock covers of Music/TheBeachBoys' "God Only Knows", Music/TheRollingStones' "As Tears Go By", and Music/PinkFloyd's "Wish You Were Here". They deliberately chose non-metal songs this time to have more leeway in covering them, as they find it "boring" to cover songs that are already metal.

* AsTheGoodBookSays: The band's name is lifted from Genesis 4:15, when God curses Cain not to be killed after he kills Abel by saying: "Shall Cain be killed, he shall be avenged sevenfold". The Cain and Abel story also serves as the basis for the lyrics of "[[MeaningfulName Chapter Four]]" off ''Waking the Fallen''.

* CallBack: The video for "Nightmare" has two, both referencing "Afterlife". One has a tarantula crawling on The Rev's drum kit, a {{call back}} to the tarantula on The Rev's face. The other is Zacky dancing with a skeleton, where he was dancing with his girlfriend in "Afterlife".

* CarefulWithThatAxe: "Bat Country", "A Little Piece Of Heaven", "Beast And The Harlot", "Trashed And Scattered," "Crossroads", "Almost Easy" (Especially in the CLA Mix), Most tracks on ''Waking the Fallen'' and ''Sounding the Seventh Trumpet'', and about two-thirds of The Rev's vocals. Usually a MetalScream, and when M. Shadows does it, [[LargeHam expect it to be accompanied by an]] EvilLaugh.

-->''Cause with all the things we do… It don't matter when I'm coming home to yo'''''''YEAAAAAAAAAAAH YEAAAAAH!!'''''

* LastNoteNightmare: "And All Things Will End" ends in a solo that's increasingly off-key and slows down into a nightmarish cacophony.

* VocalTagTeam: M. Shadows and The Rev on the SelfTitledAlbum, and on "Fiction."

* FilkSong: [[Literature/FearAndLoathingInLasVegas "Bat Country"]].

* BerserkButton: Don't make jokes about Jimmy's death around a fan.
** If "Critical Acclaim" is any indication, bashing on soldiers is this for the band.

For their sixth album ''Hail to the King'' (2013), they deliberately adopted a more straight-forward and blues-based sound, closer to TraditionalHeavyMetal and reminiscent of the '90s era Music/{{Metallica}} or classic bands from the '80s (a bit ''too'' reminiscent for some fans and non-fans). But because of CreativeDifferences Arin was replaced two years later by Brooks Wackerman who had just left Music/BadReligion[[note]]The band had actually been jamming with Brooks for a year to make sure that their styles meshed well enough this time[[/note]]. The following year was a bit bumpy for the band, as around the same time they left Warner Bros. for Capitol Records, resulting in a lawsuit by the former for breach of contract − they were suppose to do 5 albums under the label, they had only made 4. The band eventually agreed to release their eighth album under Warner Bros. to finish the contract, but intend to go fully independent after that.

In late 2018 they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process and the band announced they wouldn’t release new material until they felt they could safely tour again. The album is planned to be released in 2022.

For their sixth album ''Hail to the King'' (2013), they deliberately adopted a more straight-forward and blues-based sound, closer to TraditionalHeavyMetal and reminiscent of the '90s era Music/{{Metallica}} or classic bands from the '80s (a bit ''too'' reminiscent for some fans and non-fans). But because of CreativeDifferences Arin was replaced two years later by Brooks Wackerman who had just left Music/BadReligion[[note]]The band had actually been jamming with Brooks for a year to make sure that their styles meshed well enough this time[[/note]]. The following year was a bit bumpy for the band, as around the same time they left Warner Bros. for Capitol Records, resulting in a lawsuit by the former for breach of contract − they were suppose to do 5 albums under the label, they had only made 4. The band eventually agreed to release their eighth album under Warner Bros. to finish the contract.

For their sixth album ''Hail to the King'' (2013), they deliberately adopted a more straight-forward and blues-based sound, closer to TraditionalHeavyMetal and reminiscent of the '90s era Music/{{Metallica}} or classic bands from the '80s (a bit ''too'' reminiscent for some fans and non-fans). But because of CreativeDifferences Arin was replaced two years later by Brooks Wackerman who had just left Music/BadReligion[[note]]The band had actually been jamming with Brooks for a year to make sure that their styles meshed well enough this time[[/note]]. The following year was a bit bumpy for the band, as around the same time they left Warner Bros. for Capitol Records, resulting in a lawsuit by the former for breach of contract that has yet to be resolved.

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: They've pretty much covered the whole scale, save for the highest levels. ''Sounding the Seventh Trumpet'' and ''Waking the Fallen'' were in the 8 range (with "I Won't See You Tonight Part 2" bordering on 9), and their later material usually borders on 7, sometimes going down to 6. "Nightmare" (the song) teeters somewhere between a 7 and an 8. While a couple other songs, like "God Hates Us", are a pretty solid 8. The ''Hail to the King'' album lowers the hardness down significantly. "This Means War" and "Planet", the heaviest songs on the album are only about a 5 (or maybe a 6 if you want to be generous). The power ballad "Crimson Day" dips down to 2 - while the blues-heavy ballad "Acid Rain" drops all the way down to one. The rest would be about a 4 or 5. The songs in ''The Stage'' go back and forth between 5 and 7, sometimes 8 (except for the power ballad "Angels" and the orchestral ballad "Roman Sky").

In late 2018 they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process and the band announced they wouldn’t release new material until they felt they could safely tour again.

In late 2018 they started working on a new album, but the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic threw a wrench into the recording process and the band announced they wouldn’t release new material until concerts were allowed again.