A7X!

Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) are a metal band formed in Huntington Beach, California. The band consists of M. Shadows (vocals), Zacky Vengeance (rhythm guitar), Synyster Gates (Lead Guitar), The Rev (drums) and Johnny Christ (Bass). Synyster Gates replaced a previous guitar player during "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet", their first album and re-recorded the first track "To End The Rapture" without the piano track in it. Johnny Christ was also a new member, replacing 2 former bassists. M. Shadows' real name is Matthew Sanders and he got the part "Shadows" in his name because he was always the "darkest kid" in the band. Synyster Gates' real name is Brian Elwin Haner Jr. and he came up with the name when driving through the park with The Rev drunk one night and said randomly "I am Synyster Gates, I am awesome". Zacky Vengeance's real name is Zachary James Baker (so you can figure out his nickname). Johnny Christ's real name is Jonathan Lewis Seward and his name was given to him by Zacky. However, "Misfits" bassist is called John Christ so I wonder if he took it from that. I don't know!. Finally, The Rev/The Reverend Tholomew Plague's real name is James Owen Sullivan and I have no idea where his nick name came from. So First a little about the members of the band. The Rev is a mean drummer, with mad skills and he is married to ex-porn star Leana Silver. M. Shadows used to scream a lot more in old A7X albums but he had minor throat surgery and has since been singing much more of his own accord. He states that he always planned on making "Waking the Fallen" half-singing and half-screaming and then the album after that would be all singing. Proof that he still has the ability to scream can be seen in their latest live DVD where he screams a bit on the songs "Unholy Confessions" and "Chapter 4". Synyster Gates was a self-taught guitar player which was unusual since his father was a song-writer and guitar player who played with the likes of Frank Zappa. He was recruited into the A7X team and proved to be an immense member of the band. Zacky Vengeance has created a clothing line called "Vengeance University" and has a website at www.vengenz.com. Johnny Christ is the youngest member of A7X and he was even bullied by Zacky Vengeance and The Rev at high school because he was one of Synyster's friend's little brother's friends!. His 2 biggest influences are the late, great Cliff Burton (of Metallica) and Duff Mckagan (of Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver). A7X have been active since 1999 and created their first album "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet" when they were just 18 years old and still at high school. The album was released on Hopeless records, followed by their second album "Waking The Fallen". Their sound at this time was very much metalcore (screaming vocals, singing, melodic, breakdowns etc.). After this release they signed to Warner Bros. Records and made the album "City of Evil" which was very successful and their first gold record. However they lost some fans and gained many at the same time since the screaming had gone and pop melodies and catchy hooks and choruses had arrived. M. Shadows biggest influence is Axl Rose so it is possible he was trying to create a more mainstream rock feel. I must admit though I loved this album as I play guitar and all the solos are mind-blowing. Synyster really shines on this record. Their most recent album to date is self titled and sometimes called "The Black and White Album" due to the black and white cover. It is also a fantastic album with another new sound. Combining, metal with opera with country and at times electric overlay vocals, the album was very different and after the first listen grew on me immediately! A7X have had tribute albums made to them already by the string quartet and they have even created many cover songs including Iron Maiden's "Flash of the Blade", Pantera's "Walk" and are planning on recording a Black Sabbath cover of "Paranoid" for 2009. They have made 2 DVDs which show their powerful live show and presence on stage and it proves how talented the band is. The band's logo (see above for pic) is known as "The Deathbat" and was created by one of their friends at school. Before I leave you with song recommendations let me just explain where the band got their name from. Their name comes from the Book of Genesis in the Bible where Cain is sentenced to life in exile for murder of his brother. God said nobody could kill him and that he would have to live with his sin and the man who would kill him would suffer "vengeance seven times over". This story is described in the A7X song "Chapter 4" which refers to Chapter 4 of Genesis. The song "Beast and the Harlot" also comes from the Bible, in the Book of Revelation and is written in first person and refers to punishment of Babylon The Great. World Empire and Seat of False Religion. The album "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet" also comes from The Book of Revelation and refers to the last trumpet (7th) sound which would signify the end of the world. Biblical references are also made in the song "The Wicked End". However, even though there are many religious ideas based around the band they have stated themselves they are in no way a religious band. Avenged Sevenfold were major fans of Pantera and even covered "Walk". However one of their best songs is called "Betrayed" and tells the story of Dimebag through Dimebag's eyes and through the killer's eyes. Check it out and check out the rest of these songs by one the best heavy metal bands of today! peace! x
"Unholy Confessions", "Eternal Rest", "To End the Rapture", "Sidewinder", "Seize The Day", "Bat Country", "Scream", "Afterlife", "A Little Piece of Heaven" (must check this one out! Unbelievably good masterpiece)