Unlike other heavy metal rock bands, Avenged Sevenfold (A7X), has distinguished themselves for their thought provoking songs filled with dramatic imagery high drama and striking performances.
Their songs have an emotional pull amidst the screaming and the solos in their songs have always been phenomenal. It’s not just a combination of hitting notes hit at lightning speed, which are commonly found in metal bands, but a symphony.
Synsyter Gates tells a story, a vision that reaches out in different levels to their various listeners, while Zacky Vengeance supplied the melodic and elegantly written riffs. M. Shadows finishes it off with a clean vocal transition from growling to melodic vocal delivery.
The band’s unique attributes will make you hate them or love them, nothing in between.
Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) was formed in 1999 by high school friends M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev and Matt Wendt in California. They were joined by Synyster Gates, The Rev’s friend as lead guitarist and Johnny Christ completed the line-up and replaced Matt Wendt in 2003 as the band’s bass guitar.
The band’s name was in reference to the Bible story of Cain and Abel and each band member adopted a pseudonym, which were nicknames they have in high school. They cited Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, bands that were considered legends of Metal Rock, as some of their influences.
After their debut album “Sounding the Seventh Trumpet”, they were signed on to Hopeless Records for their second album “Waking the Fallen”. The album received positive response from the critics and started attracting a larger fan base. The release of their 3rd album and first major label album “City of Evil” under Warner Music propelled them into international popularity and cemented their status in the world of metal.
In 2009, the band went through a difficult time with the unexpected passing of drummer The Rev. Having been friends for more than a decade, the band took the blow real hard. But the band realized that it was impossible for them not to continue, that it would be almost a betrayal of the Rev’s legacy and their love for him.
The lyrics on majority of the songs in Nightmare were re-written and the band brought in The Rev’s drum idol, former Dream Theater Mike Portnoy, to finish what The Rev has started, a fitting finale for the legacy that The Rev left. The Nightmare album became a salute to their brother, each song an ode of praise and love for their brother.
When Portnoy left, Arin Ilejay, formerly of metalcore band Confide, continued playing for the band to complete their Buried Alive tour. Ilejay, came from a family of musicians. His father, Ric Ilejay, of American and Filipino descent, was a professional guitar player while his mother was a gospel singer.
Although Arin isn’t officially a member of the band, the band and fans the A7X has welcomed him as part of the family and shared a mutual pleasure in working with each other.
Avenged Sevenfold recorded a single with Arin called “Not Ready to Die” which was featured on Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Catch Avenged Sevenfold live in Manila on April 26, 2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. For more information please log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph or call the Ticketnet outline at 911-5555