Avenged Sevenfold

Formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach, California, Avenged Sevenfold emerged from Orange County’s metalcore scene around vocalist M. Shadows, guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ, and drummer The Rev. The band’s sound is defined by massive riffs, melodic vocal lines, and frequent twin-guitar harmonies, blending screamed and clean vocals depending on the era. The early albums Sounding the Seventh Trumpet (2001) and Waking the Fallen (2003) belong to fast-paced metalcore that combines aggressive passages with more melodic sections. With City of Evil (2005) and then Avenged Sevenfold (2007), the group shifted toward a more classic heavy metal approach, marked by extended song structures, elaborate solos, and predominantly clean singing, which brought them onto international rock stages. The death of The Rev in 2009 preceded the recording of Nightmare (2010), which featured guest drummer Mike Portnoy, before the subsequent arrivals of Arin Ilejay and then Brooks Wackerman. Avenged Sevenfold then continued to explore hard rock, alternative metal, and progressive territories with Hail to the King (2013), The Stage (2016), and Life Is but a Dream... (2023), while remaining a fixture on global tours and festivals devoted to contemporary metal.