Feature by Andrew - October, 2002
Avenged Sevenfold has been around for a little while, made a home at a couple of labels, and finally seems to be getting the service and distribution that they would like from Hopeless Records. They're one of those bands that can manage to seamlessly blend multiple styles of music into one cohesive sound, and though they've proclaimed themselves to be 'heavy fucking metal,' they really are much more than that. Listeners are treated to melodic hardcore elements that were an influential part of their past, but there are also modern metallic influences, including beefy breakdowns, amazing percussion that only increases the edge that the music has, and vocals that range from throaty screams to melodic singing that sounds like it was taken straight from a classic rock or metal band. Avenged Sevenfold presents enough variety to satisfy multiple musical minds, and after repeated listens to their first full length, "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet," I still find myself wanting more. If you're not interested by now, read my little chat with vocalist M. Shadows below, and learn more about the past and future of Avenged Sevenfold. Then buy their music.
Andrew: Alright, its always interesting to find out how today's bands formed, so you know what that means: history lesson. How did Avenged Sevenfold come together, and have any of the guys played in any other bands beforehand?
M. Shadows: We were basicly a different band with a different goal when we first started. It all started off with me and a friend named Matt at school and we wanted to start a hardcore band with punk influences. So we had my life long friend and neighbor, The Rev., play drums for us. Then we found Zacky V. from school and he said he'd play guitar. Soon after we didn't want to sound like a typical hardcore band anymore and added our friend Synyster Gates to take lead guitar duties. We had gone through a couple of bass players at the time. Thats the short cut version of how we got where we are now. As for other bands everyone grew up playing in different bands that aren't even worth mentioning.
Andrew: When you came together as a band, did you guys have any early expectations that music might be your future?
M. Shadows: Yeah- it was fun but I think we all wanted to take it as far as it could go. If not we would have quit a long time ago when there were harder times.
Andrew: Your drummer is amazing. How long has he been playing? What about the other members; how long have you guys been playing music for?
M. Shadows: I've known The Rev since 4th grade and he already ripped ( as far as I could tell at the time ) So he's been playing for quite a few years. Synyster has also basicly played his whole life. He was brought up into playing guitar. Zacky and I basicly have played since around 6th grade or so. Dameon, I don't know much about his past to tell you the truth.
Andrew: Speaking of members, I have a "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet" poster in my dorm room, and it has only four members. I'm also pretty sure I read Avenged Sevenfold was a four-piece on some websites -- then I saw you guys live and there were two guitarists. When did you decide to go for a second guitar player, and who is he?
M. Shadows: All the posters should have 5 people. The Rev is very hard to see though, it was like a printing mistake. i'm sure if you look in the bottom right hand corner you'll see a blur and thats him. haha. But we actually didn't have Synyster on the album, he only recorded the solo on "To End the Rapture." He also recorded "Second Heatbeat." We wanted to add more to the band, so after the album was recorded we asked him to join. At first he just joined cause we are all friends, but now we all take it very seriously.
Andrew: He's good. I guess he can stay in the band. I hope my memory isn't just being faulty and you actually did get a second guitarist.
Andrew: How did your music sound when you were still a younger band? I'm guessing the sound has changed some between your albums, so from your original sound to the recording of "Warmness On The Soul"? And from "Warmness On The Soul" to "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet," do you think your style underwent more significant changes?
M. Shadows: No not at all, cause the "Warmness" EP was the same recording. I was just put out before "Sounding" to get kids introduced to the band. But our there is a big change from the demos to the album cause the demos are more of a tough guy hardcore feel, even though we didn't want that, my vocals just came out that way. But we worked it all out to get a sound were are happy with now.
Andrew: I always notice some melodic hardcore elements on "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet," and often wonder if that is an influence from the band's past.
M. Shadows: I think its from growing up listening to a mix of Pantera, Nail Bomb and Guns N Roses, to listening to NOFX, Bad Religion and AFI. I guess thats what happens.
Andrew: And then there is the new song on the "Hopelessly Devoted To You Volume 4" compilation, that sounds like its drifting more towards metal. Do you see the musical styles undergoing further change?
M. Shadows: I see a progression for sure. All our new stuff has alot more guitar work and everything is more produced to sound tight. We will always keep the same style writing, but we feel songs like that keep you more interested then the chug chug stuff. So we will do a little of both. The new stuff sounds more like "Second Heartbeat" but the album will not definatly all sound like that. I don't think you could take a song of "Sounding" and tell someone to listen to it and give them a good idea of what the album is like, and thats how we are gonna keep the second album, very diverse.
Andrew: I love that song, do an album like that. Its heavy fucking metal.
Andrew: On the subject of new music, what are your plans for future recordings? Has there been a lot of song-writing going on amidst all of the touring you've been doing?
M. Shadows: We have songs written, but we never write during tour. it doesn't work for us. So we are gonna take 3 months off after this Mushroomhead/ Shadows Fall tour and finish up writing the album. The we plan on recording in April and releasing it in late July.
Andrew: If you've been writing, are you happy with the new music that is coming out of the process?
M. Shadows: We are very excited about the new stuff.
Andrew: Do you intend to release upcoming efforts through Hopeless Records? They are cool.
M. Shadows: Yeah, the next album will be through Hopeless Records.
Andrew: How has the label treated you guys so far? I know its become a lot easier for people to get their hands on the album, including myself.
M. Shadows: They have been great and they do the best they can. Thats all you can ask for.
Andrew: I was surprised to see that you're going on a tour with Mushroomhead (I don't know much about them, but I think they're somewhat well-known), are you excited to get your music across to a larger audience?
M. Shadows: Yeah- all the touring has paid off to get us some bigger tours. We are very excited about this upcoming tour. I think it should be great.
Andrew: The only downside will be all the 'haters' that will talk shit about this tour. Oh well, Shadows Fall rocks. That should be cool to play with them.
M. Shadows: We are so used to HATERS. I love it. All those kids can go fuck themselves, I wanna see those kids get off their ass and do something with their life instead of talking shit on bands that work their asses off.
Andrew: Since the band tries not to appeal to just one audience, have you noticed crowds at your shows change over the years? Have shows become more fun as you draw larger crowds?
M. Shadows: Yeah, I've noticed it's not cool to be "hardcore" and like us. "hardcore" kids don't like it when other people are at shows and we have alot of different people at our shows who come out. So it's turned away alot of the hardcore scene. I'm fine with that, if they don't want us to appeal to other people then this band isn't for them.
Andrew: I'd say that about covers the important stuff; on to other things. What have your favorite places to play live been lately?
M. Shadows: Detroit is great, Vegas is very cool lately. Also New jersey and Denver, CO. Those are all of our fav. places I think. And of course Orange County, CA.
Andrew: I think the Sevenfold was a part of Hellfest, how was it to be a part of that huge fest?
M. Shadows: It was cool, but being on Warped Tour this summer made Hellfest look pretty small. It was good to see friends from all over but playing wise it was OK.
Andrew: What are your favorite bands to play shows with?
M. Shadows: From Autumn to Ashes, Shadows Fall and probably Bleeding Through. I like playing with Eighteen Visions as well, fun guys to be around. Also Five Point 0 are great guys and fun to be around as well.
Andrew: Do you have a sweet tour van? I want details.
M. Shadows: I wouldn't call it sweet. We basicly don't throw trash anywhere except in the van, so its a fuckin mess.
Andrew: I can probably stop asking lame questions. And let you stop wasting your time on me.
Andrew: So lastly, do you have any hopes or expectations for the band's future? Big plans, tours, anything? Spill your guts.
M. Shadows: We are basicly going to keep working and write this next album, release it and see what comes of it. I think it will be big, but only time will tell.
Andrew: Okay, that's it. Thanks for answering questions, and hopefully some more people will get into your music for all this. Buh bye.
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