Avenged Sevenfold facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold in 2016. From left to right: M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, Johnny Christ, Synyster Gates, and Brooks Wackerman
Background information
Also known as	A7X
Origin	Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Genres	Heavy metal progressive metal alternative metal hard rock metalcore (early)
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Good Life Hopeless Warner Capitol
Members	M. Shadows Zacky Vengeance Synyster Gates Johnny Christ Brooks Wackerman
Past members	Matt Wendt Justin Sane Dameon Ash The Rev Arin Ilejay

Avenged Sevenfold (often called A7X) is an American heavy metal band. They started in 1999 in Huntington Beach, California. The band is known for its changing rock sound. They also use cool and dramatic pictures on their album covers.

The current members are M. Shadows (singer), Zacky Vengeance (rhythm guitar), Synyster Gates (lead guitar), Johnny Christ (bass), and Brooks Wackerman (drums).

Avenged Sevenfold has released seven studio albums. They have sold over 8 million albums around the world. Many of their albums have won awards, including five platinum awards in the U.S. They even made four songs for the Call of Duty: Black Ops video game series. These songs were put together on an album called Black Reign in 2018. The band was also ranked No. 47 on Loudwire's list of the Top 50 Metal Bands of All Time.

Band History

Avenged Sevenfold began in 1999 in Huntington Beach, California. The first members were Matt Sanders, James Sullivan, Zachary Baker, and Matt Wendt. Their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, had a metalcore sound. They continued this style with their second album, Waking the Fallen.

However, their music changed with their third album, City of Evil. This was their first album with a big record label. It moved towards a more classic heavy metal sound. The band kept trying new sounds with their next album, Avenged Sevenfold. They became very popular.

Sadly, their founding drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, passed away in 2009. Even after this, Avenged Sevenfold kept going. Mike Portnoy, a drummer from Dream Theater, helped them. They released their fifth album, Nightmare, in 2010. This album was a huge success. It became their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2011, drummer Arin Ilejay joined the band for tours and recording. Their sixth album, Hail to the King, came out in 2013. It was the only album with Ilejay as drummer. This album had a heavy metal and hard rock style. It was made to honor the bands that influenced them. Hail to the King also reached number one on the Billboard 200. It topped charts in the UK, Finland, Brazil, Canada, and Ireland too.

Ilejay left the band in late 2014. Brooks Wackerman, a former drummer from Bad Religion, took his place. This change was announced in 2015. The band then surprised everyone by releasing their seventh album, The Stage, in October 2016. It reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. The Stage was their first concept album. It also showed a new style for the band, moving towards progressive metal. Their eighth album, Life Is but a Dream..., was released in June 2023. It was a very experimental record.

Music Style and Influences

Avenged Sevenfold in 2011

Avenged Sevenfold's music style has changed a lot over the years. They have been described using many different music types. These include heavy metal, alternative metal, hard rock, and progressive metal. Their album The Stage is a good example of their progressive metal sound.

When they first started, their style was mostly metalcore. Their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, was mostly metalcore. But it also had songs like "Streets" which sounded like punk rock. "Warmness on the Soul" was a piano ballad. On Waking the Fallen, they still played metalcore. But they added more clean singing. They moved a bit closer to metal and less like hardcore.

On their third album, City of Evil, they stopped playing metalcore. They created a sound that was more like hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive metal. Their self-titled album, Avenged Sevenfold, tried even more different music styles. For example, "Dear God" has a country feel. "A Little Piece of Heaven" sounds like a Broadway show tune. It uses lots of brass and orchestra instruments.

Their album Nightmare also had new sounds. It included a piano ballad called "Fiction." "Save Me" was a progressive metal song. "God Hates Us" had a heavy metal sound with strong vocals. The band's sixth album, Hail to the King, had a more classic metal sound. It focused on strong guitar riffs. On their seventh album, The Stage, they explored progressive metal even more. They mixed it with parts of thrash metal. Their eighth album, Life Is but a Dream..., has an avant-garde metal sound. This means it's very experimental.

Some people have said Avenged Sevenfold is "not metal enough." M. Shadows, the singer, responded to this. He said they make music because they love it. They don't make it just to fit into a certain label like "metal band."

Members of Avenged Sevenfold have said many bands influenced them. These include In Flames, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Slayer, Dream Theater, Pantera, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin.

Band Members

Timeline

Albums Released

Studio albums

• Sounding the Seventh Trumpet (2001)
• Waking the Fallen (2003)
• City of Evil (2005)
• Avenged Sevenfold (2007)
• Nightmare (2010)
• Hail to the King (2013)
• The Stage (2016)
• Life Is But a Dream... (2023)

Awards and Recognitions

Images for kids

• 

  The band performing in 2008

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  Avenged Sevenfold performing at the Sonisphere Festival on August 2, 2009. This was The Rev's final show with the band before his death.

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  Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates live in Norway in 2011

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  M. Shadows at Rock im Park, Germany, 2014

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  Avenged Sevenfold on stage in Italy, 2017

See also

In Spanish: Avenged Sevenfold para niños