Hail To The Kings: The Evolution Of Avenged Sevenfold
Friday, 29 November 2013
Written by Heather McDaid
This has been Avenged Sevenfold’s year, and they’re not done yet. Whether we’re talking their upcoming UK tour, which kicks off on November 30 and features a date at Wembley Arena, the recent announcement of their headline slot at Download Festival or the fact that their latest album, 'Hail To The King', snagged the #1 spot on album charts around the world, their years of work seem to have come to fruition.
What finer time, then, to look back at the stops along the way that shaped the band into the chart-topping arena behemoth they are today.
Unholy Confessions
Though their 2001 debut, 'Sounding The Seventh Trumpet', featured some of their heaviest work, it was 2003's 'Waking The Fallen' that provided a breakthrough. Cleaner vocally, it possessed a number of songs that would become staples of their live set, none more so than Unholy Confessions. From that brooding intro to the duelling guitars, there’s little to fault.
Beast and the Harlot
Fast forward to 2005 and the band cleaned up their act again for ‘City Of Evil’. With this record they settled into their own sound after two albums of searching, and they were having fun with it. Beast And The Harlot hooks the listener immediately with a catchy chorus and sleek guitar work to boot. In the year that followed they were propelled to international success, with appearances at Ozzfest, Warped Tour and their own Cities of Evil Tour accompanied by an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist - ahead of Panic! At The Disco, Angels & Airwaves, Rihanna, James Blunt and Chris Brown.
A Little Piece of Heaven
Though their self-titled album didn't quite match up to its predecessor in the eyes of fans and critics alike, it did feature some of Avenged Sevenfold’s more experimental work. With a country influence present, and even a dash of Tim Burton theatricality, it was ambitious, even if it misfired. Argue until you're blue in the face about the metaphorical meaning of A Little Piece Of Heaven, but it remains a song that blends their orchestral leanings and a strong storytelling element.
Nightmare
The death of the band’s drummer and childhood friend Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan, and its effect on Avenged Sevenfold, has been well documented. 'Nightmare' saw them do what many felt impossible: complete the album they had started together and continue on as a band. Though some songs have the Rev's input, the concept is at times thrown to the wind to pay tribute to their brother. A difficult record to complete, but a mature piece of work, ‘Nightmare’ found the band playing their largest tours to date - with Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy behind the kit - and continuing their journey while keeping Jimmy central to everything they do.
Hail To The King
It may have taken three years to arrive, but 'Hail To The King' saw Avenged Sevenfold, and new drummer Arin Ilejay, strip their sound back to basics. The influences here are clear: Maiden, Metallica, Sabbath - take your pick. Solidifying their position as one of the genre’s biggest names, they put metal at #1 across the globe. They show no sign of slowing down.
Sat November 30 2013 - MANCHESTER Phones 4u Arena
Sun December 01 2013 - LONDON Wembley Arena
Tue December 03 2013 - DUBLIN The O2
Thu December 05 2013 - BIRMINGHAM LG Arena
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