ARTIST

Avenged Sevenfold

Formed in the summer of 1999 in Huntington Beach, California, Avenged Sevenfold was still in high school when it embarked on its musical career. The name is based on the Biblical story of God's wrath upon Cain for killing his brother Abel. In the book of Genesis, it says, "And the Lord said ... 'Therefore whoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.'" There's nothing religious about the band save for the mock metal names of the band members -- vocalist M. Shadows, guitarists Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates, drummer The Reverend, and bassist Johnny Christ.

The band produced its first full-length album "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet," when the members were 18 years old (it was preceded by the EP "Warmness on the Soul"). On its sophomore effort for Hopeless Records, "Waking the Fallen," Avenged Sevenfold brings forth punk, metal, and pop sensibilities. However they eschew the "rules" of the game. Instead of 2- to 3-minute songs, they penned 6- to 7-minute epics for the 12-song album.

"We take a lot of pride in that, too. We all have so many ideas. If there's nothing we feel that's really boring us, we don't feel the need to trim them down," Vengeance has said. "The reason 'I Won't See you Tonight -- Part 1' is such a long song is because we felt really good about the parts."

The band has spent ample time on the road, spreading the mission of A7X, as they call themselves. They've toured with Shadows Fall, Mushroomhead, and spent the summer of 2003 on the Warped Tour.

Written by Christina Fuoco, All Music Guide