How Avenged Sevenfold traded complexity for a stripped-down, classic metal sound
In short: In 2013, Avenged Sevenfold released a record designed to blast heads off. Moving away from intricate layers, the band embraced a bare-bones, riff-oriented approach inspired by legends like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, resulting in a commercial powerhouse that dominated global charts.
Released on August 23, 2013, 'Hail to the King' marked a significant stylistic pivot for Avenged Sevenfold. Following the recording of 'Carry On' in August 2012, the band spent much of 2013 crafting a sound that vocalist M. Shadows described as more blues rock-influenced and reminiscent of classic metal icons. Rather than layering harmonies and melodies, the band intentionally restrained themselves to maintain a straightforward, 'badass' rock aesthetic.
The album served as a major transitional period for the group. It was the first release without the musical contributions of founding drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and it featured Arin Ilejay, who joined the band following Sullivan's passing. To honor their late predecessor, the band included the bonus track "St. James." Sonically, the record is characterized by a groove metal orientation and thrash metal elements, utilizing fast to mid-paced tempos and heavily distorted guitars to explore themes of war, corruption, and religious intolerance.
The project was a massive commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 with 159,000 copies sold in the United States during its first week. It also reached the top of the charts in the UK, Canada, Brazil, Finland, and Ireland. While critics like Dom Lawson praised the album for its vital, Sabbath-like grooves, others, such as Jason Lymangrover of AllMusic, suggested the band risked losing their unique identity by mimicking their influences so effectively.
The album's cultural footprint extended into gaming, with the single "Shepherd of Fire" serving as the theme for the 'Origins' map in Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Hail to the King (Avenged Sevenfold album)
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