How AVENGED SEVENFOLD changed metal forever (they were HATED)

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/finnmckenty

[@jamesgarner9619]

Will do!

[@mrthesandwich4965]

Music was always "ok" the vocals are modernized horrible mustaine levels of whiny annoying. Unlistenable

[@You-mr3lo]

I think A7x's contribution to today's metal is getting heavily overrated. It is a band that first had other influences and slowly appealed to a wider audience. Simply by making the music more accessible. That's not rocket science, that's just a success formula that you see with many bands, such as Bring Me The Horizon, Volbeat, In Flames and Gojira. You can also see this a generation back Metallica and Iron Maiden are both giants in the genre..they both remained this. Metallica has chosen the commercial path by appealing to a wider audience. Radio and other media boosted popularity. Maiden has stayed big with the same formula...Make heavy metal songs and put on a big show. You see that successors immediately invest enormously in stadium shows... look at Rammstein who suddenly belongs to the biggest metal bands in the genre.

[@You-mr3lo]

@@DiamondDM13 If I understand correctly you want me to compare two albums of Metallica with an album of A7x? The comparison I made wasn't so much related to the genre, but more to do with the switch from a harder, more exclusive genre to a more widely accessible genre. Looking at "Waking the Fallen" there is a clear difference in vocals than say "city of evil". The step to Hail to the King is also a more commercial step afterwards. Similar steps can be seen with Bring Me The Horizon "Count Your Blessing" which was not aimed at the general public at all, while "Thats the Spirit" appeals more to the Linkin Park audience. Metallica, together with Kreator, Anthrax, Destruction, Sodom, Slayer, Megadeth and Tankard, is seen as the founder of Thrash Metal. Seek a Destroy is a completely different genre than Nothing Else Matters. One is written for Thrash fans the other for the general public.

[@You-mr3lo]

@@DiamondDM13 well. With no band and no album you can actually find a copy. Melodie is a7x a lot like Metalcore and melodic death metal bands. Big names from the City of Evil era were COB, BFMV and Scar Symmetry. in terms of vocals, they opted for more clean, as many heavy and rock bands have. Can i name a sumulair album. Not directly. Its a mix of styles, like many other bands do.

[@craigjones3506]

Every single avenged album is DIFFERENT. They don't just hand the fans the same stuff. So I know, when I meet a A7X fan, they are open minded and generally cool cats.

[@EverFlash1000]

HELLO FELLOW OPENMINDED A7X FANS fr tho band that sound the same for 10 years is a massive skip for me

[@craigjones3506]

@@EverFlash1000calm down the with the caps guy

[@DiehardtNG10]

Facts. I didn’t like their new album at first but it did grew on me like everything else they have done.

[@galacticjuicedaddy1305]

They reinvent their sound on every album and still manage to sound undoubtedly like themselves

[@JZJ7777]

You’d get the same thing with me! We learn to appreciate their creativity.

[@fl3shmuncher]

Honestly the worst enemy of metal music is the community itself

[@PiHK4L]

yup it's been like that for a while

[@rockandnotroll9932]

Yes!

[@B_COOPER]

Don’t include everyone!

[@emfs9522]

Even calling A 7 sellout a metal band is a bit of stretch nowadays.

[@brunofernandes3298]

So true

[@TheNotoriousIAN]

I’m no musical expert but the thing that’s always made this band resonate with me is how they always simultaneously sound like past and the future

[@calebdaplaya363]

Totally get that

[@stewiebalew6446]

I like to say they create instant classics

[@malcolm9996]

City of Evil helped put Avenged on the path to being what I consider to be possibly the last BIG metal band.

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Exactly

[@ExcaliberHD]

I think this makes perfect sense because A7X’s sound is quite literally a mash up of just about every sub genre of metal up to their existence. They’re the perfect and final evolution of everything that makes all of metal so great

[@evacody1249]

Meanwhile in Europe...

[@ratio8098]

Bring me the horizon

[@belltolls1984]

@@ratio8098 LMFAO

[@randolphvanhook5829]

Growing up on Iron Maiden and Guns 'n' Roses, A7X was the perfect combination of the two in a modern package. As a guitarist, the sound of A7X was what I was imagining and wishing I could sound like when I was 18.

[@Eirik36]

@@ddubspdfor this album specifically, seize the day is a modern GnR song, the solos are straight of Slash. A lot of the dual leads are very much like maiden’s first two albums. Overall, their influences are kinda all over the place. A lot of Matt’s stage movements and whatnot are very much Axl, from the sway to the backwards step quasi running man, to the bandana he wears

[@asd3601]

@@ddubspd go listen to seize the day then november rain

[@AportesKike]

Yep I always thought of A7X as a mix of Hard Rock and Metalcore

[@joshforeman1648]

@@AportesKikenothing after waking the fallen was remotely metalcore

[@chardeemacdennis3852]

Agreed... I discovered them hearing bat country on the radio and the duel solo had me getting those iron maiden vibes

[@FullxCollapse]

I've been an A7X fan since Waking the Fallen and was definitely in the "this isn't Unholy Confessions! Play Second Heartbeat! Chapter Four! Reminissions!" crowd at their City of Evil and self titled shows. But as I got older and my tastes changed, really fell in love with this band again. It might even be unpopular to say in the wrong circles, but their latest album has some great tracks on it and represents the depth of their musicianship. GROOVE is the word that aptly describes to their direction from City of Evil to now. Listen to "Nobody." It's the groove that catches me on that song for sure.

[@darthsmolin]

Totally agree. I was also a little disappointed when City came out that it didn't sound more like Waking The Fallen, but came to appreciate City and their later output more as I got older. I appreciate them now as fully actualized artists that are making exactly the kind of art they want.

[@RIPJimmyA7X]

So well said, the groove of that riff on Easier has slowly sucked me in as well. They really are masters of feel and groove

[@adriansotolopez4849]

People hate this last album because they changed their song. Avenged is a band that evolves with each album they put on, they’ll never give you the same shit twice. It’s not my favorite album but it’s a great album nonetheless.

[@nolandavis2927]

I feel Like Avenged Sevenfold Is Nu-metal/Metalcore band

[@SuperRedNovaDragon]

People said that about Hail to the King... i love hail to the king that classic 80's metal feel is great. I grew up listening to Metallica and Slipknot cause of my dad. I was like 12 when I heard City of Evil, it has so many memories for me.

[@EfrainQuezada]

I had no idea avenged sevenfold had this many people hating on them. I first heard them on need for speed most wanted 2005, started following them and put them on my music playlists on my itunes, but seeing how their old fans hated their new stuff makes me feel bad for them, most were unwilling to follow them through the growing process.

[@chadhenry961]

That’s where I first heard them too’ blinded by chains

[@maddoxhallums4869]

Not just their fans, they’re probably one of the most hated bands in general too

[@RIPJimmyA7X]

When you get big enough in metal you always have those people come out of the woodwork to hate on you

[@edschobs5204]

Dude that’s where I first heard them…sick 🤣🤣

[@CastmanDan]

Same. It was a 1-2 punch, first in Need for Speed, then Guitar Hero 2. I thought "oh it is this band again? I should look up what else they have". Too bad the PS2 era with lots of rock music in videogame soundtracks is gone. Need for Speed and Burnout especially

[@doctajuice]

The 2 panned guitars going back and forth at the end of sidewinder is one of the coolest things I've heard in any song. On headphones it's an unreal experience

[@mastod0n1]

Fun fact: one of those guitar tracks is played by Synyster Gates' father, Brian Haner

[@jasonvandrese2581]

Sidewinder is such an awesome song!

[@aaronhollow1814]

@@mastod0n1pretty wholesome

[@ThomasCpt]

Personally, I believe having A7X songs being used in video games definitely helped them. My first encounter with the group was playing "Beast and the Harlot" in Guitar Hero 2, which I really appreciated. And later, when I heard "Bat Country" in SSX On Tour, that's when I knew I was hooked!

[@leandrometfan]

I discovered them by a guitar hero game too, a pirated version which had Afterlife in 2009.

[@wallaceshawn-zk8iw]

Bat Country was in Saints Row 2

[@aidana4033]

It’s true my love for metal grew when I found Chapter Four on Madden 04 and Bat Country on NHL 06

[@alborland5675]

Not Ready To Die is a goddamn sick song from CoD zombie mode.

[@CatholicWithaBiblePodcast]

I never would have thought to call them a progressive band until recently, but now in retrospect... YEAH.

[@GMan56M]

Thinking of City of Evil as a story/concept album made it make sense for me. Very reminiscent of like a Dream Theater concept album. It holds up so well!

[@CherryWallflower]

As a middle schooler who grew up watching MTV, a7x was my first introduction to metal and I was so mesmerized. It was so different from what was being played on MTV and I didn't grow up in a household that was big on rock. I always revisit this album every few years and fall in love with it more and more each time! I can listen to it from start to finish with no skips every time.

[@byronbowler]

City of evil is one of my all-time favourite albums. This album and ascendancy from trivium were huge for me as a young guitar player

[@KarateDungeon]

Both are in Drop D... ahhh simpler times

[@yellowdog2181]

Didn’t M Shadows help Matt Heafy when he blew out his voice ?

[@rpmartin8650]

Ahhh yes. Both top 5 albums for me! Nice taste. 😅

[@TheSaintedOne]

I have two opinions to express: Allowing up-and-coming bands to buy ad time on your channel is SO commendable. Very cool! Every note of that self-titled A7X album is committed to my memory like no other album. Front to back. Of the three, it's the best.

[@tonysoprano12345]

Avenged Sevenfold is one of the greatest bands of all time. I remember how 'groundbreaking' it was to me at the age of 17 that they were on TRL.

[@robertsteinberger5667]

but correct me if i am wrong but i know on top of my head 200 metalbands or metalcore bands with better discographies

[@102ndsmirnov7]

@@robertsteinberger5667 Ye, you're wrong lol

[@robertsteinberger5667]

@@102ndsmirnov7 ok, that was very convincing

[@edwardmooneyhan1928]

The drum department at Guitar Center had a Warped Tour DVD on the TV and I asked the employee who this band was, and he said Avenged Sevenfold. Went to Circuit City and bought both albums they had out in 2003. Been a fan ever since.

[@erixwithanx]

City of Evil is still a killer record. Loved it when it came out, love it today.

[@Lurtz14301]

100%

[@falle22]

Ever since I first heard City of Evil when I was a kid, A7X and especially this album has been my absolute favourites of all time! Thank you for making it justice!

[@thetallgrass]

City of Evil was my first metal album, heard it for the first time in middle school and played it on repeat while binge-playing Runescape. The album artwork blew my mind and the sound fit so perfectly into the Plague City and Underground Pass area of RS I was gaming through. It was all so sick.

[@Mrbuttdart17]

Ahh what a time to be alive those days were. A7X, RS, and no responsibilities lol.

[@mastod0n1]

Same here, except I was listening to City of Evil on repeat while playing Majora's Mask for the first time. Trashed and Scattered is forever linked in my mind with the water temple in that game

[@abdultaylor6571]

I have been a fan since City of Evil. They have so many bangers. I think their ballads are fire! Coming Home, Save Me, Acid Rain, etc In my humble opinion, The Stage is their finest work. Adding Brooks was a master stroke.

[@alexgrover7693]

A7X always had a huge progressive element to their sound. I think people are finally realizing that, looking back through their body of work.

[@Godzillafan1980]

LOL circuit city😂😂😂

[@irishspagetti6565]

Yeah they mixing classic heavy metal and some hard rock with prog and bad religion kind of punk and some hardcore, they're a band that wears their influences alot on their sleeves but still sounds very much like their own sound

[@2ndlife1]

A7x was the band that really changed how my band was writing music. We were never anywhere close to them but how they structured their songs was very influential in how we began to write. Ah, the good ol days!

[@megaklok]

Used to despise Avenged Sevenfold. Now they're one of the best metal bands ever. Love how life has its way of maturing and evolving.🤘🎸🔥

[@-whiskey-4134]

I’m entering my 30’s and I still jam to A7X, no shame. They’re fun to listen to and they weren’t simply a copy paste band. Say what you want about them, they construct some really good songs. Idk how many times I’ve caught myself humming along to the solo’s. Dont get me wrong, I like different subgenres, but I still like variety. If there’s a band that sounds exactly like a band that came out before them, I’m just going to listen to the original people. Like, we have that already, give me something new.

[@TheSteFERN]

I was in the 7th grade when city of evil dropped, me and friends were obsessed but always got hate from “true metal heads” glad to see they are back with a new album and getting all the love.

[@jmillz080]

I had the privilege of studying under MudRock during my music production and recording course in college and I learned so much valuable information from him such as signal routing, microphone choice and placement, studio etiquette, and so much more. I even learned how to repair electronics from him and I have grown that skill into a full career. Getting to sing through some of the microphones that were used on WtF and CoE was just the cherry on top.

[@Vampyreheathen]

City of Evil --> Nightmare alone is a great run. Add Waking the Fallen to that and you realize just how awesome and versatile the band has been.

[@breakout8904]

Life is but a Dream shows this even more. Id say all the songs took me 5 listens to understand on average, but god damn if it isn't worth it I do not know what is. We love you is probably my favorite song of all time now.

[@venomsnekko]

City of Evil was instrumental in shaping my taste for heavy metal and Sevenfold is still one of my favourite bands to this day. I'll remember hearing Blinded In Chains on Need For Speed: Most Wanted and Beast and the Harlot in Burnout: Revenge, until I die.

[@ZackSeifMusic]

I'm noticing quite a few YT channels take local/smaller bands as sponsors and I think that's amazing! Podcasts have been doing it for years and it's nice to hear about new artists.

[@ThunderousCaption]

damn i smiled watching this whole video words can't described how much this band shaped the music i listen to and create ... fucking shoutout to these guys forreal they never fail even if i dont like what put out

[@quelolol]

Same. Big smiles

[@wyllb]

City of Evil was just one of those albums you had to have in the mid 2000s. I remember kids who didn't like metal loving BatH and blasting it in their cars. I haven't like the bands new material since Hail to the King, but CoE & The White Album are comfort food for my ears. Also, love the Gold Souls recommendation! Can't wait to check them out.

[@kenobibryant1637]

Honestly, when I bought this album, I was hoping for more screaming. But the songs were super catchy and well produced. I couldn't help but love it!

[@bx3054]

A7X made me love metal and appreciate drummers.

[@rightinthedome9973]

City of evil was the first album i ever purchased a physical copy of. Its amazing

[@Scott_53110]

I agree with your assessment that city of evil through nightmare basically being untouchable. I saw them on their first show back after the rev passed. They jumped on two random mayhem fest dates as a 5th MainStage act, and I was fortunate enough to be at one of those dates. Really special experience seeing them at that time.

[@Cool_and_whatever]

Playing beast and the harlot on guitar hero 2 is how I discovered and fell in love with them

[@rudolphmulder]

So they changed from screaming (which was great) to singing in a subtle way, and it helped inspire the melodic GTR style we all love. I like the way you present your videos Fin. Please do Born of Osiris.

[@DrBossSauce]

City of evil is one of my favorite albums of all time. I remember in high school when it came out. Around 10 people I knew picked up guitar and started learning every single a7x song.

[@AvaaSlays_Swiftie]

They’re great for finger training even if you dont like them.

[@SpiritualMain99]

Nobody writes music like avenged sevenfold, that’s why they’re my favorite band. Their music is godly

[@agilariadiasmoaji8523]

my personal rank from their discography is 1. city of evil 2. waking the fallen 3. the stage yes, and i agree that this is their best work and its pretty untouchable

[@gyiyg555]

Nice to see The Stage getting love like this. Higher is definitely my favorite song from the album.

[@jmarth523]

Higher is easily my favorite on that album. The drums are so good

[@Number2PIG]

@@gyiyg555 agreed. The Stage is one of their best. After the Rev passed, I had a hard time getting into their new projects. The drumming was what made the band interesting for me. I wasn't sold on Brooks til I heard Sunny Disposition. My personal favorite off that album.

[@Gremlack13]

Props to you for having bands able to sponsor your videos for exposure. And props to the bands for being willing to sell themselves to a bigger audience in such ways. I love the tinny, recorded in a 55 gallon drum sound of the bass in eyes on fire. Their advertising worked, and because of that bass sound I will check out gold souls to learn more about them.

[@GoldSoulsOfficial]

Haha, love that bass description 😂 thanks for checking us out 🫡

[@SynysterEskimo]

City of Evil and their self titled album are some of my favorite albums of all time. They’re the band that really got me in to metal and rock music

[@felipe1elicer]

Totally agree, guitars where in the lowest point and they put the instrument back in the mainstream. Those three album run it's awesome and The Rev not being in the creative process is palpable when you listen what followed that run. great video!

[@okisetiawan7475]

The quality of their music is always improving, vocal difficulties, Instrument, Lyrics, Music videos, and all aspects are always improving, only the arrangements and sound designs they choose are very different from most bands, And because they have the image of a metal/rock band, They will always be compared to rock bands in general

[@Joe_Mutombo]

First time I heard Bat Country was on the Madden 06 soundtrack and I was hooked instantly

[@morganc.m1830]

I love that you play the song after saying the song name or the album. This really helps compare the albums when I'm listening to the videos. I'm autistic and have pictures of characters that I feel are alive, so before listening to a band I like listening to these videos to have him listen to it and explain certain things about the band. I wish you did it more, like after mentioning critical acclaim and scream.

[@illxs]

Being a metalhead for 30 years, I got to say the eyeliner put me off. Then I heard Bat Country and I was floored, they were the last band I expected to bring the speed & insane guitars back, in a age where "real" metal was suffering. After that I think they got in so many places musically, that any real music fan has to find astonishing. These guys are the real deal, incredible musicians that put music expression first and every album is a happy surprise filled with great ideas and masterful compositions!

[@ODan-tru]

Every album of theirs were a masterpiece for me, they're the most diverse band i've listened to since the 2000's. Also why do I never hear people talk about Sidewinder? that song is fucken awesome and showed exactly how different and diverse they were back then.

[@jdbb3gotskills]

If it wasn’t for Guitar Hero 2 I wouldn’t have found A7X as soon I did. They are also one of the band that got me more and more into metal.

[@jeffprice7474]

I just love metal They have always been metal no matter what changes they have made even today with Life Is But A Dream I love Avenged Sevenfold

[@davidowens2067]

Unholy Confessions is what got me into A7x when I was 20. City of Evil has become a Metal classic IMO.

[@ZiggyValentine]

That run from 2003-2007 brings back so many good memories. 3 of my all time favorite albums. Saw them for the first time at my first Warped Tour in 2005, then got to see them randomly show up and surprise everyone two years later, Warped 2007. Then was at the Live in the LBC show for Taste of Chaos, which was so much fun. So many great memories tied to this band. I don’t really like the direction they took after the Rev passed, but I will always check out their new music and I’m happy for them doing what they want to do.

[@evilldead6824]

Just wanted to say thanks for ur channels I'm in my 40s right on the cusp of Gen X and Millennial. I can say that I went down the Strokes pass in music after grunge. and totally dismissed pop punk and the CORE music styles. Never could bring myself to go full hipster but I did dabble. But now in my old age I am experiencing all the new/old music that I did like but never admitted lol. The late 90s and 2000s was such a rich garden of music, but thanks to KZbin I'm able to give a lot of music I dismissed a chance and honestly it just make me happy. I have so many pop punk and CORE music and even NU metal playlists now. Its just plain fun THANK YOU!

[@running.yetiii]

Saw them life multiple times in different "states" of their career and even I wont fully commit on the "he blew out his voice", I must admit that the vocal performance took a noticeable slope as time went on.

[@jasons2210]

Madden 2004 with Chapter Four is where I first heard A7X and then later Guitar Hero. I didnt really care for the band because my older brother didnt like them and like a younger sibling typically does, I just followed his interests. Fast forward to today and Avenged Sevenfold is easily one of my top 5 bands. I honestly love when bands take a risk and change up their sound.

[@LitithsClaptrap]

They were one of my first loves in music. Their self-titled album is just so diverse, and Nightmare I had on repeat SO many times when it came out. And if you have never seen them live, I would STRONGLY advise you go see them live. It's such an amazing experience every time.

[@pattobyo]

Gold Souls sounds pretty cool! Gonna check them out

[@GoldSoulsOfficial]

Thank you! 🙏

[@kingchuckfinley]

The Rev’s singing has always been my favorite part. I fell off hard after he died, but honestly the new album I’ve been interested in since then.

[@moorbish]

Sidewinder is the song that really takes me back

[@terriblecertainity]

tried multiple times to get into them, DESPISE the vocals. So this video helped me understand them better. Thanks for that!

[@jonnylawless6797]

They released the tippy-top peak of melodic metalcore and then went butt rock before anyone else did it. Absolute fucking respect. I loved every album up to Nightmare, I kinda fell off and started listening to harder stuff but I always will have Sounding The Seventh Trumpet and Waking The Fallen in my metalcore playlists.

[@weldingrockandroll2197]

Thats what i love about this band is theyre always trying something new. They put the integridy of their music above anything else.

[@chesterlsy]

City of Evil was the reason I picked up guitar. I wanted to play those cool riffs so bad. And my friends too. I remember the first thing I tried to learn when I got my first guitar was the intro riff of Burn it Down.

[@QuittyWap]

dude i love that your style of dress has not changed one bit from the metal inquisition/sywh days. flat brim and the layered colors.classics lets go. been so cool following you all these years, youve turned me on to so much good music (depressed teenager is still one of my faves, we exchanged emails when he was living in NJ trying to set a gig up and his all-caps typing style is one of the funniest ive ever seen). it was always great chatting with you, thanks for keeping this up. the range of stuff you cover is so great. cheers and well wishes my guy!

[@Triznac52]

I was so happy to hear a young band absolutely come out crushing it with City of Evil. Got to see them live too which was straight up badass! A crowd of over 100,000 was going at it, but how could you not with talent like that. Plus they sounded amazing live!

[@Cedezslayer]

I grew up on the City of Evil album. Was 13 when it came out 🤘🏼remember playing that album over and over again. 2024 still playing that album.

[@TheFlowerboy806]

Love that this is a video showing so much love to my favorite album of all time!

[@alexconner3958]

City of Evil is one of my favorite albums of all time. I love it bc it is like a love letter to classic rock and roll standards while incorporating the depth of a well thought out progressive metal album. They achieved technicality while still maintaining musicality and with top notch production. All the while, keeping that "it" factor of being larger than life rock stars. But again, you can see why that stuff didnt translate that well to arenas, and why they leaned more into simpler rock riffs as they started playing bigger and bigger stages.

[@bruvluvuni4791]

Wow, this is the first video I’ve seen being sponsert by a band and I love it! Just checked them out

[@GoldSoulsOfficial]

Thank you for listening 🙏✨

[@fastfiddler1625]

It's funny how they rejuvenated the guitar scene, but for me, it was The Rev and his drumming that inspired me to want to be a drummer.

[@Cowman37]

Much like Metallica, A7X was a huge gateway band for a lot of kids getting into metal. I went to see Everytime I Die and Beartooth a few years ago and in between sets, Bat country came on. Every single person in the venue started singing along.

[@Zimx02]

The actual run is Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, Waking the Fallen, and City of Evil. They kind of lost the plot with their self-titled. I remember that inside the Self-Titled album cd case, Hopeless Records had a little flyer for The Human Abstract's Nocturne, and it had me thinking that that was the album that should have been instead. I'm very grateful for that lead.

[@AvaaSlays_Swiftie]

Im 35. I remember when city of evil came out i got a shirt and album right away. The next day more than half my friends were no longer fans. They wanted nothing but screaming but man i loved that album so much. Then randomly this one student walks past who i didnt talk to much and goes dude city of evil is their best album so far and glad to see people with wider taste in music. Found out he was in the band and he appreciated the music of city of evil more than people chasing a trend.

[@mdr3602]

That last song "eyes on fire" is a cover. It's a song by Blue Foundation. Great ass song, and the rock sound really gives it something new.

[@Fix_em_jets]

One of the sickest covers I’ve ever seen from a band was these guys with “Mouth for War” with Vinny playing drums.. wow

[@TheMuckrakersli]

NOFX inspired me to pick up an instrument, so knowing there was a Avenged Sevenfold x NOFX pipeline blew my mind years ago. Then they redid Linoleum with Avenged. Crazy finding out what some peoples' roots are.

[@גלבר-און-ד7פ]

Excellent video, mate. City of Evil is and forever will be my favorite A7X album. I remember when I ran into "Blinded in Chains" while playing Need for Speed - Most Wanted. Still my favorite A7X song. They are continuously changing and trying new things and breaking glass ceilings no matter how much bad feedback they can get from fans and though their latest material is not my favorite I appreciate them so much as musicians and artists. Long live Avenged Sevenfold!

[@trustworthydan]

Yeah this new album is iffy... But I'll still support them no matter what, the new stuff might inspire some young mind to start playing music.

[@gagadreams]

Weird how I've been into metal for 30 years but never got into them at all until recently, love their new stuff and gotta go listen to City of Evil now!✌️

[@Goon94]

Its funny you released a video about them today. I heard their song Nobody a few times last week and really started to dig it. Decided to look up this "New" band and found out they have been around since 1999! I've never heard of them before but I am really liking the songs I've checked out so far. Sometimes "New to Me" bands are great because they have a whole body of work already done for me to enjoy.

[@LilPrezzy36]

City if Evil is still my favorite album ever. With as popular as it is, I still believe it's underrated as hell!!

[@sjohn8729]

Blinded in Chains was the first song i heard from the video game need for speed underground, im from australia so at the time i was only able to find out about them first through a magazine i had seen them in and was interested by there look once i heard there song i went to the store and found City of Evil album and just listened to it constantly. self titled is my favourite album and i have a tattoo of one of there pictures from that album but i love all there albums. my mum is now a fan of them which is kind of mixed for me cause like its cool that she knows and likes them but at the same time it feels personal to me i guess cause they got me through a lot of things.

[@dariancline4193]

We are the same exact age, & I can relate to your content soooo well! Keep it up, brother!!

[@clockworkmansion1855]

I was one of those fans that stopped listening when M stopped screaming. STST and WTF defined high school for me. I listened to the new album and really liked it, it felt refreshing to listen to them again, even though the music is obviously different. Been blasting those first two albums again, I like them even more now than I did 15 years ago. Gonna have to check out the five albums I skipped. A7X rocks!

[@mattyboyb523]

Thanks man, awesome video. My wife and I first real date was an A7X concert in Hershey and we’ve always disagreed on the official HUGE direction change and beginning of this fantastic run by A7X. She says the self titled album, I say City of Evil. Hahahaha thank you I win again !!

[@IronWolf277]

My intro to A7X was Bat Country on the Radio, and then i picked up the "City of Evil" CD. It blew my mind! it was very different from anything i had in my Rock music collection! Loved all the longer songs mix of melodic and screaming vocals and Guitar solos!

[@84bandit1]

This album is one of those that you can throw on during an hours long patrol, riding around the middle east, and track time by the progession through the album. it kept me awake through a lot of long movements.

[@OnyxSkiesXIX]

I like this format of focusing on a single album and how it changed a band/the scene.

[@MrMaitaisky25]

This is my favorite video you’ve put out. Nice job Finn

[@MrDeth777]

Since 2006, I have found Bat country on MySpace... It just changed my life and my music taste forever, it was the perfect band for me in all ways...

[@JaimesTM3]

Their last two albums have been their best. Brooks continues to amaze me.

[@sycofya1677]

Life is but a dream and diamonds in the rough?

[@alex345957]

@@sycofya1677diamonds in the rough really came out after the white album, it was just never on streaming

[@chadhenry961]

Those last two albums were their wierdest and most experimental. You must like that side of avenged sevenfold most

[@JZJ7777]

@@sycofya1677 DITR isn’t really an album. It was just a rerelease of a bunch of their old songs.

[@sycofya1677]

@@JZJ7777 thats why i was asking to which 2 albums he was referring to

[@napesdrk1174]

City of evil was the best album since And Justice.... love this version of A7x, RIP Rev

[@hunterw4210]

City of Evil was my gateway drug. Bat country was on my madden psp game when I was a kid. I looked up the rest of the album, and now I go to knocked loose shows and fight invisible ninjas in my late 20s. I got to see A7X at a really small venue in Houston after a festival they headlined got rained out. They played for like 400 people for completely free. It was life changing.

[@alchxmyy]

synyster gates one of the great guitarists of the modern age for sure. completely changed the game and introduced very technical riffs, solos and just overall being badass playing guitar. could you maybe cover bullet for my valentine next?

[@stephen9302]

Amazing band. Even their brand new album is great. That 360 VR video for "We love you" is AWESOME!!

[@Shellybird123]

Awesome video thank you for posting!

[@stephencox4509]

Gold Soul made a genius decision having you plug them on your show. Not my type of music but that was shrewd advertising and the bass sound on the 2nd clip is really good. Gotta respect their marketing.

[@brianbowles6544]

One thing that wasn't mentioned in helping to really get City of Evil going big time was the inclusion of Bat Country on the soundtrack of Madden 06 a little over two months after the album was released. In addition to the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises, the EA Sports video games did an incredible job of introducing people to bands of every genre and sub-genre of rock and metal that I don't think has been really appreciated. Madden 2003-2007 was probably the heyday of great bands and songs on the soundtracks. In addition to A7X, Madden included songs from the likes of AFI, Thrice, blink-182, Yellowcard, Bullet For My Valentine, Disturbed, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, Atreyu, Taking Back Sunday, Rise Against, and a ton of others. This helped expose them to new audiences that they might not otherwise have reached and definitely helped get a lot of young kids break into the rock and metal music scene.

[@zanepennington2999]

When I was a sophmore in high school my best friend at the time gave me their self titled album for a birthday present. I was the weird guy with a walkman CD. I looked at the CD and was like what the hell is this? At this time I was super into classic metal bands modern metal was unknown to me. I pop it in and critical acclaim comes on and I looked at her and was like what the fuck did you give me? She said just keep listening as soon as the guitars started playing and I heard blast beats I was floored. From that point I was hooked forever. Two years later I saw them for their Nighmare tour in Auburn, WA. I'm not into their newer music but they will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@HaroldsLastChance]

I got to take drum lessons from the Rev's (RIP) childhood drum teacher. I had no idea and walked into this older lady's drum room, and she had a vault of avenged sevenfold stuff all over. It was a wild experience.

[@Abeuss]

I was in high school learning to play guitar when city of evil was getting radio time. I was blown away with the harmonized duets. I wanted to play that solo. I think I can do it now.