Song Of The Week: 8/2/15

Song: "Requiem"

Artist: Avenged Sevenfold

Album: "Hail To The King"

Year: 2013

Place Of Origin: Huntington Beach, California

Years Active: 1999-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

If you read the Roman Catholic Church's definition for "requiem", it reads "a Mass for the repose of the souls of the dead". I think that's where Avenged Sevenfold is going with this song. It really creates an image of being in hell, your soul being tortured and tormented and you're begging for forgiveness and a savior to rescue your soul from this fiery pit of damnnation. Though Avenged Sevenfold is not a religious band, "Requiem" has religious overtones, especially in it's description of hell.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD'S DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2001 - "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet" (Hopeless Records)
2003 - "Waking The Fallen" (Hopeless Records)
2005 - "City Of Evil" (Warner Bros. Records)
2007 - "Avenged Sevenfold" (Warner Bros. Records)
2008 - "Live In The LBC & Diamonds In The Rough" (Warner Bros. Records)
2010 - "Nightmare" (Warner Bros. Records)
2013 - "Hail To The King" (Warner Bros. Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF AVENGED SEVENFOLD:

Avenged Sevenfold formed as a band back in 1999 when all the members were still in high school. After putting together a few demos, they released their debut album in 2001. Their first two albums saw the band incorporate a metalcore style, packed with screaming vocals and fast paced riffs. When the band signed on with major label Warner Bros., they decided it was time for a stylistic change. Vocalist M Shadows worked with a vocal coach to improve his tone and gone were the gutteral screams from their first two albums. This change was for the better in my opinion. The band's 2005 release, "City Of Evil", was the album that defined who they were as a band. Thanks to the hit singles "Bat Country" and "Beast And The Harlot", this album eventually achieved platinum status, making it Avenged Sevenfold's most successful record to date. The band's style shifted to a more heavy metal/hard rock sound that mirrored some of their major influences such as Black Sabbath, Pantera, Iron Maiden and Guns N' Roses. While their next few albums didn't sell as well as "City Of Evil", 2010's "Nightmare" as well as 20l3's "Hail To The King" both debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts. Avenged Sevenfold is one of those unique metal outfits that can fit right in on an Ozzfest tour, as well as on the more punk infused Vans Warper Tour, much like contemporary bands such as Bullet For My Valentine, Atreyu and Blessthefall. The harmonizing dual guitar attack of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance draw comparisons to that of metal legends Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Currently, M Shadows has confirmed that the band is to continue working on new material in 2015 for a follow up to "Hail To The King" which should be released some time in 2016.

TEN AVENGED SEVENFOLD SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Bat Country
2. Afterlife
3. Dear God
4. Unholy Confessions
5. Beast And The Harlot
6. Shepherd Of Fire
7. Hail To The King
8. Welcome To The Family
9. Almost Easy
10. Nightmare