Avenged Sevenfold is a music group that was originally heavy metal. Later, this group formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1999 turned the flow into pop. The personnel consists of M. Shadows (vocals), Synyster Gates (lead guitar), Zacky Vengeance (guitar), Johnny Christ (bass), and The Reverend (drums). As well as two former personnel Dameon Ash and Justin Sane who have left the group.
The band continued to explore new sounds by releasing a titled Avenged Sevenfold and enjoying continued mainstream success until finally on December 28, 2009, Avenged Sevenfold grieved. The drummer, The Reverend or real name James Owen Sullivan died.
He was found lifeless at his home, Huntington Beach area. Based on the results of the autopsy, Sullivan was pronounced dead because of heart disease and the combined impact of drugs and alcohol on his body in 2009. This news had made many musicians, including Sullivan’s best friend, Zacky Vegeance very grieving.
Nonetheless, the band continued with help then former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy to release and tour in support of Nightmare, their fifth album in 2010 which debuted at the top, the Billboard 200 in first place.
Currently, active personnel is M. Shadows (lead vocals), Zacky Vengeance (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Synyster Gates (lead guitar, piano, backing vocals). Johnny Christ (bass, backing vocals)
Career
Although it has been formed since 1999, Avenged Sevenfold’s first album, entitled SOUNDING THE SEVENTH TRUMPET was only released in 2002. The release of this album was followed by the second album WAKING THE FALLEN (2003). In the second album the group performed with XL Rose, Kylie Minogue and Chris Cornell. Followed by the album CITY OF EVIL (2005) and AVENGED SEVENFOLD (2007).
The group that had been in Jakarta on August 7, 2007, later chose the path of pop music. This is said to have been criticized by many of his works ‘adopting’ sound effects that had been hit before. They claim heavy metal is not suitable for him, and prefers pop music.
Since then, the band has continued to work and spawned various albums which were quite successful in the market. In Indonesia alone, Avenged Sevenfold is popular with his single, Dear God, which had become the best-selling single in the Indonesian music market.
Shortly after, the sad news about Sullivan’s death was enough to affect Avenged Sevenfold’s career. The band seemed to be devastated by the departure of one of its personnel. But a year later, the atmosphere of grief was actualized in a work titled NIGHMARE. One of the singles, Nightmare, had dominated the market by winning first place on the Billboard ladder.