M. Shadows Shares The Avenged Sevenfold Songs He Is Most Proud Of

Avenged Sevenfold’s musical catalog is filled with diverse and dynamic heavy metal tracks. With so much to choose from, it can be overwhelming for new listeners to dive in. But, as the band’s lead vocalist M. Shadows mentioned in his recent interview with Revolver, there is one song that he consistently uses to introduce A7X’s music to those unfamiliar with their work: ‘Hail to the King.’ But it is not the one he is most proud of.

“Usually, to get people in the door that are not deep in the scene, I just show them ‘Hail to the King,’” the rocker said, revealing his secret to impressing newbies. “It’s like, they get it. The next time I see them, usually it’s in their playlist. It’s just one of those things that’s easy.”

He continued, “If I want to show somebody a song that I’m really proud of, I would start with ‘The Stage.’ And then, I might show them, like, ‘Buried Alive’ or ‘Exist.’ But if I’m going to show [my band to] a guy on the golf course or, like, the guy at Ralphs, I just throw him ‘Hail to the King.’ And it usually does the trick.”

‘The Stage’ was the title track of the band’s 2016 album, which was also their first one with Capitol Records. The song was released in a somewhat unconventional way, as the band announced the album’s title and release date via a live-streamed performance of the song from the rooftop of the Capitol Records building.

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. Many praised it for its impressive sound and ambitious lyrics, which touch on themes of artificial intelligence and the future of humanity. Some critics also praised the song for its intricate guitar work and dynamic drumming, but quite a few fans weren’t thrilled with it.

It’s always interesting to see how band members’ and fans’ favorites can be as different as night and day. But you know, musicians often have a soft spot for the lesser-known tracks. It almost sounds like ‘Hail To The King’ was the popular kid of the high school, always in sight and under the spotlight. But, ‘The Stage’ was the secret talent waiting to be discovered. This is the beauty of music anyway; it’s unpredictable and always keeps you on your toes.