M. Shadows recently commented on criticism surrounding Avenged Sevenfold’s new single “Magic.” He addressed fan reactions in a statement shared on Rock Feed.
The A7X frontman defended the song’s complexity. He suggested that most listeners lack the intellectual capacity to fully grasp its meaning and philosophical depth.
“To be completely honest with you, most people simply do not have the mental hardware required to understand what we did with ‘Magic.’ I mean that sincerely,” Shadows said. “The average brain is operating on like Windows 95 while ‘Magic’ requires at least a quantum neural processor, just to load the first verse. When I say a line like, ‘Smoke in the signals won’t touch the ground,’ your typical listener just nods along like, ‘Oh, cool words.’ Meanwhile, an actual enlightened mind understands that I’m casually redefining reality as we know it.”
Shadows further emphasized the lyrical depth of specific lines from the track. He compared them to advanced philosophical concepts.
“And then there’s lines like, ‘Living always, always dying.’ And the number of people who think that’s just a lyric, honestly, it scares me. That’s basically a doctoral thesis in existential philosophy. Most listeners hear it and their brain quietly restarts in the background,” he continued. “But the funniest part is when someone tries to criticize ‘Magic,’ I just picture them staring blankly at their speakers while the entire meaning of the universe sitting right there in front of them, waving politely. They have no idea what’s happening. Not a clue. I almost feel bad. Almost.”
The comments reflect Shadows’ perspective on the artistic ambition behind the new single. This marks a significant moment in the band’s recent creative evolution.
Avenged Sevenfold released “Magic” on December 6, 2025, as part of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 01 update, Consequence reported. The track became available on all streaming platforms and was initially introduced through the game’s zombies map mode. An official VR 360° music video accompanied the release, integrating the game’s Unreal Engine visuals.
The track is described as a heavier, experimental metal song featuring riffs and autotune effects, Louder Sound noted. It continues the band’s direction from their 2023 album Life Is But a Dream…. Critics have noted its “weirdness” and willingness to ruffle feathers, recalling M. Shadows’ earlier comments about their recent experimental material being polarizing but creatively fun.
Fan response has been generally positive among listeners who appreciate the heavier and experimental style that Avenged Sevenfold is pursuing post-2023, Metal Injection found. The collaboration with Call of Duty has been celebrated as an innovative way to release music and engage with fans across gaming and music communities. It blends metal and gaming culture to generate excitement among the band’s fanbase.
This release marks Avenged Sevenfold’s first new material since their 2023 album. It represents a continued phase of creative exploration for the modern metal heavyweights.
You can listen to Avenged Sevenfold’s new single, ‘Magic,’ via YouTube below.
