In a recent chat with NME backstage at Download 2024, Zacky Vengeance explained how they chose a different path rather than being the next Metallica.
Last June, ‘Life Is But A Dream…’ brought a big change for the band. They shifted from their usual metalcore style to try out EDM and hip-hop influences. This change split their fans, but the band aimed to stir things up. The guitarist said:
“There was a point in our career where we had a bit of an identity crisis because people were saying ‘You’re gonna be the next Metallica if you stay on this path,’ and a lot of people had opinions on what we would be doing. That didn’t sit well with any of us, so taking five years off to really look inside ourselves, work out what we want to accomplish, and be willing to risk everything was the most liberating thing.”
He continued:
“It was never a question in our mind if people were to like it, because we liked it. At the time, some people didn’t understand [our earlier albums] either. To be ahead of the game, you’ve got to be willing to let people catch up to you. And with this one, I think we set out to do what we wanted to.”
What Did Other Avenged Sevenfold Member Say About The Album?
Avenged Sevenfold received some bad comments after releasing ‘Life Is But A Dream…’ on June 2, 2023. In an interview with Metal Hammer last year, guitarist Synyster Gates defended the record, saying:
“I’ve been using this analogy: both of my parents’ favourite band is The Beatles. My mom hates everything post-‘Sgt. Pepper’s,’ my dad couldn’t care less about the early stuff. They both still respect the f*ck out of it, but it’s not for them. So, for my mom, ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’ was the death of The Beatles, and I think for a lot of people this is the death of Avenged Sevenfold. But for a lot of other people, it’s a birth. The birth of a different band.”
Despite receiving some negative feedback saying the band had lost its edge with their latest record, the majority of feedback from both fans and the press has been positive. In the same interview, Gates acknowledged this, noting they’ve actually received strong support from the press.