In 1999, Avenged Sevenfold was formed in Huntington Beach, California starting with original members M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev and Matt Wendt. When the band was formed, each member created pseudonyms, which were nicknames they had from high school. At the end of 1999, Synyster Gates joined the band as lead guitarist. In 2001, their debut album Sounding the Seventh was released when they were only 18 years old and still in high school. This group was thirsty and never completely satisfied with their work. Their goal is to get better everyday, no matter what may get in their way.

Avenged Sevenfold - Having the time of their Lives

"They're cheesy. They sing nowadays; they should scream like they used to. They're sellouts."

In 1999, Avenged Sevenfold was formed in Huntington Beach, California starting with original members M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev and Matt Wendt. When the band was formed, each member created pseudonyms, which were nicknames they had from high school. At the end of 1999, Synyster Gates joined the band as lead guitarist. In 2001, their debut album Sounding the Seventh was released when they were only 18 years old and still in high school. This group was thirsty and never completely satisfied with their work. Their goal is to get better everyday, no matter what may get in their way.

They are classified as being a vital and influential band in the Heavy Metal genre. Their content covers a wide range of genres and has evolved over time. The album Sounding the Seventh Trumpet consisted of all metal core, but there are deviations most notable in "Streests", which is more punk style and "Warmness on the Soul" that is a piano oriented ballad.

Once they started to perform with bands like Mushroomhead, Shadows Fall and even have the opportunity to play on the Take Action Tour, they began to receive acknowledgment. When they found their fourth bassist Jonny Christ, Walking the Fallen was released in 2003. Avenged Sevenfold received acknowledgment and was in magazines such as Billboard and The Boston Globe. They then played in the Vans Warped Tour and again in 2004, in addition to recording the video for "Unholy Confessions". The video went into rotation on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. After Walking the Fallen, they signed with Warner Bros. Records.

Avenged Sevenfold- Going Mainstream

The band's third album and major album debut, City of Evil, was released on June 7, 2005. It debuted at number 30 on Billboard 200 and sold in its first week 30,000 copies. The album had a more epic, classic metal sound than their last albums which was classified in the metal core genre. The album was noted for the fact that there were no screaming vocals in it.

They went back on the Vans Warped Tour, only this time, headlining and then went on with their own "Cities of Evil Tour". "Bat Country" their lead single, made it to number two on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Charts and number six on Billboard's Modern Rock Charts. This album was the group's first gold record.

This mainstream success of Avenged Sevenfold resulted them to be invited to the Ozzfest 2006 tour on the main stage, along side popular hard rock and heavy metal bands such as, DragonForce, Lacuna Coil, Hatebreed, Disturbed and System if a Down. After finishing sixteen months of promoting City of Evil, they canceled the Fall 2006 tour to record new music instead. The band's fourth album, Avenged Sevenfold, was released on October 30, 2007 and debuted at number four on Billboard 200. The album sold over 90,000 copies.

M. Shadows confirmed in January 2009, that they were in the process of writing a follow-up to their self-titled album, in the coming months and plan to start recording in October. It was also announced they will be playing at Rock on the Range in May 2009 from the 16th-17th. On April 16, they performed a variation of Guns N' Roses "It's so easy" with Slash on stage, in Los Angeles.

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