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Somewhere between blood-raining metalcore and Sunset Strip sleaze lurk the alternative metal/punk band Avenged Sevenfold. Listening to their aggressive but melodic music, you'd never guess that these tattooed rockers hail from the easy going, breezy surf mecca of Huntington Beach, CA. Maybe it was watching all of the Orange Country housewives flouncing around in their diamonds and designer jeans that inspired Avenged Sevenfold to begin their doom rock career. Aesthetically, Avenged Sevenfold combine visual motifs like winged skulls and devil-women with judgment day lyrics lifted straight from scripture. Avenged Sevenfold began their career in 1999, and released two independent albums of brutal, heavy metal before catching the attention of Warner Brothers Records. The band hit the music mainstream hard with 2005's impressive City Of Evil, which was still loud while showing off the band's affinity for pulling a hook out of all the noise. Singer M. Shadows emotes with all of the intensity of an old-time prophet, while lead guitarist Synyster Gates plays like a man who just made a good deal with the devil. The band sounded different from the nu-metal and glam metal prevalent on modern rock radio, and their druggy single "Bat Country" made it to no.6 on the Modern Rock charts. Avenged Sevenfold used their major record label budget to shoot a series of mind-blowing videos, and "Bat Country" won the band fans with a playful but frightening tribute to the gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Follow-up single, "The Beast And The Harlot," took all if its lyrics directly from the apocalyptic Book of Revelations. There has been some speculation within the hard rock community as to whether Avenged Sevenfold are actually a Christian band or if they just find religious themes inspiring. M. Shadows plays coy about his own religion, and maintains that, if anything, the band makes biblical sin look pretty appealing. Recently, Avenged Sevenfold have hinted that they intend to experiment with political as well as biblical themes on their new recordings.

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