waking the fallen

Waking the Fallen is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on August 26, 2003 by Hopeless Records. More clean vocals are featured on the album than their debut album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. It is also the first album to feature Johnny Christ on bass, thus completing the band's primary lineup (until The Rev's death in 2009).

The album was released as 2x12", LP, Repress, 33 ⅓ RPM, Grey Marble on 2008 in US. The album was certified gold on July 15, 2009. The songs I Won't See You Tonight Parts 1 and 2 are about Justin Sane's suicide attempt which didn't happen.

Waking The Fallen

Musical style

The record continues the metalcore sound the band had used on their previous album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, but features noticeably more clean vocals. Being the first release by the band to feature lead guitarist Synyster Gates, the record also features some guitar solos. The record is notable among fans due to M. Shadows' slightly higher pitch in his voice and high notes he sings on songs like "I Won't See You Tonight" (both parts). The album also leans more towards heavy metal rather than punk rock.

Reception

Waking the Fallen was highly acclaimed. It received a positive profile in Billboard, with the magazine comparing Avenged Sevenfold to bands like NOFX, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. In other profiles, the album also received comparisons to the Misfits and further comparisons to Iron Maiden. "Chapter Four" was featured in video games such as NASCAR Thunder 2004, Madden NFL 04, and NHL 04, which helped the band get recognized and sign a contract with Warner Bros. Records.

Videography

A live performance video was shot at Warped Tour 2003 for the first single from Waking the Fallen, "Second Heartbeat". A video was made for the second single "Unholy Confessions" on March 6, 2004, using live footage set to the studio track. It featured the fans before and during an Avenged Sevenfold concert. According to vocalist M. Shadows, it was requested by their new label, Warner Bros. Records, in order to publicize the band before their 2005 album City of Evil.

This video was the second attempt at a video for the track. The previous attempt was a concept video created the previous fall (2003). The band was not happy with the final product, however, and opted to re-shoot the video, this time as a live performance. The new video went into rotation on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.

Track listing

  1. "Waking the Fallen"
  2. "Unholy Confessions"
  3. "Chapter Four"
  4. "Remenissions"
  5. "Desecrate Through Reverence"
  6. "Eternal Rest"
  7. "Second Heartbeat"
  8. "Radiant Eclipse"
  9. "I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1)"
  10. "I Won't See You Tonight (Part 2)"
  11. "Clairvoyant Disease"
  12. "And All Things Will End"

Personnel

Avenged Sevenfold

  • M. Shadows – lead vocals
  • Zacky Vengeance – rythm guitar, backing vocals
  • The Rev – drums, backing vocals
  • Synyster Gates – lead guitar, backing vocals, piano in "I Won't See You Tonight part 1"
  • Johnny Christ – bass guitar

Production

  • Produced and mixed by Andrew Murdock
  • Co-produced by Fred Archambault
  • Assistant engineers – Fred Archambault and Ai Fujisaki
  • Mastered by Tom Baker
  • Orchestral arrangements and performance by Scott Gilman