Waking The Fallen

''Waking the Fallen'' is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on August 26, 2003, through Hopeless Records. It is the band's first full-length album with new lead guitarist Synyster Gates and bassist Johnny Christ.

The album was released as a double 12-inch gray marble vinyl in 2008 in the US. It was certified gold on July 15, 2009, even though it only sold 3,000 copies on its first week of release. As of August 2014, the album has sold over 693,000 copies in the United States. As of March 17, 2021, the album has been certified Platinum. The song "Eternal Rest" appears on ''Kerrang!''s "666 Songs You Must Own" and was featured on the soundtrack to the movie ''Saw IV'' (2007).

Musical style

This is the first release by the band to feature lead guitarist Synyster Gates, and the record also features the band's first guitar solos.Allmusic review/ref> 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, with comparisons to melodic death metal, thrash metal and power metal.

Reception and legacy

''Waking the Fallen'' was met with highly positive reviews. Robert L. Doerschuk from AllMusic wrote "And whether attacking a riff in unison or in harmonized parts, the double-threat guitars of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance do their duty like search-and-destroy commandos -- in and out fast, leaving devastation in their wake. Especially noteworthy -- and note-heavy -- is the guitar solo that blazes through the last moments of "Second Heartbeat" and the head-spinning single-stroke virtuosity of the Reverand throughout the album."

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. Overall reviews on ''Ultimate Guitar'' were very positive and along with 2016's ''The Stage'' has the highest overall rating of any ''Avenged Sevenfold'' studio albums on Ultimate Guitar.

Metal Hammer magazine placed ''Waking the Fallen'' on No. 6 spot of their 100 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century list in 2016.

Videography

A live performance video was shot at Warped Tour 2003 for "Second Heartbeat". A video was made for the lead 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 show at the Henry Fonda Theater. 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, filmed three months before. 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''.

Anniversary

In March 2014, vocalist M. Shadows revealed in an interview with Loudwire that the band had plans in the works to put something out for the overdue 10th anniversary of ''Waking the Fallen:''

''Waking the Fallen: Resurrected'' was released August 25, 2014.

Track listing

All songs credited to Avenged Sevenfold.

*"Desecrate Through Reverence" is mistakenly written as "Desecrate Through Reverance" in the reissue's booklet.
*A slightly longer version of the live versions of "Eternal Rest" was released on the Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 5 sampler in 2004. The ''Resurrected'' version is mistakenly said to be from Pomona.
*The alternate version of "Second Heartbeat", which is the same as the demo version, can also be found on Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 4, released in 2002.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

Avenged Sevenfold

* M. Shadows – lead vocals
* Zacky Vengeance – guitars, backing vocals
* The Rev – drums, percussion, backing vocals
* Synyster Gates – guitars, piano, backing vocals
* Johnny Christ – bass guitar, backing vocals

Production
* Andrew Murdock – producer, mixing engineer
* Fred Archambault – co-producer
* Ai Fujisaki – assistant engineer
* Tom Baker – mastering engineer
* Mike Fasano, Bruce Jacoby, Al Pahanish – drum tech
* Stephen Ferrara – guitar tech
* Scott Gilman – orchestral arrangements and performance

Charts

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waking The Fallen
Avenged Sevenfold albums
2003 albums
Hopeless Records albums