Rocked out with A7X
The California hard rockers return to the City of Angels with chugging guitar riffs and growling vocals
Californian metalcore outfit Avenged Sevenfold, who scored many fans when they played at Bangkok’s Studio 125 back in August 2007, will be back in town next Tuesday, for a second and bigger show at Thunder Dome, Muang Thong Thani.
A7X as they are known for short, featuring M Shadows on vocals, Synyster Gates on lead guitar, Zacky Vengeance on rhythm guitar, and Johnny Christ on bass, emerged with a metalcore sound on their debut “Sounding the Seventh Trumpet” but their style had evolved by their third album and first major label release, “City of Evil” into a hard rock/heavy metal sound.
The band continued to explore new sounds with their self-titled release and enjoyed continued mainstream success before their drummer, James “The Rev” Sullivan, died in 2009. Despite his death, the band continued on with help of now-former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and released their fifth album “Nightmare” in 2010.
Bassist Johnny Christ chatted with us before jetting into town.
What did you do over the holidays after finishing the Uproar Festival?
Since the end of the Uproar Festival I've been spending time with family, drinking and catching up with friends. And I ran a marathon.”
“City of Evil” was your major label debut in 2005 with a new sound that enjoyed huge success. How much did the label influence the album in terms of sound and singing style?
Well the label has been great to us. They just let us do our thing. We haven’t had any pressure about direction. When it comes to the band's creativity we have complete control. It’s been a great experience for us.
What are the pros and cons of being with a major label?
Since being with the label, we’ve been able to get our music out to places we hadn’t been able to before. All in all, it’s been good for us. The only con I could see is still being asked about it almost 10 years after we signed.
How do you respond to the fans and critics that accuse the band of “selling out” or “not being metal enough”?
I never hear any of that.
Do you notice much of a difference in fans from America to Asia?
There are some cultural differences but what I find interesting are the similarities. Travelling half way across the world we still find our A7X family having fun singing along to every word and just enjoying a show.
How did you feel about your last show in Thailand?
It was great. Loved the fans, they went crazy. We couldn’t have asked for a better reception.”
What’s one of your most memorable experiences while playing a concert?
The time I was too drunk to play in Brazil. But I can’t really remember that.
What advice can you give to Thai bands who regard you as one of their most favourite rock outfits?
Keep at it. Do what you love until you don't love it anymore. And then do it some more. Do it.
How do you feel about the situation of the music industry in today’s digital world?
I think it’s kind of you win some, you lose some. It makes it hard for bands to get signed and make money selling CDs. which hurts things even outside of the artist’s pocket.
Videos don’t get made, budgets for records and sound quality diminish, etc.
But on the other hand getting your music heard on a global scale couldn’t be easier. Concerts are still fun to go to and as long as bands can put the effort into that, I think the fans will appreciate the artist.
Do you have a timetable for the next album yet?
Nothing yet. We have some ideas but there’s really nothing to talk about yet.
What can we expect at the Thai concert?
“We always try to out-do ourselves from the last time.
Our fans will hear songs we haven’t played live and a show they won't forget. Looking forward to it.
California dreamin’
_ Tickets cost Bt1,500. The concert, which kicks at 8pm, is already sold out but an additional 100 tickets will be on sale at the door.
_ For more information, check out www.ThaiTicketMajorcom.
