For Avenged Sevenfold, “Hail to the King” – their biggest-selling record – was a deliberate experiment aimed at creating a mainstream rock anthem. Released in 2013, the album marked a stark departure from the intricate, neoclassical soundscapes that had defined the band’s earlier work. In the words of frontman M. Shadows, it was their attempt at crafting a “Black Album”-style record, similar to Metallica’s game-changing release, one that could hold its own in bars and arenas alike.
“‘Hail to the King’ was a response to the fact that we were a big band, but none of our songs could be played anywhere in a bar,” Shadows explained in a recent interview with Bradley Hall (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar). “We had nothing that lived up to AC/DC, or Metallica’s “Black Album”, or all these albums that we love. All of our stuff’s a little too complex, a little too neoclassical.”
The band’s approach was as strategic as it was experimental. Stripping down their sound, they focused on simplicity—a process that felt alien to them. “We started really cutting close; wearing our influences very much on our sleeves in this sort of dumbed-down version of rock music,” Shadows admitted. “And that’s not a shot at those bands, ‘cause they do it brilliantly. They do it better than us. But we wanted to try our hand at doing something like that. It’s very unnatural for us, it’s not what we do.”
Shadows described the methodical process behind the album’s sound: “It’s simplified. But I think we were smart enough to piece together… Oh, it’s simple drums — it’s huge drums. It’s a more scooped sound on the toms. It’s a lower-volume guitar that actually feels bigger with the bass. It’s a very simple vocal; there’s not a lot of harmonies. It’s one vocal that’s kind of yelling at you, and it’s almost like, can you take this vocal melody and sing it to your kid as a lullaby?”
The gamble paid off. Tracks like the title song, “Hail to the King,” became instant hits, with the record quickly cementing itself as a staple in modern rock. Yet for Shadows, its success was tinged with irony: “Unfortunately, ‘Hail to the King’ worked. It’s our biggest song. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but it’s funny that that’s the song that has almost a billion views and a song that people hear first. I don’t know if that’s more of a commentary on us or the typical rock listener. But, yeah, ‘Hail to the King‘ is one of those things where it’s just a funny little experiment.“
Listening to “Hail to the King” alongside 2023’s “Life is But a Dream…”, it’s hard to believe the same band created both records. While the former deliberately embraced simplicity, the latter sees Avenged Sevenfold diving headfirst into experimental, boundary-pushing sounds. Shadows and the band have undeniably evolved over the last decade, yet the legacy of “Hail to the King” remains a fascinating tale of adapting and creating music that resonates with a fanbase way outside the band’s original niche.