Southern California has always been the birthplace of prominent musical acts. Surprisingly, Orange County, in particular, has long been a haven for punk and hard-rock bands. Heavy metal act Avenged Sevenfold is living proof of that. After first forming in 1999, Avenged Sevenfold is still going strong more than two decades later. The group has constantly evolved over the years, almost reinventing itself with every new album. Slowly but surely, the world has taken notice with Avenged Sevenfold receiving a Grammy nomination in 2018, solidifying their standing as one of the best hard-rock bands in the world.

The Early Days

Avenged Sevenfold got its start in the late 1990s when the band members were still teenagers. At the time, they were a metalcore band that could rock as hard as anyone. However, in addition to the likes of Metallica, Megadeth, and Black Sabbath, Avenged Sevenfold also listed the likes of Elton John and the Beatles among their biggest influences. Even back then, it was clear that there was something more than hardcore scream-metal in the band’s DNA.

The Breakthrough

The group’s third album, City of Evil, was also the major-label debut of Avenged Sevenfold. Several years after their start, the band’s sound was more mature and had evolved into fan-friendly heavy metal. To date, it’s still considered by many music publications to be among the 50 best heavy metal albums of all-time. City of Evil also brought Avenged Sevenfold more commercial success than they could have dreamed of, including an MTV Music Award in 2006 for Best New Artist.

All Grown Up

Unlike previous winners, taking home MTV’s Best New Artist award didn’t become a jinx for Avenged Sevenfold. The group continued to find success while also experimenting with new sounds. Avenged Sevenfold’s seventh album, The Stage, was their first conceptual album and a heavy metal masterpiece. The album’s title track earned the band its first Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song. While they didn’t win, the Grammy nomination alone served as confirmation of Avenged Sevenfold’s critical success along with great commercial success. On top of that, the band is far from finished and for a group that’s been unafraid to change its sound, the best may be yet to come.