A Little Piece of Heaven (song)

Last updated

"A Little Piece of Heaven"
Song by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Avenged Sevenfold
A-side Scream [1]
ReleasedOctober 30, 2007
Recorded2007
Studio
Genre Avant-garde metal, dark cabaret
Length8:01
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s) James Sullivan [2]
Producer(s) Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold track listing
10 tracks
  1. "Critical Acclaim"
  2. "Almost Easy"
  3. "Scream"
  4. "Afterlife"
  5. "Gunslinger"
  6. "Unbound (The Wild Ride)"
  7. "Brompton Cocktail"
  8. "Lost"
  9. "A Little Piece of Heaven"
  10. "Dear God"

"A Little Piece of Heaven" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It is the ninth song from their self-titled fourth album. Though not released as a single, the song is one of the band's most popular. In December 2007, the song received an animated music video. The song was written by the band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and features him on dueling lead vocals with M. Shadows.

Contents

Background

"A Little Piece of Heaven" was written by drummer The Rev. [2] [3] [4] The song's demo was titled "Big Bear", and featured The Rev doing all the instruments and vocals. [5] It was originally intended to be on a Halloween EP, but once the band's record label heard it, they insisted it be on the album. [3]

Lyrics and music

"A Little Piece of Heaven" is about a man who, fearing that his proposal to her will be rejected, murders his girlfriend. He then eats her heart and rapes her corpse. The girlfriend then returns from the dead and murders him and eats his heart. The man then also comes back from the dead to make things right. The two reconcile, get married, and together they begin killing others. [6] [7] [8]

The song’s introduction interpolates Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Johannes Brahms.

The National described the song musically as avant-garde metal. [9] Songwriter The Rev stated the song was inspired by the works of Danny Elfman and his band Oingo Boingo. [6] [10] The band worked with brass and string sections for the song. [4] [6] [11]

Members of the band have compared the song to "an eight-minute movie". [6]

Music video

In December 2007, an animated video directed by Rafa Alcantra [12] was made for "A Little Piece of Heaven". [11] [13] The video for the song features a man who, after having his marriage proposal rejected, murders his girlfriend. Due to the song's subject matter, Warner Brothers initially only released it to registered MVI users over the internet. [14] However, it was later released to YouTube on October 26, 2009. [15]

Critical reception and legacy

Kerrang and Return of Rock ranked "A Little Piece of Heaven" at number 1 and number 3 respectively on their lists of the greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs, [16] [17] while Classic Rock History ranked it at number 5 [18] and Louder Sound ranked it at number 11 on their respective lists. [19] It was voted as the best Avenged Sevenfold song in an official song tournament during March Madness. [20]

The music of the song has been compared to the bands Mr. Bungle [21] and My Chemical Romance, [22] as well as Broadway show tunes. [23] [9] [24] It has also been described as the band's take on "Bohemian Rhapsody". [25] [26] The members of Fearless Vampire Killers had the song in their list of the best Avenged Sevenfold songs, calling it "Like a rock opera within one song". [27]

The song has also been compared to the film scores of composer/musician Danny Elfman, specifically his scores to the films The Nightmare Before Christmas [28] and Beetlejuice . [29]

A live performance of the song was featured on the live album Live in the LBC. [30]

Personnel

All credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [31]

Avenged Sevenfold
Session musicians
Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avenged Sevenfold</span> American heavy metal band

Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ, and drummer Brooks Wackerman.

<i>Sounding the Seventh Trumpet</i> 2001 studio album by Avenged Sevenfold

Sounding the Seventh Trumpet is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on July 24, 2001, through Good Life Recordings. The album was reissued on March 19, 2002, through Hopeless Records, featuring a slightly different cover art. Although the album only sold 300 copies in its first week of release, it has sold 370,000 copies worldwide, with 310,000 sold in the United States, as of November 2010.

<i>Warmness on the Soul</i> 2001 EP by Avenged Sevenfold

Warmness on the Soul is the first EP by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on April 10, 2001, through Good Life Recordings. The release features the video for the title track "Warmness on the Soul" as an enhanced CD bonus. It is the band's first release to feature guitarist Synyster Gates, who joined the band in February 2001. All of the songs were later included on Avenged Sevenfold's debut album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, except for the heavy metal version of "To End the Rapture", which was featured on the album's re-release.

<i>City of Evil</i> 2005 studio album by Avenged Sevenfold

City of Evil is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on June 6, 2005, through Warner Bros. and Hopeless Records. Co-produced by Andrew Murdock, City of Evil contains a more traditional heavy metal and hard rock sound than Avenged Sevenfold's previous two albums, which showcased a predominantly metalcore sound. The album title is derived from a lyric in the song, "Beast and the Harlot". The album is notable for the absence of fry vocals. M. Shadows worked for months before the album's release with vocal coach Ron Anderson, whose clients have included Axl Rose and Chris Cornell, to achieve a sound that had "grit while still having the tone". In order to increase stamina and strength on the pedals, The Rev would sit for hours practicing until he could get up to 210 beats per minute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rev</span> American musician (1981–2009)

James Owen Sullivan, also known by his stage name The Rev, was an American musician, best known as a founding member of the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, where he played drums, piano and provided backing and co-lead vocals. He was also the lead vocalist/pianist in the avant-garde metal band Pinkly Smooth and drummer for the ska punk band Suburban Legends from 1998 to 1999.

"Second Heartbeat" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, and is the seventh track on their second studio album, Waking the Fallen. The song is one of the most popular from the album, and is praised by fans and critics alike.

<i>Avenged Sevenfold</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on October 30, 2007, through Warner Bros. and Hopeless Records. Recorded in the middle of 2007, it is the band's first studio album to be solely self-produced. It is also their final studio album to feature The Rev performing on drums before his death during production of their follow-up album, Nightmare (2010). Originally slated for an October 16 release, it was delayed by two weeks in order to provide more time to complete bonus material and production for the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almost Easy</span> 2007 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Almost Easy" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It is the second song as well as lead single from their self-titled fourth album. The song is one of the band's most popular tracks, and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear God (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2008 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Dear God" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released as the fourth single from their self-titled fourth studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afterlife (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2008 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Afterlife" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The song is released as the third single from their self-titled album. The song itself features a string orchestra and was written by the band's drummer, The Rev. The single and music video were released in early 2008. The song is one of the band's most performed live, and is a fan favorite. The song was included in the second Track Pack DLC released for Rock Band.

<i>Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough</i> 2008 live and compilation albums by Avenged Sevenfold

Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough is the first live DVD and compilation album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on September 16, 2008 by Warner Bros. Records. The live DVD features the band's April 10, 2008 show at Long Beach Arena headlining the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour, while the CD contains previously unreleased B-sides that were recorded during the making of the band's self-titled 2007 album, plus covers, and other never-before-heard material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scream (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2008 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Scream" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released as the fifth and final single from their self-titled fourth studio album. The song reached number nine on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart and number 26 on the U.S. Alternative chart.

<i>Nightmare</i> (Avenged Sevenfold album) 2010 studio album by Avenged Sevenfold

Nightmare is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on July 23, 2010, through Warner Bros. Records. It was produced by Mike Elizondo, mixed in New York City by audio engineer Andy Wallace, and mastered by Ted Jensen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightmare (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2010 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Nightmare" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on May 18, 2010, as the lead single for their fifth studio album, Nightmare.

"Fiction" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on their fifth studio album, Nightmare. The song was written by the band's original drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in December 2009. The song is a duet between The Rev and M. Shadows.

The Avenged Sevenfold Tour was a concert tour by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold between 2007 and 2009, promoting their album Avenged Sevenfold. It was the band's last tour with the drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan who died on December 28, 2009.

"I Won't See You Tonight" is a two-part song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The songs appeared on their second studio album, Waking the Fallen, as tracks 9 and 10 respectively. The song peaked at #2 on the overall US song sales chart in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unholy Confessions</span> 2004 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Unholy Confessions" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released as the lead single from their second album, Waking the Fallen. It is the band's first official single after their 2001 debut EP release Warmness on the Soul, and was the first single by the band to receive mainstream exposure, being heavily rotated on MTV2's Headbangers Ball. The song is about a couple who find out they are both cheating on each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter Four (song)</span> 2003 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Chapter Four" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The song was released as a double A-side single with "Eternal Rest" from their second album, Waking the Fallen, where it also appears as track three.

<i>The Stage</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Avenged Sevenfold

The Stage is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on October 28, 2016, through Capitol Records, their only release through the label. It is the first Avenged Sevenfold album to feature drummer Brooks Wackerman, who joined the band in late 2014 but was not revealed as Arin Ilejay's official replacement until Ilejay's departure in 2015, because the band wanted to "make sure that it was a correct fit".

References

  1. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold – Scream". Discogs. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Credits / Avenged Sevenfold / Avenged Sevenfold". Tidal . Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "The Story Behind The Song: Avenged Sevenfold's A Little Piece Of Heaven". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. November 26, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Carter, Emily. "Hear Avenged Sevenfold's A Little Piece Of Heaven In The Style Of The Phantom Of The Opera". Kerrang. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Presents Breakdown: Halloween Edition – A Little Piece of Heaven". AvengedSevenfold.com. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Epstein, Dan (December 2007). "AVENGED SEVENFOLD TALK SELF-TITLED RECORD, ROWDY PAST, DRINKING COBRA BLOOD". Revolver Mag. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ Staff, Revolver (February 20, 2019). "FAN POLL: TOP 5 GREATEST HEAVY-METAL LOVE SONGS". Revolver Mag. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  8. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo (September 10, 2020). "50 DISTURBING SONGS THAT PEOPLE LOVE". Noise Creep. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Avenged Sevenfold ready to get heavy in Abu Dhabi". thenational.ae. May 3, 2012.
  10. ↑ Gibson, Caren. "BEST AVENGED SEVENFOLD SONGS: 20 ESSENTIAL GOTHCORE TRACKS". This Is Dig. Dig!. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Childers, Chad. "14 Years Ago: Avenged Sevenfold Start to Define Their Identity on Self-Titled Album". Loudwire. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  12. ↑ Sciarretto, Amy (September 19, 2013). "10 Best Avenged Sevenfold Videos". Noisecreep . Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Merchandise". Blabbermouth. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Presents Breakdown: Halloween Edition - A Little Piece of Heaven". YouTube. October 31, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold – A Little Piece Of Heaven [Official Music Video]". YouTube. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  16. ↑ Law, Sam (May 29, 2020). "The 20 greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs – ranked". Kerrang . Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  18. ↑ Kamau, Eric (September 16, 2021). "Best SongsTop 10 Avenged Sevenfold Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  19. ↑ Alderslade, Merlin (February 5, 2020). "The 20 best Avenged Sevenfold songs ever". Louder Sound . Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  20. ↑ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD MARCH MANIA SONG TOURNAMENT". AvengedSevenfold.com. March 1, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  21. ↑ Lymangrover, Jason. "Avenged Sevenfold Review by Jason Lymangrover". All Music. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  22. ↑ "album review: 'avenged sevenfold' by avenged sevenfold (RETRO REVIEW)". Spectrum Pulse. July 3, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2022. The only problem is that the only thing the song reminded me of was MCR's 2006 album The Black Parade.
  23. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Biography". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012.
  24. ↑ "The Top Ten Avenged Sevenfold Songs". LWOS Life. July 12, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Self Titled Album Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2022. The track is their Bohemian Rhapsody, and it has the symphony to prove it.
  26. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Bahas Proses Rekaman 'A Little Piece Of Heaven' dalam Mini Dokumenter: Ini Bohemian Rhapsody Versi Kita". HAI-Online.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  27. ↑ Kemp, Kier (August 3, 2015). "The 11 best Avenged Sevenfold songs chosen by Fearless Vampire Killers". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  28. ↑ Shultz, Brian. "Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold (2007)". Punk News. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  29. ↑ Hill, Stephen. "Every Avenged Sevenfold album ranked from worst to best". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  30. ↑ ""LIVE IN THE LBC & DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH" COMING TO STREAMING SERVICES". AvengedSevenfold.com. January 17, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  31. ↑ Avenged Sevenfold liner notes. Warner Brothers. 2007. p. 9.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.