This Means War (Avenged Sevenfold song)

Last updated

"This Means War"
Song by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Hail to the King
ReleasedAugust 23, 2013
Recorded2012–2013 (2012–2013)
Genre Heavy metal
Length6:09
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mike Elizondo

"This Means War" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold from their 2013 album Hail to the King .

Contents

Various publications have lambasted the track for its uncanny similarities to Metallica's 1993 single "Sad but True". [1] The song was singled out by Machine Head's vocalist Robb Flynn as a ripoff. [2] [3] Users on Ultimate Guitar voted the song into the site's "Worst Guitar Riffs" list. [4]

Although the song was not released as a single, it placed on several American Billboard rock charts and received a music video. Directed by Andrew Baird, [5] it was released July 5, 2014. [6] The unreleased director's cut of the music video was released in 2017. [7] The song was featured in the video game WWE 2K15 .

Personnel

Avenged Sevenfold

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [13] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Trooper</span> 1983 single by Iron Maiden

"The Trooper" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released as the second single on 20 June 1983 from the band's fourth studio album, Piece of Mind (1983). It was one of only a few songs to achieve frequent radio airplay in the United States, thus peaking at No. 28 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock. It also achieved success in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Charts, as well as gaining a better reception than the band's previous single, "Flight of Icarus". The song is one of their most popular and remains an essential track of heavy metal music.

<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">Avenged Sevenfold discography</span>

American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold has released eight studio albums, one soundtrack album, one live album, two compilation albums, 24 singles, two video albums and 29 music videos. Formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1999, the band originally featured vocalist M. Shadows, guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Matt Wendt and drummer The Rev. Synyster Gates joined as lead guitarist in 2001, just after the group released their debut album Sounding the Seventh Trumpet on Good Life Recordings, which was later reissued on Hopeless Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beast and the Harlot</span> 2006 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Beast and the Harlot" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released as a single from their third studio album, City of Evil. It peaked at #19 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart, #44 on the UK Singles Chart, and #1 on the UK Rock Chart on March 12, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seize the Day (song)</span> 2005 Avenged Sevenfold song

"Seize the Day" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on July 11, 2006, as a promotional single for their third studio album, City of Evil. Additionally, the song was released on July 27, 2010, as a downloadable track for the video game Rock Band 2, along with "Nightmare" and "Scream".

<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">Scream (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2009 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.

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

"Welcome to the Family" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on October 19, 2010, as the second single from their studio album Nightmare. It is the band's second single released without former drummer The Rev, who died on December 28, 2009. In Avenged Sevenfold's "making of" series on YouTube, In the Studio, lead singer M. Shadows and bassist Johnny Christ say that The Rev wrote most of the song and Shadows finished it when they started to record the album. The song is available as DLC in the video game Rock Band 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buried Alive (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2011 promotional single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Buried Alive" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, off the band's fifth studio album Nightmare. The song was released as the albums fourth and final single on September 20, 2011. The music of the song was mostly written by the band's late drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, who died on December 28, 2009. Singer M. Shadows has stated he is extremely proud of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carry On (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2012 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Carry On" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The song was released on iTunes on September 24, 2012.

<i>Hail to the King</i> (Avenged Sevenfold album) 2013 studio album by Avenged Sevenfold

Hail to the King is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on August 23, 2013, through Warner Bros. Records. The album was produced by Mike Elizondo. Hail to the King is the only Avenged Sevenfold album to feature drummer Arin Ilejay, prior to his departure in July 2015. It is also the first Avenged Sevenfold album without musical contributions from Ilejay's late predecessor, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan; the bonus track, "St. James", was written in his memory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail to the King (song)</span> 2013 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Hail to the King" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold and the lead single from their sixth studio album of the same name, released on July 15, 2013. The song was premiered live on July 17, 2013, at the Ford Festival Park in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The single was certified 3× Platinum in the United States on August 23, 2023, Silver in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2020, 4× Platinum in Canada on March 4, 2023, and Platinum in Denmark on November 22, 2023, making it their most successful single in terms of sales internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepherd of Fire</span> 2013 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Shepherd of Fire" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Released on November 7, 2013, it is the second single from the sixth studio album Hail to the King. The single was a No. 1 single on the US Mainstream Rock charts, their third single to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prophets of Rage</span> American rap rock band

Prophets of Rage was an American rap rock supergroup. Formed in 2016, the group consisted of three members of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, two members of Public Enemy, and rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill. The band disbanded in 2019, following the reuniting of Rage Against the Machine. During its three-year existence, Prophets of Rage released one EP and one full-length studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stage (song)</span> 2016 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"The Stage" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on 13 October 2016, as the first single from their studio album of the same name.

<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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nobody (Avenged Sevenfold song)</span> 2023 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Nobody" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on March 14, 2023, as the lead single from their eighth studio album, Life Is But a Dream.... It is the band's first new song since the release of "Mad Hatter" in 2018. The song was debuted live on May 12, 2023, at a surprise show in Las Vegas.

References

  1. ↑ Rosenberg, Axl (August 21, 2013). "Footnotes: A Handy Catalog of Every Song from Which Avenged Sevenfold's Hail to the King "Borrows"". Metal Sucks. Retrieved April 7, 2015. Now that they've already cribbed the lyrical style of "Sad But True," A7X crib the actual music from that song on "This Means War." There's even a little pause at the beginning before the main riff kicks in, as is the case on "Sad"…
  2. ↑ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD Releases Video For 'Sad But True'-Inspired Song 'This Means War'". Blabbermouth. July 4, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Singer on Robb Flynn's Rant: 'I Agree on 'Sad But True' Thing'". Ultimate Guitar. September 13, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Friday Top: 15 Worst Riffs of All Time".
  5. ↑ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD Taps Director ANDREW BAIRD For 'This Means War' Video". blabbermouth.net. January 30, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Premiere New Music Video, 'This Means War'". revolvermag.com. July 5, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ AVENGED SEVENFOLD 'This Means War' (Directors Cut) . Retrieved May 18, 2024– via vimeo.com.
  8. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Avenged Sevenfold: This Means War" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  13. ↑ "American single certifications – Avenged Sevenfold – This Means War". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 22, 2023.
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.