Waking the Fallen

Quality 0.50 · 0 views · Updated 2 months ago

title: "Waking the Fallen" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["avenged-sevenfold-albums", "2003-albums", "hopeless-records-albums"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waking_the_Fallen" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

FieldValue
nameWaking the Fallen
typestudio
artistAvenged Sevenfold
coverWakingTheFallen.jpg
releasedAugust 26, 2003
recordedApril – June 10, 2003
studio* Third Stone (Hollywood)
genre* Melodic metalcore
length68:45
labelHopeless
producerMudrock
prev_titleSounding the Seventh Trumpet
prev_year2001
next_titleCity of Evil
next_year2005
misc{{Singles
nameWaking the Fallen
typestudio
single1Eternal Rest/Chapter Four (promotional)
single1dateJune 19, 2003
single2Unholy Confessions
single2dateAugust 2, 2004
headerWaking the Fallen: Resurrected
typestudio
coverWaking_the_Fallen_Resurrected.jpeg
::

| name = Waking the Fallen | type = studio | artist = Avenged Sevenfold | cover = WakingTheFallen.jpg | alt = | released = August 26, 2003 | recorded = April – June 10, 2003 | studio = * Third Stone (Hollywood)

  • Mates Inc (Hollywood) | genre = * Melodic metalcore
  • heavy metal | length = 68:45 | label = Hopeless | producer = Mudrock | prev_title = Sounding the Seventh Trumpet | prev_year = 2001 | next_title = City of Evil | next_year = 2005 | misc = {{Singles | name = Waking the Fallen | type = studio | single1 = Eternal Rest/Chapter Four (promotional) | single1date = June 19, 2003 | single2 = Unholy Confessions | single2date = August 2, 2004 | header = Waking the Fallen: Resurrected | type = studio | cover = Waking_the_Fallen_Resurrected.jpeg | border = | alt = | caption =

Waking the Fallen is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on August 26, 2003, through Hopeless Records. It is the band's first full-length album with new lead guitarist Synyster Gates and bassist Johnny Christ.

The album was certified gold on July 15, 2009, even though it only sold 3,000 copies on its first week of release. As of August 2014, the album has sold over 693,000 copies in the United States. As of March 17, 2021, the album has been certified Platinum in the United States and Gold in both Canada and the United Kingdom. The song "Eternal Rest" appears on *Kerrang!*s "666 Songs You Must Own" and was featured on the soundtrack to the movie Saw IV (2007).

Background and recording

On January 18, 2002, Avenged Sevenfold left Good Life Recordings and signed with Hopeless Records. They re-released their debut album on March 19 and also appeared on the Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 4 sampler in April. The band started to receive recognition, performing with bands such as Mushroomhead and Shadows Fall. They spent the year touring in support of their debut album and participated in the Vans Warped Tour.

In September of 2002, Dameon Ash left Avenged Sevenfold and was replaced by Johnny Christ. Christ has previously played with the band whenever Ash could not attend, filling in on a previous tour. Having found a new bassist, the group began recording their new album. Waking the Fallen was released on Hopeless Records in August 2003.

Waking the Fallen was the band's first album in which they recorded to a click track, which Sanders recalled upset Sullivan. Haner said the band played Halo: Combat Evolved frequently during the album's recording process.

Composition and music

According to Eli Enis of Revolver, Avenged Sevenfold "became a capital-‘M’ metal band" with Waking the Fallen. The album has been primarily categorized musically as metalcore, melodic metalcore and traditional heavy metal, while also taking stylistic cues from melodic death metal, thrash metal and power metal. The tracks have been described as "anthemic," and are said to feature a "gothic undercurrent." Additionally, the album featured a more refined and mature sound production in comparison to their previous album. This is the first release by the band to feature lead guitarist Synyster Gates on all tracks, which resulted in more complex instrumentation, featuring more guitar harmonies and guitar solos. "Chapter Four" contains what is has been described as "old-school riffage." "Eternal Rest" has drawn comparisons to Pantera and Randy Rhoads. Robert L. Doerschuk of AllMusic wrote, "whether attacking a riff in unison or in harmonized parts, the double-threat guitars of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance do their duty like search-and-destroy commandos -- in and out fast, leaving devastation in their wake. According to Johnny Loftus of AllMusic, the album contains "as many sighing harmonies as it did harmonized guitar freakouts." Additionally, the album contains what have been described as "sharp, inventive song structures [and] and huge choruses." The chorus of the track "Remenissions" incorporates flamenco guitar. M. Shadows' screaming on the album has drawn comparisons to Cradle of Filth frontman Dani Filth, and has been described as "theatrical."

Reception and legacy

| rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = | rev2 = Blender | rev2score = | rev3 = Drowned in Sound | rev3score = 7/10 | rev4 = Louder Sound | rev4score = (reissue) | rev5 = Sputnikmusic | rev5score=3.0/5.0 | rev6 = Ultimate Guitar | rev6score =

Waking the Fallen was met with highly positive reviews. Robert L. Doerschuk of AllMusic gave the album a positive review, saying: " Especially noteworthy -- and note-heavy -- is the guitar solo that blazes through the last moments of "Second Heartbeat" and the head-spinning single-stroke virtuosity of the Reverend throughout the album."

It received a positive profile in Billboard, with the magazine comparing Avenged Sevenfold to bands like NOFX, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. In other profiles, the album also received comparisons to the Misfits and further comparisons to Iron Maiden. "Chapter Four" was featured in video games such as NASCAR Thunder 2004, Madden NFL 04, and NHL 04, which helped the band get recognized and sign a contract with Warner Bros. Records. Overall reviews on Ultimate Guitar were very positive and along with 2016's The Stage has the highest overall rating of any Avenged Sevenfold studio albums on Ultimate Guitar.

Metal Hammer magazine placed Waking the Fallen on No. 6 spot of their 100 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century list in 2016. In 2020, John Hill of Loudwire included the album in his list of the "Top 25 Metalcore Albums of All Time."

Anniversary edition

In March 2014, vocalist M. Shadows revealed in an interview with Loudwire that the band had plans in the works to put something out for the overdue 10th anniversary of Waking the Fallen:

::quote Jimmy [Sullivan]]] playing some old shows at The Henry Fonda Theater in L.A., and the Ventura Theater. We'll put together a cool DVD and some demo tracks and re-release 'Waking the Fallen' for newer fans of the band that haven't gotten that or don't know about the history of the band. ::

Waking the Fallen: Resurrected was released August 25, 2014.

Videography

A live performance video was shot at Warped Tour 2003 for "Second Heartbeat". A video was made for the single "Unholy Confessions" on March 6, 2004, using live footage set to the studio track. It featured the fans before and during an Avenged Sevenfold show at the Henry Fonda Theater. According to vocalist M. Shadows, it was requested by their new label, Warner Bros. Records, in order to publicize the band before their 2005 album City of Evil.

This video was the second attempt at a video for the track. The previous attempt was a concept video, filmed three months before. The band was not happy with the final product, however, and opted to re-shoot the video, this time as a live performance. The new video went into rotation on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.

In 2014, a music video for "Chapter Four" was released to promote the release of "Waking The Fallen: Resurrected". The video features clips of the band playing live, shot entirely in black and white. The footage is from the same show was also used for the Unholy Confessions video a decade prior. The video was directed by Rafa Alcantara.

Track listing

| all_writing = Avenged Sevenfold (Zachary Baker, Brian Haner Jr., Matthew Sanders, Jonathan Seward, James Sullivan), unless otherwise noted. | headline = Waking the Fallen track list | title1 = Waking the Fallen | length1 = 1:43 | writer1 = Baker, Scott Gilman, Haner Jr., Sanders, Seward, Sullivan | title2 = Unholy Confessions | length2 = 4:44 | writer2 = Baker, Haner, Sanders | title3 = Chapter Four | length3 = 5:43 | title4 = Remenissions | length4 = 6:07 | title5 = Desecrate Through Reverence | length5 = 5:39 | title6 = Eternal Rest | length6 = 5:13 | title7 = Second Heartbeat | length7 = 7:01 | title8 = Radiant Eclipse | length8 = 6:10 | title9 = I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1) | length9 = 8:59 | title10 = I Won't See You Tonight (Part 2) | length10 = 4:45 | title11 = Clairvoyant Disease | length11 = 5:00 | title12 = And All Things Will End | length12 = 7:41 | total_length = 68:45

| headline = iTunes deluxe version bonus tracks | title13 = Eternal Rest (Live from Ventura Theater - January 2004) | length13 = 5:28 | title14 = Second Heartbeat (Demo Version) | length14 = 6:20 | title15 = Unholy Confessions | note15 = music video | length15 = 4:54 | title16 = We Come Out at Night | note16 = live video at Warped Tour | length16 = 4:46 | total_length = 90:13

| headline = Waking the Fallen: Resurrected | title1 = Waking the Fallen: Resurrected | length1 = 2:51 | title2 = Second Heartbeat (Alternate Version) | length2 = 6:20 | title3 = Chapter Four (Demo Version) | length3 = 6:24 | title4 = Remenissions (Demo Version) | length4 = 6:12 | title5 = I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1) (Demo Version) | length5 = 6:07 | title6 = I Won't See You Tonight (Part 2) (Demo Version) | length6 = 5:28 | title7 = Intro/Chapter Four (Live in Ventura) | length7 = 7:10 | title8 = Desecrate Through Reverence (Live In Pomona) | length8 = 5:44 | title9 = Eternal Rest (Live in Pomona) | length9 = 5:17 | title10 = Unholy Confessions (Live in Ventura) | length10 = 5:16 | title11 = Second Heartbeat (Live in Ventura) | length11 = 7:08 | title12 = I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1) (Live in Ventura) | note12 = exclusive bonus track | length12 = 8:38 | title13 = I Won't See You Tonight (Part 2) (Live in Ventura) | note13 = exclusive bonus track | length13 = 4:58 | total_length = 77:24

  • "Desecrate Through Reverence" is mistakenly written as "Desecrate Through Reverance" in the Resurrected booklet.
  • The demo version and alternate version of "Second Heartbeat" are the same; this version was previously released on the Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 4 sampler in 2002.
  • The live version of "Eternal Rest" on the iTunes deluxe version is the same as the one on Resurrected; it was previously released on the Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 5 sampler in 2004. On Resurrected, it's mistakenly said to be from Pomona.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

Avenged Sevenfold

Production

  • Andrew Murdock – producer, mixing engineer
  • Fred Archambault – co-producer
  • THE GATEKEEPERS – recording
  • Ai Fujisaki – assistant engineer
  • Tom Baker – mastering engineer
  • Mike Fasano, Bruce Jacoby, Al Pahanish – drum tech
  • Stephen Ferrara – guitar tech
  • Scott Gilman – orchestral arrangements and performance
  • Larry Jacobson Company – management
  • Ryan Harlacher – booking
  • Scott Bradford – legal representation

Artistry

  • Lisa Johnson – photography
  • Taylor Montague – cover painting
  • Micah Montague – art concept
  • Matt the Madman – layout
  • Sergie – mechanicals

Charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (2003) | Peak position | US Independent Albums | US Top Heatseekers Albums | Chart (2006) | Peak position | Japanese Albums (Oricon) | Chart (2014) | Peak position | Australian Albums (ARIA) | Japanese Albums (Oricon) | US Billboard 200 | US Catalog Albums (Billboard) | US Vinyl Albums (Billboard) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 176 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 237 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Certifications

References

References

  1. (2003-06-24). "Avenged Sevenfold website".
  2. (September 3, 2014). "Ariana Grande Nabs Second No. 1 Album with 'My Everything,' Brad Paisley Debuts".
  3. (November 2004). "666 Songs You Must Own: The Ultimate Playlist". Kerrang.
  4. [{{AllMusic
  5. "Avenged Sevenfold signs with Hopeless Records". lambgoat.com.
  6. Brace, Eric. "The Circuit." ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Accessed via [http://www.lexisnexis.com LexisNexis]. "Cleveland's excellent envelope-pushing metal band Mushroomhead performs Wednesday night at Jaxx (703-569-5940), along with Shadows Fall, Avenged Sevenfold and High on Fire." October 18, 2002.
  7. ""You're Not Cooler Than Anyone": Avenged Sevenfold Write Letters Their Younger Selves". kerrang.com.
  8. "Johnny Christ".
  9. Epstein, Dan. "Avenged Sevenfold 'Waking the Fallen': How Band's Biggest Risk Led to Huge Success".
  10. Enis, Eli. "10 heaviest AVENGED SEVENFOLD songs".
  11. (January 28, 2015). "Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows: Metalcore Not Something We Find Enjoyment in Listening To".
  12. Hill, John. (May 25, 2020). "25 Best Metalcore Albums of All Time".
  13. Terich, Jeff. "See Avenged Sevenfold Play Crushing "Unholy Confessions" Performance in 2003".
  14. (August 26, 2003). "Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen".
  15. (16 September 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold: Waking The Fallen Resurrected". Metal Hammer.
  16. Olivier, Bobby. "20 essential Avenged Sevenfold songs that will turn you into a fan".
  17. [{{AllMusic
  18. (January 27, 2012). "Avenged Sevenfold "Waking the Fallen" Album Review". Paul's Awesome World.
  19. "Waking the Fallen - Avenged Sevenfold {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic".
  20. Enis, Eli. "15 Great Bands That Sound Totally Different From Their Debut Albums".
  21. "City of Evil - Avenged Sevenfold {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic".
  22. Leiverspublished, Dannii. (2023-08-26). "“I should’ve died of alcohol poisoning!” How Waking The Fallen catapulted Avenged Sevenfold to international fame and new levels of debauchery".
  23. [http://www.blender.com/guide/new/51520/waking-fallen.html Blender review] {{dead link. (June 2016)
  24. (September 29, 2003). "Album Review: Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen".
  25. (September 16, 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold: Waking The Fallen Resurrected".
  26. (August 30, 2014). "Review: Avenged Sevenfold - Waking the Fallen {{!}} Sputnikmusic". [[Sputnikmusic]].
  27. "Artists to Watch: AVENGED SEVENFOLD". ''[[Billboard (magazine). Billboard]]''. "Orange County, Calif.'s Avenged Sevenfold stands at a crossroads. In one direction is the present and future: the current punk/metal hybrid known as 'screamo.' In the other, the past: influences of such punk bands as NOFX and Bad Religion; the '80s-metal dynamic of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Metallica; and a touch of goth."
  28. "Avenged Sevenfold members carve a new niche with old sound", [[The Bradenton Herald]], accessed via [http://www.lexisnexis.com LexisNexis]. September 18, 2003. "Their long bangs and black eye makeup draw comparisons to the Misfits. Their cryptic lyrics are similar to Iron Maiden. The guttural vocals and machine-gun percussion sound like early Metallica. And the guitar riffs are reminiscent of Crimson Glory."
  29. (July 16, 2016). "Metal Hammer's 100 Greatest Albums Of The 21st Century. - Avenged Sevenfold".
  30. Hill, John HillJohn. (2020-05-25). "25 Best Metalcore Albums of All Time".
  31. (March 27, 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold Plan 'Waking the Fallen' Reissue, New DVD". Loudwire.
  32. (June 24, 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold To Release Waking The Fallen: Resurrected August 25". Hopeless Records.
  33. (2004-02-10). "Avenged Sevenfold website".
  34. (2004-01-02). "Avenged Sevenfold website".
  35. "Headbanger's Ball spawns second compilation". ''BPI Entertainment News Wire''. "Here is the 'MTV2 Headbanger's Ball, Volume 2' track list... Disc one... 'Unholy Confessions,' Avenged Sevenfold." August 2, 2004.
  36. "HOPELESS RECORDS SHARE "CHAPTER FOUR" LIVE FOOTAGE VIDEO.".
  37. (September 17, 2014). "AVENGED SEVENFOLD RELEASE VINTAGE 'CHAPTER FOUR' VIDEO".
  38. (September 16, 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold release "Chapter Four" video".
  39. "Avenged Sevenfold: Chapter Four".
  40. (2014). "Waking the Fallen: Resurrected ''liner notes''". Hopeless Records.
  41. (16 February 2023). "Avenged Sevenfold - TRAX Podcast: "Unholy Confessions" (Episode 6)".
  42. (12 June 2004). "Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 5 coming your way soon".
  43. "Waking the Fallen Awards". [[Rovi Corporation]].
  44. "ウェイキング・ザ・フォールン/サウンディング・ザ・セヴンス・トランペット".
  45. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
  46. "Waking The Fallen: Resurrected". oricon ME inc..
  47. Caulfield, Keith. (September 3, 2014). "Ariana Grande Nabs Second No. 1 Album In Less Than A Year". Prometheus Global Media.
  48. "Catalog Albums".
  49. "Vinyl Albums".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

avenged-sevenfold-albums2003-albumshopeless-records-albums