Waking the Fallen

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Waking the Fallen
Studio album by
Avenged Sevenfold
ReleasedAugust 26, 2003
RecordedApril – June 10, 2003[1]
Studio
  • Third Stone (Hollywood)
  • Mates Inc (Hollywood)
Genre
Length68:45
LabelHopeless
Producer
Avenged Sevenfold chronology
Sounding the Seventh Trumpet
(2001) 		Waking the Fallen
(2003) 		City of Evil
(2005)
Singles from Waking the Fallen
  1. "Eternal Rest/Chapter Four (promotional)"
    Released: June 19, 2003
  2. "Unholy Confessions"
    Released: August 2, 2004
Waking the Fallen: Resurrected

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.[2] As of March 17, 2021, the album has been certified Platinum in the United States, Gold in Canada, and Silver in the United Kingdom. The song "Eternal Rest" appears on Kerrang!'s "666 Songs You Must Own"[3] and was featured on the soundtrack to the movie Saw IV (2007).[4]

Background[edit]

On January 18, 2002, Avenged Sevenfold left Good Life Recordings and signed with Hopeless Records.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] Christ has previously played with the band whenever Ash could not attend, filling in on a previous tour.[8] Having found a new bassist, the group began recording their new album. Waking the Fallen was released on Hopeless Records in August 2003.

Musical style[edit]

Waking the Fallen has been primarily described musically as metalcore[9][10] and heavy metal,[11] while also leaning towards other styles of metal such as melodic death metal, thrash metal and power metal.[12][11] It 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 in turn meant more songs featured guitar solos.[13][14] The record is notable among fans due to M. Shadows' slightly higher pitch in his voice and high notes he sings on songs like "I Won't See You Tonight" (both parts).

Reception and legacy[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Blender[15]
Drowned in Sound7/10[16]
Louder Sound (reissue)[17]
Sputnikmusic3.0/5.0[18]
Ultimate Guitar

Waking the Fallen was met with highly positive reviews. Robert L. Doerschuk from AllMusic wrote "And 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. 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.[19] In other profiles, the album also received comparisons to the Misfits and further comparisons to Iron Maiden.[20] "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.[21]

Anniversary edition[edit]

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:[22]

We're going to put something together for the 10 year anniversary of 'Waking the Fallen,' which is about 11 or 12 years now. We've been trying to think of something we could put together and we found some old demos that we did with Teppei [Teranishi] from Thrice before we even did that record.... We also found some old footage with [late drummer] 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.

— M. Shadows, Loudwire interview, March 2014

Waking the Fallen: Resurrected was released August 25, 2014.[23]

Videography[edit]

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.[24] 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.[25] 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.[26]

In 2014, a music video for "Chapter Four" was released to promote the release of "Waking The Fallen: Resurrected".[27] The video features clips of the band playing live, shot entirely in black and white.[28] The footage is from the same show was also used for the Unholy Confessions video a decade prior.[29] The video was directed by Rafa Alcantara.[30]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Avenged Sevenfold (Zachary Baker, Brian Haner Jr., Matthew Sanders, Jonathan Seward, James Sullivan), unless otherwise noted[31][32]

Waking the Fallen track list
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Waking the Fallen"Baker, Scott Gilman, Haner Jr., Sanders, Seward, Sullivan1:43
2."Unholy Confessions"Baker, Haner, Sanders4:44
3."Chapter Four" 5:43
4."Remenissions" 6:07
5."Desecrate Through Reverence" 5:39
6."Eternal Rest" 5:13
7."Second Heartbeat" 7:01
8."Radiant Eclipse" 6:10
9."I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1)" 8:59
10."I Won't See You Tonight (Part 2)" 4:45
11."Clairvoyant Disease" 5:00
12."And All Things Will End" 7:41
Total length:68:45
iTunes deluxe version bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Eternal Rest (Live from Ventura Theater - January 2004)"5:28
14."Second Heartbeat (Demo Version)"6:20
15."Unholy Confessions" (music video)4:54
16."We Come Out at Night" (live video at Warped Tour)4:46
Total length:90:13
Waking the Fallen: Resurrected
No.TitleLength
1."Waking the Fallen: Resurrected"2:51
2."Second Heartbeat (Alternate Version)"6:20
3."Chapter Four (Demo Version)"6:24
4."Remenissions (Demo Version)"6:12
5."I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1) (Demo Version)"6:07
6."I Won't See You Tonight (Part 2) (Demo Version)"5:28
7."Intro/Chapter Four (Live in Ventura)"7:10
8."Desecrate Through Reverence (Live In Pomona)"5:44
9."Eternal Rest (Live in Pomona)"5:17
10."Unholy Confessions (Live in Ventura)"5:16
11."Second Heartbeat (Live in Ventura)"7:08
12."I Won't See You Tonight (Part 1) (Live in Ventura)" (exclusive bonus track)8:38
13."I Won't See You Tonight (Part 2) (Live in Ventura)" (exclusive bonus track)4:58
Total length:77:24
  • "Desecrate Through Reverence" is mistakenly written as "Desecrate Through Reverance" in the reissue's booklet.
  • The alternate version of "Second Heartbeat", was previously released on the Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 4 sampler in 2002.
    • The verison on the sampler is listed as a demo version, rather than an alternate version.
  • A slightly longer version of the live versions of "Eternal Rest" was previously released on the Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 5 sampler in 2004.
    • The Resurrected version is mistakenly said to be from Pomona.

Personnel[edit]

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[31]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2003) Peak
position
US Independent Albums[33] 12
US Top Heatseekers Albums[33] 15
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[34] 176
Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[35] 34
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[36] 35
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[37] 48
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[38] 237
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[39] 62
US Billboard 200[40] 10
US Catalog Albums (Billboard)[41] 1
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[42] 5

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for Waking The Fallen
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[43] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[45] Platinum 1,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold website". June 24, 2003. Archived from the original on June 24, 2003. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ariana Grande Nabs Second No. 1 Album with 'My Everything,' Brad Paisley Debuts". Billboard. September 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "666 Songs You Must Own: The Ultimate Playlist". Rock List Music. Kerrang. November 2004. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  4. ^ AllMusic review
  5. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold signs with Hopeless Records". lambgoat.com. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  6. ^ Brace, Eric. "The Circuit." The Washington Post. Accessed via 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. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  8. ^ Gallien, Krueger. "Johnny Christ". Gallien Krueger. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows: Metalcore Not Something We Find Enjoyment in Listening To". Loudwire. January 28, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2023. Avenged Sevenfold appeared on the music scene in 1999, and the group released two albums that were metalcore in sound before departing from that style for their 2005 major label debut 'City of Evil.'
  10. ^ Hill, John (May 25, 2020). "25 Best Metalcore Albums of All Time". Loudwire.
  11. ^ a b "Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen". punknews.org. August 26, 2003. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
  12. ^ Bezer, Terry (September 16, 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold: Waking The Fallen Resurrected". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Allmusic review
  14. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold "Waking the Fallen" Album Review". Paul's Awesome World. January 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012.
  15. ^ Blender review [dead link]
  16. ^ Hocking, Matt (September 29, 2003). "Album Review: Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  17. ^ Bezer, Terry (September 16, 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold: Waking The Fallen Resurrected". Louder Sound. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  18. ^ M, Jordan (August 30, 2014). "Review: Avenged Sevenfold - Waking the Fallen | Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "Artists to Watch: AVENGED SEVENFOLD". 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."
  20. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold members carve a new niche with old sound", The Bradenton Herald, accessed via 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."
  21. ^ "Metal Hammer's 100 Greatest Albums Of The 21st Century. - Avenged Sevenfold". avengedsevenfold.com. July 16, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  22. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Plan 'Waking the Fallen' Reissue, New DVD". Loudwire. March 27, 2014.
  23. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold To Release Waking The Fallen: Resurrected August 25". Hopeless Records. June 24, 2014.
  24. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold website". February 10, 2004. Archived from the original on February 10, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  25. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold website". January 2, 2004. Archived from the original on January 2, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "HOPELESS RECORDS SHARE "CHAPTER FOUR" LIVE FOOTAGE VIDEO". AvengedSevenfold.com. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  28. ^ Cornell, Jeff (September 17, 2014). "AVENGED SEVENFOLD RELEASE VINTAGE 'CHAPTER FOUR' VIDEO". Loudwire. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  29. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold release "Chapter Four" video". Alternative Press. September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  30. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold: Chapter Four". IMDB. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  31. ^ a b Waking the Fallen: Resurrected liner notes. Hopeless Records. 2014. p. 9.
  32. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold - TRAX Podcast: "Unholy Confessions" (Episode 6)". YouTube. February 16, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Waking the Fallen Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  34. ^ "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". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  35. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". ARIA. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  36. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Avenged Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  37. ^ "Officialcharts.de – Avenged Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  38. ^ "Waking The Fallen: Resurrected" (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  39. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Avenged Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  40. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 3, 2014). "Ariana Grande Nabs Second No. 1 Album In Less Than A Year". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  41. ^ "Catalog Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  42. ^ "Vinyl Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  43. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Avenged Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen". Music Canada. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  44. ^ "British album certifications – Avenged Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  45. ^ "American album certifications – Avenged Sevenfold – Waking The Fallen". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
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