M. Shadows

M. Shadows

Matthew Charles Sanders, (born July 31, 1981) better known by his stage name M. Shadows, isthe vocalist and founding member for the American metal/rock band Avenged Sevenfold.sister is former Detroit Shock player, Amy Sanders.

Biography

Early life

In his youth, Sanders was notorious for his disorderly conduct and misbehavior. He is quoted as saying "I was in between a good kid and a terrible kid - I had a good heart, but a terrible attitude." He attended Huntington Beach High School after being expelled from his middle school in the eighth grade. As the band was just starting out, he was the darker character of the group (hence the name "Shadows") but he also wanted to incorporate his first name, Matthew, into his stage name. Matthew was reduced to "M" because it had a "better ring" when combined with his stage name, and he has ever since been known as M. Shadows.''All Excess'', Avenged Sevenfold DVD (2007).

Although he makes references to the Bible (as demonstrated in the songs Beast and the Harlot, Dear God, Chapter Four, etc.,) M. Shadows stated that the band does not wish to force their political or religious views upon anyone.

Sanders played the piano before he became a member of his first band, Successful Failure. While growing up, he was fond of punk rock bands such as H2O (U.S. band)|H2O and The Misfits (band)|The Misfits, and got into the scene when his father bought him Appetite for Destruction, by Guns N' Roses, after he had seen them on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.

In following years, Shadows formed a number of bands with Avenged Sevenfold's rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance. Vengeance was previously a member of a pank rock group called MPA. While Shadows was playing in "Successful Failure", The Rev was slotted to play drums (but was admittedly too good). All Excess, Avenged Sevenfold DVD (2007) While in this band he penned the song "Streets," which would later be recorded after Avenged Sevenfold was formed, and released on the first album, ''Sounding the Seventh Trumpet''.

The album was a mix of metalcore and [[punk rock]] but also included a softer, more ballad-like song Warmness On The Soul. ''Sounding the Seventh Trumpet'' was first recorded and produced while Shadows and the rest of Avenged Sevenfold were in high school.

Avenged Sevenfold

Shadows has stated that he strongly supports the troops serving the United States, having very close friends who are currently in service in Iraq War|Iraq. The song "M.I.A." ("Missing In Action") was reportedly written in tribute to these friends. The song "Gunslinger" from Avenged Sevenfold'sAvenged Sevenfold (album)|self-titled album further expresses these feelings (though it was stated in the album's extra MVI that it is not just about troops - "It can be about anyone away from home, missing their families.") The song "Critical Acclaim" can be interpreted as an attack against those who criticize America.

Shadows has made guest appearances on numerous albums by various artists. He also produced The Confession (band)|The Confession's 2007 album, "Requiem (The Confession album)|Requiem'', which, according to an interview, was one of the first steps which led to Avenged Sevenfold self-producing their 2007 Avenged Sevenfold (album)|self-titled album.

Vocal style

In the band's debut album, ''Sounding the Seventh Trumpet'', M. Shadows' vocals had a heavy metalcore influence and consisted mostly of screaming (music)|screamed vocals. This style gradually decreased in later albums into more conventional clean singing and had been almost completely abandoned by the release of ''City of Evil'', the band's major label debut.

In October 2002, the band announced that Shadows was experiencing problems in his vocal cords, due to their active touring, and that his doctor advised him to take a short break from touring to prevent further damage release of ''City of Evil'' a false rumor started circulating, saying that the reason that he dropped screaming vocals was either due to a ripped vocal cord or a blown blood vessel in the back of his throat. Despite having a blood vessel removed from his vocal cords that would flame up and close his throat.

James In an interview on ''All Excess'', manager Larry Jacobson states that Shadows had decided two years before the making of ''City of Evil'' that it would be an all-singing album. He had made it clear to their producer, Andrew Murdock, that the album they were working on at the time, ''Waking the Fallen'' would be half singing and half screaming, and that the next would be all singing. Moreover, Jimmy "the Rev" Sullivan confirmed that M. Shadows grew tired of doing screamed vocals.

Sullivan Modern Drummer In the past Shadows would sing on all parts of the songs during live performances, supporting the theory that he was no longer able to perform unclean vocals. Shadows has since resumed screaming again during live performances in the songs that initially feature screamed vocals Shadows's influences include Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, Anthrax (band)|Anthrax, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Queen (band)|Queen, AFI (band)|AFI, Bad Religion, Misfits (band)|Misfits and Beastie Boys

     M Shadows

Related Articles: