City of Evil

City of Evil marks the definitive turning point for Avenged Sevenfold, signaling their departure from the Orange County metalcore scene into the realm of traditional heavy metal and progressive rock. Released on June 6, 2006, the album is famous for M. Shadows' vocal transformation; following intensive training with Ron Anderson, he abandoned screaming in favor of a melodic, raspy delivery inspired by Axl Rose. The record is equally defined by its technicality, particularly the 'twin-guitar' approach of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, which earned the album a spot on Guitar World's greatest of all time list. The Rev's drumming reached new heights here, utilizing high-BPM double-kick patterns that pushed the limits of human endurance. Critically, it was seen as a bold, fun, and necessary evolution that successfully merged the aggression of metal with the accessibility of hard rock, eventually earning Platinum certification and solidifying the band's status as festival headliners.