Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a creative project for four years, only to be met with a wave of mixed reactions. That's exactly what Avenged Sevenfold experienced with their latest album, 'Life Is But A Dream…' But how does the band, and specifically frontman M. Shadows, really feel about the polarizing response?
In a recent interview with Igor Miranda of Rolling Stone Brasil, M. Shadows delved into the experimental nature of the album, a project meticulously crafted over four years in Los Angeles with producer Joe Barresi, and mixed by Andy Wallace in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. 'Life Is But A Dream…' isn't just an album; it's described as an existential journey, a deeply personal exploration of the meaning of life, its purpose, and its inherent value, all while grappling with the ever-present anxiety of death.
But here's where it gets controversial... the album didn't receive universal acclaim. Some critics and fans praised its ambition and artistic risks, while others found it challenging, inaccessible, or simply not to their taste. So, how did M. Shadows react to the mixed bag of opinions?
According to Blabbermouth.net's transcription, M. Shadows stated, "I don't think any of that stuff weighs on me at all. I think it weighs on other people more than it weighs on the band. But I think it's healthy for us to be kind of oblivious to it." He suggests that the band's internal conviction about the album's quality shields them from being overly affected by external criticism. He even finds a certain amusement in the situation. "We were playing in Greece, and I think there was, like, 10 or 12,000 people [there], and I'm looking at these faces and I'm thinking, I just wonder what those people thought the first time they put on 'Life Is But A Dream...' It's kind of funny to me. I get more of a kick out of it than anything. 'Cause we totally back it. We love it. We think it's great."
Shadows elaborates on his perspective, emphasizing the band's commitment to their artistic vision: "I think those people can either go on a journey and learn to like it, or they loved it off the bat, or they'll never put it on again. But the idea that we have some sort of control over our art and we can put it out there and we can like affect people in that way, it's just kind of funny to me. It can't be that serious, right?" He draws a parallel to visual art, suggesting that artists should be free to create what they want, regardless of whether everyone appreciates it. "We don't let it weigh on us as much as it probably weighs on other people."
So, what drives Avenged Sevenfold to constantly evolve and challenge their listeners? M. Shadows explains that the band is constantly seeking new musical territories. "I've been really interested lately in the usage of unique melody, and when you've got unique melody, a super square riff… And then so when we start thinking about music going forward, and it even started with 'The Stage' and with 'Life Is But A Dream...', we're really playing around tonally with things that really interest us and kind of bend our ear and make us feel something."
And this is the part most people miss... It's not about deliberately trying to be weird or progressive; it's about chasing that elusive feeling of excitement and discovery. "If you can keep chasing something and making you feel something, the thing you already did isn't gonna make you feel super different, 'cause you've already done it... whenever we venture into something that's very unique, tonally or riff-wise or the way we can arrange something and we get excited, then we go, 'Okay, now we've got something to kind of go off of.'" In essence, the band's creative process is driven by a desire to constantly find new ways to evoke emotion and push their own boundaries. "That's what keeps us inspired — just finding new things to make us feel weird."
M. Shadows touched upon this mixed reception previously in a June 2023 interview on the "Let There Be Talk" podcast, stating, "With our new record right now, all you see are 10-out-of-10 reviews and zero-out-of-10 reviews... in 2023, having a zero out of 10 is actually better than anything you could ask for, because people are talking, and it's a weird society we live in at this point." He suggests that even negative reactions contribute to the album's overall impact and visibility.
He continued, "All artists can do is be a reflection of themselves at any point in time," emphasizing the importance of artistic authenticity. He uses examples like Weezer's 'Pinkerton,' Mr. Bungle's 'Disco Volante,' and Kanye West's 'Yeezus' as examples of albums that initially faced criticism but later gained appreciation for their unique artistic vision.
M. Shadows also spoke with Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio in June 2023, saying, "We were just looking for really bold moments — in life, in art, in film. Things that we could sort of wrap our minds around an audio representation of how we were feeling about certain things... this record, we were able to just go break all the rules."
He recalled a comment from Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, who described the album as "like you guys throwing paint at the wall, but if a fourth-grader was doing it, you'd say that's just paint on the wall. But because of everything you've done before, we all know you know how to make a beautiful painting, so this record is actually really special because it's not just paint on the wall."
Commercially, 'Life Is But A Dream…' reportedly sold 36,000 equivalent album units in its first week, landing at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. This was a drop from their previous album, 'The Stage,' which debuted at No. 4 in 2016 and sold 76,000 copies in its first week.
Adding to the band's recent challenges, Avenged Sevenfold had to postpone their fall 2025 Latin American tour due to a vocal injury sustained by M. Shadows. He was diagnosed with vocal fold hematoma, forcing the band to prioritize his health and recovery.
Ultimately, Avenged Sevenfold's journey with 'Life Is But A Dream…' highlights the complexities of artistic creation and reception. The band's unwavering commitment to their vision, coupled with their willingness to embrace experimentation, has resulted in an album that has sparked both admiration and criticism.
Here's a thought: Is it the artist's responsibility to cater to existing fan expectations, or should they be free to explore new creative avenues, even if it means alienating some listeners? What do you think? Do you admire Avenged Sevenfold's willingness to take risks, or do you prefer their more traditional sound? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
