Heretic

Album: Hail to the King (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the first song that Avenged Sevenfold wrote for Hail to the King, hence it being a throwback to band's traditional sound. Guitarist Synyster Gates told MusicRadar.com: "It's a little progressive, but we wanted to maintain some space in the arrangement so the drums could shine and the riffs and vocals could breathe."

    He added: "This is a lot of guitar, though, some big moments. If you're not the biggest groove fan – and it you're not, you should be – there's still a progressive element. So it's a mix, this song, and it worked out really well."
  • Vocalist M. Shadows is singing here about religious fanaticism and witch hunts. He explained to Kerrang! magazine: "To me, this is about the Salem Witch Trials. It's about the West Memphis Three. It's about being put in jail for life for the clothes you wear and because you have long hair. And it's all based on religion and fantasy, when no-one can just look at the facts for what they are, because they're completely clouded by their love of their religious beliefs. That song is a step back to say, 'You don't have to be at someone's door, ready to burn them without giving them a chance to explain themselves."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.