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

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.