A few years ago — before major labels stepped into the picture — Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu were the two “most likely to” groups to emerge from the Orange County metalcore scene, and in no time a bitter rivalry erupted, one that was eagerly fueled by metal mags looking for a good beef.
First, Avenged told Britain’s Kerrrang magazine that Atreyu had stolen one of their songs, lacked creativity. etc., etc. Then, Atreyu lashed back and accused Avenged of being two-faced and opportunistic. The war was on.
So, when the two bands announced in December that they would both be taking part in this year’s Taste of Chaos tour, those who follow such trivial things as rock rivalries raised an eyebrow. In the spirit of attempting to drive a new wedge between A7X and Atreyu, we decided to pit them against one another in our latest Who Rocks Harder campaign. Even if you think neither rock, it’s a tough call.
Certainly, Avenged are more popular, but Atreyu have the louder screamer. On another fornt, both have strayed from their metalcore roots. Avenged did so first and achieved platinum success with their Metallica/Guns N’ Roses hybrid. But then, Atreyu left the roost with the critically acclaimed Lead Sails Paper Anchor, and are currently flying high with the single “Becoming the Bull” (see below).
Both bands have strong songwriting chops and blazing lead guitarists and both have totally rad imagery — if you’re 16 and like to hang out in Hot Topic. So we ask you, who rocks harder, Avenged Sevenfold or Atreyu? Leave you comments in the box below. And if you think we’re totally lame-ass posers for even posing such a question, let us know that as well. We welcome your abuse.
January 8th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
This is a trick question right? Because neither of the bands actually rock.
January 8th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
A7x is better IMO
January 8th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
deeeeefinately A7X.
atreyu’s alright and their screamer is rad, theyve even got an awesome guitar player (who thinks hes eddie van halen by the way), but they have that god damn drummer singing all the time. hes aweful and is not much better than say fall out boy or panic at the disco (who are of course horrifyingly horrible).
avenged sevenfold on the other hand has 2 amazing guitarists who harmonize perfectly (even live. i saw them a few weeks ago. and every thing was perfect) and Shadows has an AMAZING voice. not only was his scream awesome on their first 2 albums (better on the first ill admit) but he has amazing range. listen to “i wont see you tonight” for proof. i always thought he had faked it on the album until i saw them live. he hit every note.
atreyu also has nothing that measures up to the epic beauty and brilliant musicianship of City of Evil. they cannot compare to songs like “strength of the worls” and “m.i.a.”
that being sed,
vote A7X…
January 8th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
atreyu!!!!
January 8th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
The whole time reading this, I kept waiting for the “haha, just kidding”… but it never came. I’ll offer my opinion anyway. I’ve seen both of these bands live multiple times, and to be honest, Atreyu never disappoints. The last time I saw Avenged Sevenfold, I seriously thought I was watching some horrible, horrible Pantera/Metallica cover band. There was absolutely no energy, and M. Shadows acted like he just learned the songs earlier in the day. The energy at the Atreyu shows is always high, and they know their stuff. Even tho I don’t think they necessarily “Rock,” they put on a good show.
January 8th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
this MIGHT be the reason why MTV sucks… How about you give us interviews with the bands instead of this High School Musical #@$@#?~@ you propegate as “journalism”
Both bands are solid and put on great shows, leave it at that!
January 9th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Atreyu is the best
January 9th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Both bands neither have the true element of metal but IMO, Atreyu hasn’t strayed from hardcore but Avenged has better songs. I say it would be Atreyu heavier but Avenged prolly better although they have the “suck factor
January 9th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Ax7 has been around way longer than these wanna rockers!!!(Atreyu) I just think that Atreyu has got a lot to learn if they want to be even half as good as Ax7… No doubt about it!!!
January 9th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
wow this is a tough one.
but i think i will say atreyu
January 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
i love them both but avenged sevenfold will always be number
one for me their the best band right now no other comes close
and no guitarist can compare to synyster gates the closest is zacky vengeance and ooh look hes in the same band
and m.shadows is a amazing singer as good as alex is hes got nothing on him
and the rev is a god next to brandon sorry guys but its true
and dont forget johnny christ lol
so yeah a7x forever!!!!!!!!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Honestly neither… If you want great vocals, guitar, drums, etc. then look else where. Bands like Edguy, Symphony X, and Dream Theater are phenomenally better. If you want a screamer then lamb of god or disturbed basically have that down. But by far the best vocals out there goes to Ayreon, fairly unknown in Emerica but the singers Arjen takes from all the bands come together greatly. However just like abortions its all a personal opinion
so personally they both suck
January 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
neither
January 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
this is a trick question. here’s my answer: OTEP!
January 10th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Both bands sux!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
THEY BOTH SUCK!!SISSY GIRLY BAND WANNA BEz!!!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
both bands are horrible….where’s symphony x..enough with these $*% bands
January 10th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
The next one should be Demon Hunter against As I Lay Dying. That would be good. Anyways, i’m going with Atreyu
January 10th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
both are terriable….alot of flash and nothing else….dont tell me how wrong I am, I get it, I get it-You like shitty music…..they both suck, get over it…..
January 11th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Mayhem
January 12th, 2008 at 12:39 am
A7X sucks now (so does Atreyu, but to a lesser degree) because they went Trivium’s route and totally abandoned Metalcore. Hell, that was all A7X had. I don’t want any touchy-feely crap, I want some $~~%@#% screaming. I say both bands are better than they are now, about 2 albums ago.
And you can’t compare a Metalcore band to a progressive rock band, or any other kind of rock band. Go ahead and compare the genres, but not the individual bands.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Both were good back when I was through my screamo, angsty teenager phase. I still like Waken The Fallen and A Deathgrip, just to lesser extents. To me A7X sold out right away. Atreyu’s new album is a disappointment, but A7X’s City Of Evil and self-titled just were terrible. Both are far from being even average, but I have to give Atreyu this one.
January 19th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I’ll give my vote to Atreyu. A7X SUCKS ASS!!! A7X ARE A BUNCH OF SELL OUT, AND POSERS!! wat pisses me off the most tis the fact that some people think that they’re metal well news flash A7X IS NOT METAL!! i’m not saying atreyu is metal(all the way, but they might get there if they tried hard enough) but at least they are not selling out as bad as a7x has. Atreyu hasn’t sold out the way and they,ve been trying all these years to improve their music and that’s what I like about Atreyu and they did a great job in lead sails, paper anchors, and i’d like to say i’m proud of them because they did improve their music (from their previous albums). A7X considers themselves metal just because a bunch of stupid emo kids told them they are and now emo kids think that they are metal heads, well they are not they don’t know metal! A7X IS NOT *%%$?%@ METAL AND THEY WILL NEVER BE THEY’RE A BUNCH OF SELLOUTS/ POSERS!
January 28th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Atreyu all #$&*!&# day. Avenged Sevenfold is no good.. it dissapoints me they are touring together.. but yeah atreyu
February 1st, 2008 at 7:14 pm
a7x is ok but atreyu rocks harder
February 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Im gonna give my vote to Atreyu cause even though it pissed me off that Avenged Sevenfold let go of their true essence im not surprised though. Many band have done that, for example, Slipknot. and unfortunately, Atreyu is going on the same direction. their latest cd is much softer than that of “The Curse”. i hope they dont do that.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
rofl
“I want some #*#%?#@ screaming”
relax man. screaming isnt the only thing that defines music
February 5th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
YOU ALL SUCK A7X ALL THE WAY! i like atreyu but A7X is much more mature and to top it all off A7X has the best guitarest ever! GO SIN!!!!
February 6th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
How dare you even compare atreyu to AVENGED SEVENFOLD.
SHADOWS VOICE > THEN EMO SCREAM WHINER
SYN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> JACOBS TIMES 1000
REV>>>>>>>>>> THEN THEIR SHITTY DRUMMERS
+ METAL+ more techiqal guitar+ better vocals+ more mature+ not emo
= AVENGED AND ATREYU SHOULDNT BE IN THE SAME SENTENCE A7x 4 life…
February 7th, 2008 at 3:25 am
Old A7X (Mainly Waking the Fallen) > Atreyu
Atreyu > New A7X (Self Titled, they totally sold out)
February 28th, 2008 at 12:41 am
they both really suck. listen to cannibal corpse
February 28th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
haha i love the one comment they both suck listen to cannibal corpse. what the *@@$ tho, why do all these bands have to sell out? a7x was so good when you trace them back to their roots with sounding the seventh trumpet. they did that @?~? in high school. then came waking the fallen which was even better. then boom they sold out for good and shadows sucks so bad he should shoot himself in the head. atreyu was also good and then sold out with their new gay release. in conclusion none are metal and if i would have to pick one i would have to say atreyu. however, you shouldnt listen to either, listen to between the buried and me or arsonists get all the girls. id rather listen to hawthorne heights than a7x
March 6th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I just saw both of them in concert. I was really there for atreyu but Avenged sevenfold won me over. I already liked them but they so kicked atreyu ass. I mean unlike some people I think about vocals and matt shadows is so awesome. He sounds so better than he does on the radio. I like atreyu to but avenged sevenfold so destroyed them. I’m 24 and my husband is 31 and we love stuff like pantera, gnr, faith no more. So Im not some kind of emo idiot. We just like good music and avenged sevenfold is good entertaining music.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I would have thought it would be taken as standard that Avenged Sevenfold are the better musicians? Aren’t metal fans supposed to dislike emo-core bands like Atreyu anyway? In my eyes (…ears), City of Evil is a phenomenal musical accomplishment with variety and truly original, sprawling solos and much better than the earlier metalcore stuff which lacked substance and originality. Self-titled album went a bit too commercial though clearly…
I still like Atreyu but Avenged Sevenfold win any day.
March 10th, 2008 at 3:05 am
i would have said a7x but i just realized how sold out they were and i dont think they care about their fans (talked s*** about ohio at the detroit show) i recently met atreyu and they were very down to earth, of coarse their are harder bands but these are the two we are comparing….so atreyu
March 10th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I haven’t heard a damn thing that touches Waking the Fallen in forever. That album was my sanctuary for quite a while due to some incredible technicality that I didn’t believe existed in a lot of todays music. In my HUMBLE AS HELL opinion some of the stuff I hear from Dream Theater (one of my favorite bands), AND MY GOD SYMPHONY X with the sci-fi channel lyrics is horrific. (To a more obvious extent Dragon Force is in there too) It’s not enough to be technical, you have to make it fit with the song or it just becomes noise, extremely loud obnoxious noise. The only really good inspiring song I’ve heard from Atreyu is Untitled Finale. Therefore AX7 and all of their emo groupieness. Not to mention they wrote a song about Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas that made them popular. Let me tell you that is some main stream sell out material right there. How many of you have read that book? Or anything from the good Dr.?
March 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Not to mention I credit AX7 with bringing back the guitar solo in mainstream rock. I mean seriously when was the last time you saw a music video that had a guitar player sweeping a wicked arpeggio in it? Before Nirvana for me, and only through Youtube videos because I’m 22 and too young to remember guys prancing around on stage looking like their favorite strippers (until I saw My Chemical Romance).
March 10th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
a7x. everyone says Matt cant scream. oohhh thats crap. just cause atreyu screams more and a7x not as much, doesnt mean theyre not as “metal.” Avenged Sevenfold is CLASSIC METAL meaning their sound changes but not the metal aspect. a7x are just all around better…with amazing TALENTED guitarists…just saying…
March 15th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I’m sick of people judging this on what ‘route’ the bands have taken. Think of them as a band for a minute, not what songs they write.
If you see either band live, you’ll agree, they’re both pretty amazing. But A7X are not ‘fakers’, listen to M. Shadows’ voice on the record, then hear it live, every note, every scream is in the exact same place, tune and whatever else.
Unlike most bands, the new record of Avenged has every member in the band doing vocals, because guess what? They ALL have TALENT.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Atreyu and A7X are both good but Atreyu has good beat and something you can really get into. Atreyu all the way. No contest.
March 25th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Well, city of Evil is propaply one of the best albums ever made. A7x is to good to be compared to Atreyu. Atreyu is OK tough. IMO.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:31 am
i absolutely loveee them both.
but,
i’m gonna have to say atreyu rocks it harder.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:27 am
Both bands suck copious amounts of goat semen.
Do yourselves a favor kids and go pick up the new Testament.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Avenged Sevenfold is far better and more superior than Atreyu. Avenged Sevenfold actually is addicting to listen to, you never get bored of them whereas you listen to Atreyu you are entertained to a certain extent, then you get bored.
Avenged Sevenfold’s self-titled album wasn’t a “sell out”, it is in fact the best album in my opinion. So what if they changed dramatically, at least its good, and not going from metal to country..
A7X>Atreyu.
April 19th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
well they both rock *$$*?%# hard on there old cds Deathgrip and back Waking The Fallen and back but they both sold out huge lead sails is not atreyu whatsoever and neither is city of evil and the self titled sevenfold but atreyu did have some screaming left so there rocking harder also when they were both good sevenfold was no doubt more technical and epic but atreyu had way better screaming and singing and was catchier ect and more accessable but in the end they both sold out huge and the rev is one of the ugliest people ive ever seen tell him to cut his damn hair and loose the ?~?$$* hairstyle on the other hand Zacky V owns im not sure how he could be in a band that sold out so huge and all in all m shadows is a jerk but has some good singing in the Waking The Fallen era
May 6th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Both bands are really shitty and would have jack and ?*~$ without studio budgets and great haircuts. However, in America; mediocre music and trends are the main ingredient of short-lived bands. So, later fellas. Your “artistic” career is on the out!!! Cheers!
May 8th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Avenged Sevenfold.
No Doubt about it.
I like both bands, but I like ALOT of A7x’s songs and like, 4 Of Atreyu’s….idk I just think A7x is the way to go…
Plus A7x’s guitarists are DEFINATELY more skilled and they have LOADS better solos.
SO GO SYN AND ZACKY!
A7X FOR LIFE!
May 10th, 2008 at 11:59 am
well this one is a tough question. I LOVE both bands equally but from the most recent CD’s i’d have to say i was more disappointed with Avenged Sevenfold. I still love them to pieces though. At least with Atreyu, they still kept their Hardcore sound. I thought A7X were supposed to be metal? they sound softer than metal but they still are really good.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Both bands suck big fat @#%?! Korpiklaani would kick both their asses anyday, even with the Robin Hood-like getups… and how are they metalcore? They sound like shitty emo whiners with a ?~~~ in their ass. Want to ask a real question? How about: If there were 3 dicks and two bands, who would suck what? JK, they would all slurp it up equally… haha YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 13th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
It really all depends on how you look at it. From an individual talent standpoint A7X is more talented with more complex solos and intricate drumming however all that fancy soloing isn’t needed when your just trying to bang your head! Atreyu, while there songs are much simpler, they have a much “fatter” sound and never fail to deliver a crushing breakdown. Not to mention the tone of Alex’s vocals is down right brutal and much harsher than A7X vocals as of lately. I love both bands and A7X definetly is superior from a technical standpoint with wailing guitars and flawless double bass but the tone is often to happy and bright in comparison to Atreyu. SO in conclusion Atreyu without doubt can get a much more violent pit out of a crowd.