In the greater sphere of the metal world, accepting new bands into the pantheon of legends is a constant uphill battle. Avenged Sevenfold winning Best Metal Artist of the Year, and award presented by BlackCraft, is indicative of them accomplishing this feat, as singer M. Shadows, guitarists Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman all come together to form one of modern metal’s most dominant bands.

This year, the band has accomplished one of their most impressive feats to date, releasing The Stage a year ago, and joining on some of the biggest tours in metal. Throughout 2017, the group has been headlining festivals around the globe, and acting as support for Metallica, showing that they truly are one of heavy metal’s most prominent bands.

Since 1999, the band has been building their progressive and forward thinking brand of metal by incorporating many of its disparate sounds and styles together, creating a unique sound that embodies the genre’s past and future. In a single song by Avenged, you’re sure to hear the influence of thrash metal, speed metal, metalcore, hair metal, and a lot more, all tied together in a driving, exciting package.

There was a fun moment when the band made their way to the stage a little early, kind of spoiling the announcement that they had won. It was a hard fought victory for Avenged Sevenfold, beating out some of the genre’s most dominant acts, including the veterans in Metallica, Mastodon and Body Count, as well as two of the genre’s hottest acts in Code Orange and Power Trip. Congratulations to Avenged Sevenfold for winning Metal Artist of the Year, presented by Blackcraft, in the 2017 Loudwire Music Awards.

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