Though Avenged Sevenfold have pretty much stuck to the arena scene for their series of global tour dates this year, the beloved California quintet got up-close and personal with their die-hards last night (October 25th) while hammering through some of their earliest metalcore hits.
As previously reported, A7X announced that the intimate show at Santa Ana, California’s Observatory was being held exclusively for their Deathbats Club, with the setlist focusing on songs from the group’s breakout 2003 release, Waking the Fallen, and its smash 2005 follow-up, City of Evil.
While A7X are pretty much guaranteed to take you to “Bat Country” most any gig, the appeal of this performance was obviously that the lion’s share of both Waking the Fallen and City of Evil have fallen off the group’s usual setlist. So, you’d better believe it was a treat for Deathbat Club members to see Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance peeling off a tandem guitar attack on deep cuts like “Remenissions,” which hadn’t been played since 2016.
Getting into the Halloween spirit, vocalist M. Shadows appeared in a skeleton jumpsuit and skull makeup, and while not a costume per se, Gates rocked his iconic fedora-and-guyliner look from the City of Evil era. Meanwhile, the rabid audience included not one but two moshing Pikachus.
You can check out a few sweaty, fan-shot vids from the Observatory show up above and down below, where you’ll likewise find A7X’s full rarities-packed setlist (courtesy of Setlist.fm).
Beyond last night’s concert, Avenged Sevenfold also celebrated Halloween earlier this week by delivering a faithful cover of the Misfits’ “Skulls.” It’s become an A7X tradition of sorts to cover the horror-punk pioneers, with the group have previously saluted Glenn Danzig and Co. with renditions of “Last Caress,” “Hybrid Moments” and “Astro Zombies.”
Avenged Sevenfold 10/25/24 setlist:
To End the Rapture (first time since 2017)
Chapter Four (first time since 2018)
Burn It Down (first time since 2018)
Blinded in Chains
Remenissions (first time since 2016)
Seize the Day
Second Heartbeat (first time since 2018)
Desecrate Through Reverence (first time since 2004, first performance with Brooks Wackerman)
Unholy Confessions
Beast and the Harlot (first time since 2018; fans playing with band)
M.I.A. (first time since 2018)