Here’s something that could soothe you Avenged Sevenfold fans out there: the metal band have teamed-up with Russian punk activists Pussy Riot to deliver a song called “CANDY DOPAMINE.”
Full of break-beat-skittery drum production, power chords and an auto-tuned guest spot from M. Shadows, the crossover pop-rock experiment is a part of Pussy Riot’s newly announced CYKA album. Shadows and A7X guitarist Zacky Vengeance co-wrote “CANDY DOPAMINE” with the members of Pussy Riot, with the latter describing the song as “a heartbreak ballad about prescription drug culture.”
“It started with my dependence on antidepressants, but it’s also looking at everyone now mentalhealthmaxxing and looksmaxxing via pills and injections,” vocalist Nadya Tolokonnikova said in a statement, clarifying, “It’s not a judgement, it’s just an observation and my personal experience with pills for my PTSD and depression.”
You’ll find a video for the song up above. It’s unclear whether Zacky Vengeance is shredding the guitar solo on the recording, though that’s clearly someone else getting neo-classical in the bounce house.
Pussy Riot’s CYKA is out in full on June 12th. Beyond the A7X appearance, a tracklisting reveals other contributors include Cypress Hill’s B-Real, viral singer-songwriter salem ilese and, apparently, Russian president Vladimir Putin. Given the nature of Pussy Riot’s clashes with the Russian government over the years, that last one may not be what it seems.
“CANDY DOPAMINE” continues a line of collaborations between A7X and Pussy Riot. In 2023, Tolokonnikova popped up on a remodeled version of Life Is But A Dream…‘s “We Love You,” which was re-christened “We Love You Moar.”
While Avenged Sevenfold haven’t issued an LP since 2023’s Life Is But A Dream…, they delivered the “Magic” single at the end of 2025. Vengeance also recently released a country-influenced album called Dark Horse under his given name, Zachary Baker.
CYKA tracklisting:
GODS LEFT
PAIN / БОЛЬ
NOTHING TO LOSE
CYKA (ft. Vladimir Putin)
MURKA
GORE (ft. B-Real)
CANDY DOPAMINE (ft. Avenged Sevenfold)
FACELESS PIGS
UTOPIA (ft. salem ilese)
DISOBEY
GOD LOVES THE FIERCE / БОГ ЛЮБИТ ЛЮТЫХ
CANCEL ME
BLIZZARD
OUTRO