AVENGED SEVENFOLD SURPRISE FANS WITH THE RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM THE STAGE
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AVENGED SEVENFOLD SURPRISE FANS WITH THE RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM THE STAGE
FIRST-EVER ROCK BAND TO DROP UNANNOUNCED ALBUM AS A DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL RELEASE
ANNOUNCES NEW RECORD FOLLOWING GROUNDBREAKING GLOBAL VIRTUAL REALITY EVENT
28 OCTOBER 2016 (Toronto, ON) – Avenged Sevenfold has “surprise-released” THE STAGE, becoming the first-ever rock band to drop an unannounced album in both digital and physical form. THE STAGE is the band’s seventh studio album and first for Capitol Records/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The Southern California-based quintet (vocalist M. Shadows, guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman) revealed the news at midnight eastern, surprising the millions of fans who were watching their live-streamed performance from the rooftop of the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, CA. The groundbreaking event saw the band give a 3D/360-degree live-streamed virtual reality performance, enabling fans around the globe to view the show on Universal Music Group’s newly released VRTGO VR platform, powered by VRLIVE’s advanced technology, and experience Avenged Sevenfold’s electrifying set as if they were there for this first-of-its-kind immersive event. Fans attended the event in-person, flooding the streets and sidewalks around the tower to experience a concert amplified by augmented reality (AR) technology, which intensifies real-world environmental elements with computer-generated sensory input such as graphics, video and sound to enhance the live experience. Afterward, the band celebrated with fans, taking photos and sharing stories about the secretive release. THE STAGE is the follow-up to Avenged Sevenfold’s 2013 release, HAIL TO THE KING, which entered The Billboard 200 at No. 1. Co-produced by the band and Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool), THE STAGE is a work of immense scope and ambition, featuring 11 panoramic tracks tied together by an Artificial Intelligence theme. Inspired by the writings of Carl Sagan and Elon Musk, the album is the band’s first thematic release. The album’s epic 15-minute-plus closing track, “Exist”, features a guest appearance by award-winning astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson giving a spoken word performance he penned specifically for the album. Working with new label Capitol Records, the band’s plans for a stealth release were months in the making, and kicked off a few weeks ago with a guerilla campaign that saw projections of their deathbat symbol mysteriously appearing on landmarks around the world. Fans and media reported sightings and shared images from Paris, Sydney, London, Japan and Berlin, to name but a few. Anticipation and conspiracy theories reached fever pitch when rumors regarding supposed album titles and a December release date began to spread. Two weeks ago, the band released a companion video for lead single/title track “The Stage”. Directed by Chris Hopewell (Radiohead, The Killers), the clip – seen HERE – has already amassed well over six million YouTube views. The album also marks the band’s first release with acclaimed drummer Brooks Wackerman, known for his work with Bad Religion and whose discography also includes albums from Tenacious D and Suicidal Tendencies. avengedsevenfold.com
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