As the group continues to promote Life Is But A Dream…his visionary 2023 album, Mr. Shadows said Avenged Sevenfold were not yet ready to fully commit to the creation of their ninth opus.
In “accumulation” mode
In a recent interview with Bradley Hall, Mr. Shadows shared his views on Avenged Sevenfold’s musical future. Although ideas are starting to emerge, for the moment the group prefers to take a step back to better nourish their creative process.
“We still have commitments related to Life Is But A Dream…,” explains the singer. “We want to play in India, Peru, and organize something in South America before closing this era. We also have some very interesting European markets to explore this summer.”
Far from rushing, the group is in a phase of reflection and observation. “We are in accumulation mode. This means jotting down ideas, whether on an iPhone or in Pro Tools, and putting together a sort of bag full of ideas, like Santa’s. One day we’ll dig into it and see what comes out.”
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A need to step back to move forward better
Mr. Shadows emphasizes the importance of taking a break to allow ideas to mature naturally: “If you’re constantly in front of Pro Tools, consumed by media, or constantly playing video games, you’re not living a life that can inspire something new,” he declares.
For the singer, it is crucial to get out of this “attention economy” omnipresent in order to allow ideas to emerge. He recommends doing “long walks, cycling, sports…” Activities that free the brain to make room for creativity.
“Sometimes the best ideas come from walking down the street, hearing a noise, or having a spontaneous thought,” he adds.
