LISTEN: A7X’s New Track “Malaguena Salerosa”
Avenged Sevenfold is adding to its latest album, The Stage.
The group has released a new song, a version of the Mexican classic “Malaguena Salerosa” (A7X’s first release sung in Spanish), via streaming services; It’s intended to be an extension of the album.
A7X plans to follow with six more songs — five more covers and an original — over the course of the next few months that frontman M. Shadows tells Billboard is part of an evolution of both The Stage and the concept of what an album can be:
“The idea of turning an album into a living piece of art and adding new installations is really intriguing. It expands the journey. This was all put into motion when we made the original recording for The Stage, so it all feels cohesive; We put out The Stage and let it sink in for seven months, and now we can add to that piece of work. This way, throughout the cycle you’ll be able to hear new music while going back to the original album.”
Shadows told us earlier this year that A7X was inspired by the surprise and random way the band has seen pop and hip-hop acts release material recently:
“We told all the kids we were going to evolve all the records, but looking at rock bands and their streaming there’s really no point in doing that. You look at what Kendrick Lamar or Drake does, or any hip-hop or pop act; The streaming numbers are through the roof. And you look at rock and they’re just not there. So we’re going to…try to get some new stuff out to people. That all goes along with this record.”
A7X has also released a behind-the-scenes video of the group recording “Malaguena Salerosa” with a pair of horn players. Shadows says the additional songs will be released “between two and four weeks apart. We’ll look at how they’re being received and released when we feel the time is right.”
A7X is currently on the road supporting Metallica and is plotting a headline tour, with dates and ticket sales expected to be announced in September.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
