AVENGED SEVENFOLD Working On 'Shepherd Of Fire' Video

AVENGED SEVENFOLD is working on a video for the song "Shepherd Of Fire" with director Wayne Isham, who has helmed clips for such established artists as METALLICA, MTLEY CRE, SIMPLE PLAN, PANTERA, 'N SYNC, SHANIA TWAIN, GODSMACK, BRITNEY SPEARS, LEONA LEWIS, PINK FLOYD, SHERYL CROW, JOSS STONE, MADONNA, AVRIL LAVIGNE, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI.

Isham previously worked with AVENGED SEVENFOLD on the "Seize The Day", "Afterlife", "Nightmare" and "So Far Away" videos.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows told a Canadian radio station that he isn't bothered by recent comments from MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn, in which Flynn called the band's new "Hail To The King" CD a "covers album." Flynn specifically called the band out for songs like "This Means War", which bears a strong resemblance to METALLICA's "Sad But True", along with others.

Shadows told the Ottawa station, "I have met Robb on numerous occasions and he's always been cool to me. And I just read it as a joke . . . I really don't know what to say about it other than I agree with him on the 'Sad But True' thing — that was obviously an inspiration for that song. Everything else, I kind of think he . . . If it is a joke, it was kind of overboard, 'cause it doesn't make sense in my mind."

Shadows added, "Some people might see it as being as an underhanded . . . joke. But, to me, if he just wants to go in there and write whatever he wants, I think that's totally cool. Everyone has an opinion and everyone should be entitled to say whatever they want. So it's no skin off our backs."

Flynn didn't pull any punches in his critique, writing, "Congratulations to AVENGED SEVENFOLD on their latest 'covers album' coming in at #1, who knew that re-recording METALLICA, GUNS N ROSES, and MEGADETH songs could be such a worldwide hit!!?? Ba-dap Psssssss!!"

Asked if the bands Flynn mentioned were influences, Shadows replied, "I think all the bands he said we were very inspired by. I think also [BLACK] SABBATH, [LED] ZEPPELIN, THE ROLLING STONES."

"Hail To The King" sold 159,000 copies in its first week of release, giving the California band their second straight chart-topper after 2010's "Nightmare".

Next up for AVENGED SEVENFOLD is its first major tour in support of the new CD, which starts October 3 in Chicago.