Due to technical issues beyond our control, the webcast of Avenged Sevenfold has had to be canceled. We have been working non-stop to resolve these issues however there are circumstances beyond our control.

We realize how disappointing this is to our fans and feel horrible that we could not have these issues resolved in time. We were hoping to make this a special event for M Shadows birthday. Unfortunately he has been trying to resolve these issues when he should be celebrating with his fans.

We will make every effort to bring a live show to the web as soon as possible and appreciate the support of all fans. We are just as disappointed as everyone.

Could Avenged Sevenfold knock Eminem out of the Number One spot?

To the surprise of many (particularly one multi-platinum Caucasian rapper) Avenged Sevenfold’s new album Nightmare could debut at Number One on the Billboard Albums chart next week. That means that the band’s record would knock Eminem out of the top slot, which the rapper has held for five weeks now.

Billboard recently reported that the metal stalwarts are poised to sell an estimated 160,000-180,000 copies of Nightmare in its first week, resulting in the band’s first Number One record. In light of this exciting possibility, we spoke with guitarist Zacky Vengeance about what such an honor would mean to the band. And what he had to say was surprising.

Following the death of drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan last year, Vengeance considers completing and releasing this album, which A7X had begun writing before Sullivan’s death, a huge success in and of itself. “Obviously it left us in a very difficult and sad situation, but we had to let the world hear his music and the last stuff that he’d written with us,” the guitarist says. “So that right there was the way to honor our friend, just by finishing the album and letting the world hear it. We worked so hard on it and the fact that it’s achieving some really great accomplishment and defying some expectations, that’s what really makes us feel good.”

Following Sullivan’s death the group enlisted Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy to record and tour with them. Portnoy played his first live gig with the group last weekend in Montreal and will appear with them during their show in Syracuse on Saturday that will be livestreaming here on MySpace. Nightmare itself is a shift in tone for A7X and Vengeance says the band never embedded any specific message in its song. He just hopes fans take whatever they want away from listening to it.

“We recorded it during the most difficult time of our lives. We documented what we were feeling. Not too many bands are put in a situation where they have to do it and I certainly don’t wish it upon anyone. But sometimes the greatest art comes at the highest price.”

Vengeance says the band has been casually following the news that Nightmare might overtake Eminem’s Recovery for the top slot on the charts, but for him album sales aren’t what constitutes success, especially considering what’s happened to them in the past year.

“I really cared about if our fans liked the album and they’ve been reaching out to us,” he says. “That’s what means a lot to me. Right now it’s a race to the Number One spot, which is fun and exciting. But on the same token everyone is excited that we’ve defied expectations. I’m a huge fan of Eminem—all of us are—I think he’s very talented. If our fans go out there and make us the Number One album, that’s incredible. If not, I already feel like the response to it is as if it’s a Number One album.”

For our part, we would like to encourage all of the band’s fans to do the same. As much as we love Eminem, it would be pretty amazing to see this happen.

Do you have YOUR copy of the new Revolver A7X issue??? http://twitpic.com/2a7aqe

AVENGED SEVENFOLD performed live for the first time since the death last December of drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan this past Sunday (July 25), when the band played at the Heavy MTL festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (See video footage of the performance below.) Behind the drum kit was DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy, who made his live debut with the group after doing the drum parts on their newly released album, "Nightmare".

AVENGED frontman M. Shadows told The Pulse of Radio what it was like for the band to play live again after their tragedy. "Collectively we were all very, very nervous to get back up there onstage, but there were so many signs that referenced The Rev, you know, just kids with signs that said 'Rest in peace, Rev' and had things written on them," he said. "You know, it was really awesome to see all the kids just so supportive. I mean, kids were just genuinely excited that we were getting back onstage and I think it was a really huge triumph for the band and for them to get us back out there and to feel like we're moving on at this point."

"Nightmare", AVENGED SEVENFOLD's fifth album, arrived in stores on Tuesday (July 27). It follows up the band's self-titled 2007 effort.

The record could debut at No. 1 on next week's Billboard album chart if sales projections are right.

Portnoy is committed to playing on all the group's 2010 tour dates.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD will co-headline this summer's inaugural Uproar Festival tour with DISTURBED and STONE SOUR, beginning on August 17 in Minneapolis.

Reports are coming in nationwide that Nightmare is selling out in stores. If you have been to a store that is out of stock we need to make sure that those stores get re-stocked for you.

Follow these instructions:
Email nightmarestores@gmail.com with the name and location of the store. Example: Best Buy, 11301 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90064

Check back at the store the next day. We are working very hard to make sure that all stores are restocked. This should take no more than 24 hours so Nightmare should be available after a day.

You are doing your job as a fan and we need to make sure stores are doing theirs to get Nightmare to everyone that deserves it.

@Thais_LA its a piece of jimmys drum set http://myloc.me/9Teej

So I know most of you will get the new Avenged Sevenfold record called Nightmare... If you can get it this week it would be Huge! We r head to head for the #1 album so let's work together to make that #1 spot happen!!! Thanks everyone
Dan the body- A7X