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"This Means War" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold from their 2013 album Hail to the King.

Various publications have lambasted the track for its uncanny similarities to Metallica's 1993 single "Sad but True". The song was singled out by Machine Head's vocalist Robb Flynn as a ripoff. Users on Ultimate Guitar voted the song into the site's "Worst Guitar Riffs" list.

Although the song was not released as a single, it placed on several American Billboard rock charts and received a music video. Directed by Andrew Baird, it was released July 5, 2014. The unreleased director's cut of the music video was released in 2017. The song was featured in the video game WWE 2K15.

Personnel

Avenged Sevenfold

• M. Shadows – lead vocals
• Zacky Vengeance – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Synyster Gates – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Johnny Christ – bass
• Arin Ilejay – drums

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Rosenberg, Axl (August 21, 2013). "Footnotes: A Handy Catalog of Every Song from Which Avenged Sevenfold's Hail to the King "Borrows"". Metal Sucks. Retrieved April 7, 2015. Now that they've already cribbed the lyrical style of "Sad But True," A7X crib the actual music from that song on "This Means War." There's even a little pause at the beginning before the main riff kicks in, as is the case on "Sad"…
2. "AVENGED SEVENFOLD Releases Video For 'Sad But True'-Inspired Song 'This Means War'". Blabbermouth. July 4, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
3. "Avenged Sevenfold Singer on Robb Flynn's Rant: 'I Agree on 'Sad But True' Thing'". Ultimate Guitar. September 13, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
4. "Friday Top: 15 Worst Riffs of All Time".
5. "AVENGED SEVENFOLD Taps Director ANDREW BAIRD For 'This Means War' Video". blabbermouth.net. January 30, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
6. "Avenged Sevenfold Premiere New Music Video, 'This Means War'". revolvermag.com. July 5, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
7. AVENGED SEVENFOLD 'This Means War' (Directors Cut). Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via vimeo.com.
8. "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
9. "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
10. "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
11. "Avenged Sevenfold: This Means War" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
12. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
13. "American single certifications – Avenged Sevenfold – This Means War". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 22, 2023.

External links

• "This Means War" Official music video on YouTube

• Avenged Sevenfold songs
• 2013 songs
• Song recordings produced by Mike Elizondo