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FAN VOTE: Alter Bridge/Creed vs. Avenged Sevenfold

May 4, 2020

Here at The Independent, we’ve organized a tournament to determine which band ruled the 2000s. otherwise recognized as the MySpace Era. Boosted by a generation that gravitated toward rock and its various subgenres, the mid-2000s were defined by both the emergence of punk, pop punk and emo and the refinement of traditional hard rock and heavy metal.  While rock and its subgenres no longer monopolize the airwaves, the bands that propelled the genre to the tops of charts possess a resiliency that keeps them near and dear to the hearts of listeners. This first round matchup is between Alter Bridge/Creed and Avenged Sevenfold.

[Read the Independent’s interview with Egypt Central]

Alter Bridge/Creed 

Casual rock fans may be unfamiliar with the history of Alter Bridge, the hard rock phoenix birthed from the ashes of Creed. Nevertheless, since struggling to shed the perception of imitation, Alter Bridge emerged as a titan of the hard rock community. 

Guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips each served as founding members of both Creed and Alter Bridge, though Marshall departed the former in 2000. Despite an abbreviated run together, Creed is recognized as one of the most prominent post-grunge acts of the late 1990s and early 2000s, releasing three consecutive multi-platinum albums. 

Guitarist Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge

The success of 1999’s Human Clay carried over to the new millennium, enabling the Tallahassee rockers to dominate the airwaves with hit singles “Higher” and the band’s sole No. 1 effort, “With Arms Wide Open.”

In 2001, “With Arms Wide Open” earned Creed their first and only Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, though Creed also collected nominations in 2001 and 2003 for Best Rock Performance by a Group or Duo for “With Arms Wide Open” and Weathered’s “My Sacrifice,” respectively.

Creed fared better at the American Music Awards, winning Artist of the Year in 2001 atop Human Clay earning the AMA’s Favorite Pop/Rock Album. Two years later, Creed claimed AMAs for Favorite Alternative Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group.

Featuring “My Sacrifice” and “One Last Breath,” 2001’s Weathered peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart before going platinum six times via the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Following the dissolution of Creed, Tremonti, Marshall and Phillips recruited former The Mayfield Four vocalist Myles Kennedy to form Alter Bridge. The Orlando quartet’s debut album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 as former WWE Champion Adam “Edge” Copeland adopted “Metallingus” as his personal theme song, making Alter Bridge’s brand of modern stadium rock synonymous with WWE success.

Which band moves on to the next round?

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2007’s Blackbird displayed Tremonti’s maturation as both a guitarist and songwriter, with the eponymous track claiming Ultimate-Guitar’s greatest guitar solo of all time tournament, beating out Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” Guns N’ Roses “November Rain,” Between the Buried and Me’s “Selkies: The Endless Obsession” and Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name.”

 

Avenged Sevenfold 

Though metalcore outfit Avenged Sevenfold broke onto the scene with 2002’s Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, it wasn’t until their sophomore effort that the band earned mainstream notoriety. 

Released in 2003, Waking the Fallen climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart on the strength of “Unholy Confessions” and “Eternal Rest,” the latter which was featured on both the Saw IV soundtrack and Kerrangs! “666 Songs You Must Own”

However, it was 2005’s City of Evil that propelled the Huntington Beach quintet to heavy metal lore.  Marking the band’s transition from a traditional metalcore sound to more of a heavy metal tempo, the album features the critically acclaimed “Bat Country” and “Seize the Day,” the former earning certified goal recognition from the RIAA.

In 2006, guitarist Synyster Gates earned both the Total Guitar: Guitarist of the Year and Dimebag Darrell “Young Shredder” awards for his contributions to City of Evil. Collectively, the band won the MTV Music Awards’ Best New Artist and Golden God Awards’ Best International Band Award.

A7X managed to top the success of City of Evil with their self-titled effort in 2008. Peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, Avenged Sevenfold earned certified gold status by the RIAA before winning the Kerrang! Award for Best Album in 2008.

Enjoy this article? Vote in our other first-round matchups!

Foo Fighters vs. Godsmack

My Chemical Romance vs. Coldplay

Red Hot Chili Peppers vs. Evanescence

Green Day  vs. Simple Plan

Blink-182  vs. Mayday Parade

Linkin Park vs. Paramore

INTERVIEW: Blake Allison of Egypt Central discusses reunion, three latest singles

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