Unholy Confessions

"Unholy Confessions" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released as the lead single from their second album, Waking the Fallen. It is the band's first official single after their 2001 debut EP release Warmness on the Soul, and was the first single by the band to receive mainstream exposure, being heavily rotated on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.[4] The song is about a couple who find out they are both cheating on each other.

"Unholy Confessions"
Single by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Waking the Fallen
ReleasedAugust 2, 2004
RecordedApril – June 2003
Studio
  • Third Stone, Hollywood, California
  • Mates Inc, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length4:43
LabelHopeless
Songwriter(s)
[3]
Producer(s)
Avenged Sevenfold singles chronology
"Eternal Rest/Chapter Four"
(2003)		 "Unholy Confessions"
(2004)		 "Burn It Down"
(2005)

Background

"Unholy Confessions" was one of the first Avenged Sevenfold songs to predominantly feature clean singing.[5][6]

The song made its live debut on February 25, 2003, and has remained a permanent staple of the band's live set (though there have been a few occasions where it was omitted). As of June 2018, it has been performed live a total of 807 known times, and is Avenged Sevenfold's most played song live, ahead of the runner-up "Bat Country", which has been played a total of 730 times.[7] It is also the only song from Waking the Fallen to have remained a staple of their live set throughout their entire career.

The song appeared on the Metal=Life compilation is 2005.[8]

Music videos

The band, along with director Thomas Mignone, filmed the song's concept video on December 7th 2003,[9][10] featuring the band performing the single at an abandoned warehouse. After a few months, they posted on their website's blog about their discomfort with the video, and the decision to re-shoot the video. The concept video eventually got released on YouTube, along with the 2014 re-release of Waking the Fallen.

In February 2004, the band shared the plan to film the new video, which was this time a live performance.[11] The video was directed by Greg Kaplan.[12] The video also features many fans filming at their homes getting ready for the show, whether by promoting, driving to the concert, among other things. The performance was shot on March 6, 2004, at the Henry Fonda Theatre.

Critical reception

"Unholy Confessions" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs.[13] In 2020, Louder Sound and Kerrang ranked the song at number six and number two, respectively, on their lists of the 20 greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs.[14][15]

Track listing
12" single[16]
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Unholy Confessions"4:43
2."Eternal Rest"5:12
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Eternal Rest" (Live at the Ventura Theatre; recorded January 3, 2004)5:16
DVDr
No.TitleLength
1."Unholy Confessions" (Music Video)4:50
Promo single
No.TitleLength
1."Unholy Confessions"4:43

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[17]

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Avenged Sevenfold — Waking the Fallen". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  2. "The Story Behind The Song: Avenged Sevenfold's Unholy Confessions". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. 5 March 2021.
  3. "Avenged Sevenfold - TRAX Podcast: "Unholy Confessions" (Episode 6)". YouTube. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  4. "Avenged Sevenfold — Unholy Confessions". discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  5. "AVENGED SEVENFOLD 'WAKING THE FALLEN': HOW BAND'S BIGGEST RISK LED TO HUGE SUCCESS". Revolver Mag. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  6. "Avenged Sevenfold "Waking the Fallen" Album Review". Paul's Awesome World. January 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012.
  7. "Avenged Sevenfold Tour Statistics". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  8. "AS I LAY DYING, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, MADBALL Featured On 'Metal=Life' Compilation". Blabbermouth. November 17, 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  9. "Avenged Sevenfold prepare to shoot video". Lambgoat. 30 November 2003. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  10. "Avenged Sevenfold website". 2004-01-02. Archived from the original on 2004-01-02. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  11. "The Story Behind The Song: Avenged Sevenfold's Unholy Confessions". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  12. "Avenged Sevenfold: Unholy Confessions". IMDb. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  13. "FAN POLL: 5 BEST AVENGED SEVENFOLD SONGS". Revolver Mag. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  14. Alderslade, Merlin (February 5, 2020). "The 20 best Avenged Sevenfold songs ever". Louder Sound. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  15. Law, Sam (May 29, 2020). "The 20 greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  16. "Avenged Sevenfold – Unholy Confessions". discogs. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  17. Waking the Fallen: Resurrected liner notes. Hopeless Records. 2014. p. 9.
  18. "American single certifications – Avenged Sevenfold – Unholy Confessions". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
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