From Avenged Sevenfold to Neurosis and Stray From The Path, why more and more metal bands are surprise-releasing albums: “At what point do people critique success on sales rather than how big your balls are?”

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Latest Videos From Louder Watch full video here:Of course, Avenged didn’t invent the surprise album release. The Stage was the lowest-charting Avenged album since 2007, and when A Day To Remember surprise-released Big Ole Album Vol. Surprise album releases also have the potential to feel like events, in the way that traditional release days rarely do. For an up-and-coming artist looking to broaden their audience, a surprise release would be one of the worst things to do. A surprise release is a great way to reward an active fanbase but no way to build one.