As he’s proven over the course of his career fronting Avenged Sevenfold, M. Shadows is one of hard rock and metal’s most commanding vocalists. But he’s lent his pipes to more than just his own band’s output; lesser known are the singer’s numerous guest appearances, on songs by groups as diverse as pop punkers Good Charlotte and country act Cowboy Troy. Below, we selected our favorites among Shadow’s various guest turns — and needless to say, they tend to be the hardest hitting of the bunch.
Bleeding Through – “Savior, Saint, Salvation”
Both Shadows and Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Zacky Vengeance went to high school with members of Bleeding Through, and the singer, joined by A7X lead guitarist Synyster Gates, cemented the longtime friendship when he guested on this crushing 2002 track.
Steel Panther – “Turn Out the Lights”
Shadows displayed his sense of humor when he appeared on this cut from hair-metal satirists Steel Panther’s 2009 opus Feel the Steel.
Slash – “Nothing to Say”
It’s no secret that Shadows loves Guns N’ Roses, and he got to collaborate with that band’s iconic axman on the guitarist’s star-studded 2010 solo album. Funny thing is, the song actually sounds more like Avenged than it does GN’R.
The Dirty Heads – “Check the Level”
Also in 2010, Shadows and Slash worked together again, appearing jointly on this Beastie Boys-ish single by the Dirty Heads, a hip-hop and ska-inflected alt-rock outfit from A7X’s hometown, Huntington Beach.
Hell or Highwater – “Go Alone”
The A7X frontman joined forces with old pal, Brandon Saller, drummer-vocalist of fellow O.C. rockers Atreyu, for this 2011 cut from the skinsman’s other band.
Fozzy – “Sandpaper”
In 2012, Shadows teamed with another buddy, WWE superstar and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho, for both this song and its Evil Dead-inspired video.
Machine Gun Kelly – “Save Me”
MGK enlisted not just Shadows but also A7X lead guitarist Synyster Gates for the moody, slow-building opening cut off his 2012 debut studio album, Lace Up.
Device – “Haze”
During his downtime from Disturbed, frontman David Draiman put together the self-titled debut from his industrial-metal side project Device and got a little help from his friends, including Shadows, who sings on the album’s second-to-last track.
Pitch Black Forecast – “Landmine”
A metal supergroup featuring Mushroomhead frontman Jason Popson, ex-Strapping Young Lad drummer Gene Hoglan and former Integrity bassist Steve Rauckhorst, Pitch Black Forecast tapped many big-name friends for their various EPs and albums, including Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe, Ringworm’s Human Furnace and, on this hellacious ripper, our man M. Shadows.
Atreyu – “Super Hero”
Shadows reunited with Saller on this 2018 Atreyu anthem, which also features guest vocals by Underoath’s Aaron Gillespie.
