Avenged Sevenfold have officially left Warner Bros. The metal band recently announced that they would no longer record for the record label, as the release of their new album is on the horizon for 2016.
The band cited ever-changing regimes and personnel turnover at the label since they signed there in 2004, as one of the main reasons for their departure. There seemed to be a lack of chemistry between the band and the label, with the band saying, “Few of the executives who have been integral to our continued success are still at the label, and we love and are grateful to them for all their hard work,” and also “Whatever the activity, it takes a full team to compete, and we no longer know most of our teammates.”
Warner Bros. responded by levying a breach-of-contract suit against the band, seeking compensatory damages. The label claims that funds have already been invested in the band’s future releases, under the assumption that the band would continue to honor their contract, and continue to record for them.
In defense, the band has cited California’s “seven-year rule” which allows parties to withdraw from personal service contracts after seven years. While the law was amended in the 80’s to allow record companies to claim lost profits on uncompleted albums, the law still states that the label only has 45 days to file a claim when an artist decides to opt out of their contract.
The label has claimed that the band sent their letter of intent to withdraw on Nov. 25, but that it did not reach the desks until Nov. 30, which is an important detail to the case which will have to be ironed out.
Regardless, the band plans to soon enter the studio to record their upcoming album, and release it later this year. This will be their first with new drummer Brooks Wackerman, who picked a heck of a time to join, in the midst of a legal battle.
The band’s lawyer Howard E. King claims that the lawsuit has not soured the band on record labels, and that fans can expect a signing with a new one at some point.
“The band looks forward to building a relationship with a new label,” King said. “The group has every expectation that it will forge the success and personal relationships with them it once had with Warner Bros.”
Leave a Comment