Shepherd of Fire

2013 single by Avenged Sevenfold

"Shepherd of Fire"

Single by Avenged Sevenfold

from the album Hail to the King

Released

November 7, 2013

Genre

Heavy metal

Length

5:25

Label

Warner Bros.

Songwriter(s)

M. Shadows
Synyster Gates
Zacky Vengeance
Johnny Christ

Producer(s)

Mike Elizondo

Avenged Sevenfold singles chronology

"St. James"
(2013)

"Shepherd of Fire"
(2013)

"The Stage"
(2016)

"Shepherd of Fire" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Released on November 7, 2013, it is the second single from the sixth studio album Hail to the King. The single was a No. 1 single on the US Mainstream Rock charts, their third single to do so.^[1]

"Shepherd of Fire" is the theme song of the Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies map "Origins", included in the final downloadable content compilation Apocalypse.^[2] It is also featured in the mixed martial arts game EA Sports UFC.^[3]

Personnel

Avenged Sevenfold

M. Shadows – lead vocals
Zacky Vengeance – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Synyster Gates – lead guitar, backing vocals
Johnny Christ – bass guitar, backing vocals
Arin Ilejay – drums, percussion

Session musicians^[4]

Brent Arrowood – sound effects
David Campbell – orchestral arrangement & conductor
Suzie Katayama - cello
Ed Meares - upright bass
John Fumo, Rick Baptist – trumpet
Alan Kaplan – trombone
Steven Holtman, Andrew Martin, Jaime Ochoa - bass trombone
Douglas Tornquist – tuba
Joe Meyer, John Reynolds – horn

Production

Mike Elizondo – production, sound effects
Allen Wolfe – A&R
Joanna Terrasi – A&R
Brent Arrowood – assistant engineer
Chris Sporleder – assistant engineer
D.A. Frizell – illustrations, treatment
Adam Hawkins – engineer
Paul Suarez – pro-tools
Cam Rackman – paintings, portraits
Andy Wallace – mixer
Bob Ludwig – mastering engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013–14)	Peak position
Canada Rock (Billboard)^[5]	31
Czech Republic Rock (IFPI)^[6]	8
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[7]	49
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[8]	12
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[9]	28
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[10]	9

Year-end charts

Chart (2014)	Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[11]	62
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[12]	29

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[13]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Avenged Sevenfold – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
^ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD: Trailer For 'Hail To The King' Animated Series". BlabberMouth.
^ "EA SPORTS UFC SOUNDTRACK". EA Sports. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
^ "Hail to the King - Avenged Sevenfold – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
^ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
^ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock" (select "Top 20 Modern Rock" into the search box, then select "201414"). hitparada.ifpicr.cz. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
^ "Avenged Sevenfold: Shepherd Of Fire" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
^ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
^ "Avenged Sevengold Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
^ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
^ "American single certifications – Avenged Sevenfold – Shepherd of Fire". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 4, 2021.