"Second Heartbeat" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, and is the seventh track on their second studio album, Waking the Fallen. The song is one of the most popular from the album, and is praised by fans and critics alike.

"Second Heartbeat"
Song by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Waking the Fallen
ReleasedAugust 26, 2003
RecordedApril – June 2003[1]
Studio
  • Third Stone, Hollywood, California
  • Mates Inc, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length7:01
LabelHopeless
Songwriter(s)Avenged Sevenfold
Producer(s)
Waking the Fallen track listing
12 tracks
  1. "Waking the Fallen"
  2. "Unholy Confessions"
  3. "Chapter Four"
  4. "Remenissions"
  5. "Desecrate Through Reverence"
  6. "Eternal Rest"
  7. "Second Heartbeat"
  8. "Radiant Eclipse"
  9. "I Won't See You Tonight Part 1"
  10. "I Won't See You Tonight Part 2"
  11. "Clairvoyant Disease"
  12. "And All Things Will End

Background

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An early version "Second Heartbeat" was recorded in 2002, and appeared on the compilation "Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 4".[3][4] This early version was shorter and faster.[5] The band showed this version of the song to producer Mudrock to convince him to produce their second album,[6] which he would end up doing.[7] It was later included on the 2014 Waking the Fallen: Resurrected reissue. In the band's early career, it was a live staple.[8]

Critical reception

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"Second Heartbeat" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs.[9][10] In 2020, Louder Sound and Kerrang ranked the song at number two and number ten, respectively, on their lists of the 20 greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs.[11][12] Return of Rock also ranked it as the best song from its parent album.[13]

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold website". 2003-06-24. Archived from the original on June 24, 2003. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  2. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Waking The Fallen (2003)". Punk News. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  3. ^ White, Adam (May 24, 2002). "Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 4". Punknews.org. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  4. ^ "Various – Hopelessly Devoted To You Vol. 4". discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  5. ^ Law, Sam. "The 20 greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  6. ^ Epstein, Dan. "AVENGED SEVENFOLD 'WAKING THE FALLEN': HOW BAND'S BIGGEST RISK LED TO HUGE SUCCESS". Revolver Mag. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Throwdown select Mudrock to produce album". Lambgoat. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  8. ^ Coulson, Daivd. "The 10 Best Avenged Sevenfold Songs Of All-Time". Chaos Spin. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  9. ^ Sidak, Rian (29 April 2014). "Avenged Sevenfold - Second Heartbeat". Hai.Grid (in German). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  10. ^ Enis, Eli. "AVENGED SEVENFOLD ALBUMS RANKED: FROM WORST TO BEST". Revolver Mag. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  11. ^ Alderslade, Merlin (February 5, 2020). "The 20 best Avenged Sevenfold songs ever". Louder Sound. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Law, Sam (May 29, 2020). "The 20 greatest Avenged Sevenfold songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  13. ^ "Waking the Fallen Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. October 4, 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2022. "I would give this song a ten any day if it had not been made much better the first time. This second version is a slower, (though still fast) worse version of the Fold's best song found on a promotional CD for Hopeless Records I think is called Hoplessly Devoted to You, Volume 4."
  14. ^ Waking the Fallen: Resurrected liner notes. Hopeless Records. 2014. p. 9.