Over the years, Avenged Sevenfold have made it an annual tradition to cover a song from horror punk legends the Misfits. This year has been no exception, with the group issuing their take on “Horror Business” via their Deathbats club. While plans appear to be underway to compile the various covers over the years in time for Halloween, this year’s artwork for their annual spooky season tribute has been receiving pushback for alleged AI usage.
The band’s guitarist/vocalist Zacky Vengeance weighed in on that pushback on social media in response, offering:
“I actually fully embrace AI. While I love physical art and the talented people who create it (myself being one of them) I also think the majority of designers I have worked with over the past 20 years are lazy and allowed themselves to be replaced due to complacency and greed. I prefer my prompts and the collective hive mind and efficiency of the future. Just my opinion but I embrace it. Also it will absolutely kill us all.
Every major technological advancement has been met with fear and resistance. AI is no different. It’s not the death of creativity or human ingenuity; it’s an expansion of what’s possible. The problem isn’t the technology itself, but how people choose to use it. Rejecting AI won’t stop progress. Learning to harness it responsibly will help shape the future – this message was made using AI. Goodnight”
Further exchanges took place as follows:
I have actually purchased Eddies artwork and praise him incessantly. He is extremely talented. So I’ve actually put my money where my mouth is in support of real artists. With that said I still embrace AI over the fear of having a comment section crusade come at me for my view on the matter.
— Zacky V (@Vengenz1) October 29, 2026
@jimmysullivanbr You are correct it cannot replace artists like Wes, Cam and Micah who I deeply value and have shared long running friendship with. It can however replace anyone replaceable.
— Zacky V (@Vengenz1) October 29, 2026
Vengeance also followed up this morning, October 29th, with the following post:
“Screaming “Fuck AI” while consenting to terms and services giving away all your personal data to be used by AI that provides you an algorithm created by AI which then shares it to other like minded individuals via AI so they can scream “Fuck AI”.”
Screaming “Fuck AI” while consenting to terms and services giving away all your personal data to be used by AI that provides you an algorithm created by AI which then shares it to other like minded individuals via AI so they can scream “Fuck AI”.
— Zacky V (@Vengenz1) October 29, 2026
