“It's important to know the ins and outs of the music business, but you can also dive too deeply into it and forget that you're really here to make music.”

American singer, lead vocalist and founding member of Avenged Sevenfold

M. Shadows, born Matthew Charles Sanders, is an American singer and the lead vocalist and founding member of the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. He is known for fronting the group since its early days and for helping define its sound and public identity. His work is tied to heavy metal performance and the role of a modern frontman. In 2017, Ultimate Guitar ranked him third on its list of the Top 25 Greatest Modern Frontmen, reflecting his standing among contemporary rock vocalists.