"This is unreal, our favorite band ever, messaging us after hell?" David, 28, choked out to Ynet, crediting A7X's anthems for steeling their spirits during beatings and blackouts in Gaza's depths.
Evyatar David, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7, 2023, and Guy Gilboa Dalal, snatched from the Nova festival massacre site, bonded over the California metal icons during captivity, whispering lyrics to defy guards and preserve sanity.
Their fandom dates back to A7X's 2005 self-titled breakthrough, with Gilboa Dalal tattooing the "Deathbat" logo pre-abduction. Shadows, aware via mutual Israeli fans and hostage forum campaigns, recorded the surprise from the band's tour bus, weaving in nods to Israel's resilience: "You faced the darkness, we shred it. Welcome back to the pit!"
Mazzig's post, "The lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold... sent a video... their reaction... is absolutely priceless," skyrocketed to viral stardom, amassing over 500,000 likes and retweets from stars like Gene Simmons and metalheads worldwide.
It exemplifies the global embrace of the 20 freed living hostages, whose tales, from hidden IDF service to defiant prayers, have captivated all of us. As phase two disarmament looms, this rock lifeline symbolizes unbreakable spirit: From Hamas hell to headbanging heaven, these survivors are jamming louder than ever.