M.Shadow

Sanders has had minor surgery to repair a vocal strain, which, however, has spoken on numerous occasions to resolving claims that the surgery was responsible for the band's change in musical style. The vocal strain was caused by the large amount of shouting in the first album Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet.

Some of his biggest musical influences are Guns N 'Roses, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth and Pantera. Philip Anselmo of Pantera is his inspiration shouting. Formerly a member of a punk band called 'The success of Failure'. While this band that wrote the song Streets, which later was recorded after Avenged Sevenfold was formed, and released on his first album, Soundling of the Seventh Trumpet.

Sanders is a strong support for the troops serving in the United States, having very good friends who are currently serving . The song "M.I.A." ( "Missing in Action") was written in tribute to these friends. Before acted in most of the song, however, shows Shadows stresses that Avenged Sevenfold is not a political band, and that they do not intend to become one.