Excelling heavy metal genre is not easy, and it needs a deep understanding of music along with the knowledge of hitting the right notes, but one name that stands out as a master of defining this genre is M Shadows. He was so engrossed in his art that he claimed that he burst his blood vessels in his throat and was asked to stop doing it, or else he would go mute.
Influenced highly by the music of “Guns N’ Roses,” “Metallica,” “Pantera,” and “Iron Maiden,” M Shadows found his own distinctive genre and penned several songs Streets, which he later recorded when he formed “Avenged Sevenfold.” His journey as a lead vocalist is inspiring, and we will be exploring his life in more detail, along with his career and net worth.
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Early Life
Shadows was born on 31st July, 1981 in Huntington Beach, California, USA, and was named Matthew Charles Sanders. There are not many details about his parents available anywhere apart from their names. His father is Gary Sanders, and his mother is Kim Sanders. He also has said to have a younger sister named Amy Sanders, and he was raised in a Roman-Catholic household. During his childhood days, he had an inclination towards music and began playing piano, and later picked up guitar to pursue his passion for rock music.
While not many details about his education are available, he is said to have attended Huntington Beach High School, where he was a part of a brief punk rock band. He might have attended Orange Coast College in California and gotten a degree in finance, but there is no valid source.
Evolution of Career
Shadows began his career in music in the late 1990s when he co-founded the heavy metal band, “Avenged Sevenfold” in 1999 and released their first album named “Sounding the Seventh Trumpet,” in 2001. In 2003, the band released “Waking the Fallen,” which proved their metalcore credentials. The real breakthrough came in 2005, when the band released an album, “City of Evil,” which was a combination of arena-ready heavy metal and more melodic, gaining more recognition and mainstream popularity.
In 2007, the band released an album with the self-titled “Avenged Sevenfold,” which made a record by getting into the charts and cemented their name as a major metal band. Another album, “Nightmare” was released in 2010, where M. Shadow took the place of the frontman drummer after his death. In 2013, the band released “Hail to the King,” which reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart, turning out to be a major achievement. In 2016, the band released “the Stage,” moving towards musical evolution.
In 2023, the band released “Life is But a Dream….” continuing their musical journey, and M. Shadow being the lead vocalist. He is also a part of the live performances and concerts of the band. Very recently, the band postponed their Latin American tour as he was diagnosed with a vocal-fold hematoma and is rescheduled for early 2026.
Shot to Fame
Even though M. Shadows founded the band in 1999, and the actual fame came when the band released the album “City of Evil,” which established the name of the band as a hardcore metal band.
Relationships
After being in a long-term relationship with Valary DiBenedetto, he married her on 17th October, 2009. They are school-time sweethearts, and together they have 2 sons.
Major Sources of Income and Net Worth
Based on various sources, M. Shadows’ net worth is supposed to be between $20 million $25 million dollars which he earned by being an active member of the band, “Avenged Sevenfold,” and releasing back-to-back albums. He also earns from live shows and concerts.
