Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Zacky Vengeance embarks on a new challenge with his first solo project

JAKARTA - Guitarist and co-founder of Avenged Sevenfold, Zacky Vengeance, stepped out of his comfort zone by introducing his first solo project.

The musician, whose real name is Zachary Baker, has just released his debut single titled "Dark Horse" as a prelude to a full-length album scheduled to be released in early 2026.

Zacky revealed that the desire to start a solo career came from an inner drive that he didn't realize before.

Through his real identity, the 44-year-old guitarist tried to compose a personal narrative with a touch of Americana music - a style shift that is quite a contrast compared to the hard rock background that made his name.

"Honestly, this just came from a place inside of me that I didn't even fully know existed," Zacky said in a recent interview with Rock Feed.

"It's a longing to create something with my own voice, tell my own story, and follow the rules I want to follow," he continued.

He explained that the material for his solo was the crystallization of his entire life journey, from the early memory of holding a guitar to the difficult times when he traveled around America using an outdated map.

Zacky wants to capture every emotional detail, including stories about falling in love, losing, and heartbreak that he experienced.

Although he admitted that he was once unsure of his vocal quality, Zacky felt that he had to release this anxiety. He even likened this creative process to a very personal therapy session.

For him, this project is not an attempt to chase trends in Nashville, but a reflection of the honesty of his life.

"It's very real. This is not a humor album. It's not made up in any way. I'm not going to put on a cowboy hat and boots and try to find my way to Nashville," he concluded.