Heretic

This was the first song that Avenged Sevenfold wrote for Hail to the King, hence it being a throwback to band's traditional sound. Guitarist Synyster Gates told MusicRadar.com: "It's a little progressive, but we wanted to maintain some space in the arrangement so the drums could shine and the riffs and vocals could breathe." He added: "This is a lot of guitar, though, some big moments. If you're not the biggest groove fan – and it you're not, you should be – there's still a progressive element. So it's a mix, this song, and it worked out really well."

Vocalist M. Shadows is singing here about religious fanaticism and witch hunts. He explained to Kerrang! magazine: "To me, this is about the Salem Witch Trials. It's about the West Memphis Three. It's about being put in jail for life for the clothes you wear and because you have long hair. And it's all based on religion and fantasy, when no-one can just look at the facts for what they are, because they're completely clouded by their love of their religious beliefs. That song is a step back to say, 'You don't have to be at someone's door, ready to burn them without giving them a chance to explain themselves."