Zacky Vengeance is doing something different. Not for Avenged Sevenfold. For himself.
In a new interview with Rock Feed, the founding A7X guitarist talked about “Dark Horse,” his debut solo single released under his real name, Zachary Baker. You should hear the full-length album in early 2026. Expect stripped-down, Americana-rooted storytelling.
According to Zacky, the project came from a place he didn’t fully understand at first.
“It just came from a place inside of me that I didn’t know existed,” he said. “I wanted to tell my own story, follow my own rules, and sing in my own voice.”
That voice, he admits, is something he never loved. It’s not polished or pitch-perfect. But it was unavoidable.
“I didn’t know why I had to do it,” he said. “It was literally like a therapy session.”
“This isn’t contrived,” he said. “I’m not putting on a cowboy hat and chasing Nashville.”
Instead, the songs draw from places that shaped him, Tennessee, Oregon, the South, the Pacific Northwest, and the moments in between. Even the imperfections are intentional. Rusty strings. Cracking vocals. Slightly out-of-tune takes.
“It’s perfect,” Zacky said. “I love that it’s imperfect. Put the bottle down. Go into the studio. Tell your truth,” he said. “You’re not perfect. That’s the point.”
Zacky also made a conscious decision to keep outside voices away. No producers. No business opinions. No early feedback.
“The second I showed it to certain people, they shut it down,” he said. “So I knew I had to finish it before anyone heard it.”
The album is now complete. Artwork and vinyl are in motion.
And this time, no armour. No expectation. Just honesty.
Are you as excited as I am to hear what Zachary’s come up with? Based on this lead-off single, should be good!
