GALLERY: Behind the scenes on our Avenged Sevenfold cover shoot

Ever wanted to know how our incredible cover shoots actually happen? Well here's a sneaky glimpse at what happens on the day...

The hotel in Tampa, Florida where the photo shoot took place.

All the technical gizmos and photography magic boxes necessary to make our photo shoots look the best in the world.

In typical rock ‘n’ roll style the band are slightly behind schedule. There’s worse places to be though…

Johnny Christ sampling the refreshments. It’s water. Honest.

M Shadows practices how to hold drum sticks and gets it wrong completely.

Arin was about to say something really interesting until he got distracted by all the free food.

Job done.

If you want to see the outcome of our exclusive photo shoot with Avenged Sevenfold, you’ll have to pick up the new issue of Metal Hammer in your local shop. Or here!

Luke Morton joined Metal Hammer as Online Editor in 2014, having previously worked as News Editor at popular (but now sadly defunct) alternative lifestyle magazine, Front. As well as helming the Metal Hammer website for the four years that followed, Luke also helped relaunch the Metal Hammer podcast in early 2018, producing, scripting and presenting the relaunched show during its early days. He also wrote regular features for the magazine, including a 2018 cover feature for his very favourite band in the world, Slipknot, discussing their turbulent 2008 album, All Hope Is Gone.