Matthew Charles Sanders (born July 31, 1981), better known as M. Shadows, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and a founding member of the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. In 2017, he was voted 3rd in the list of Top 25 Greatest Modern Frontmen by Ultimate Guitar.
M. Shadows was born on July 31, 1981 in Fountain Valley, California. He began singing at a young age, but his interest in rock and heavy metal music grew as he became older and began to play the guitar. He links his early musical experience with the piano as a major factor in developing his skills with the guitar and his voice. He attended Huntington Beach High School, where he played for a brief stint in a punk band named "Successful Failure." Following this, Shadows formed Avenged Sevenfold in 1999 along with middle school friends Zacky Vengeance, The Rev, and Matt Wendt.