Count Five: Avenged Sevenfold Singer M. Shadows' Favorite Country Acts

With Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and Jewel all having recorded or about to record in Nashville, the undying love for country possessed by a lot of rockers has never been more evident. Still, bright young metal band Avenged Sevenfold, a Huntington Beach, Calif., quintet that made it to platinum status on the strength of opening for Metallica and playing Ozzfest, might be considered a longshot to embrace the twang. However, on its new self-titled album, the band explores the Nashville terrain on the track 'Dear God.' Lead singer M. Shadows says country is a big influence on him, starting with these five artists.

1. Big & Rich: I like a lot of the country pop stuff, so 'Horses Wear Color' is one of my favorite country records. I listen to older country, but they got me into it because they had a lot of rock influence and they're super-eclectic and super-crazy and they were the outlaws of Nashville for a while because they were doing so much wacky stuff on their record. They have Cowboy Troy rapping on some stuff. They're just like a rock band that plays country music, and I think their songwriting is amazing. Those guys write for everyone, and when I pick up that record every song is a smash hit in my eyes.

2. Toby Keith: I love Toby Keith, though, because I love his voice, his songwriting, and he's got a cool message. He's very pro-troops and he's got some funny songs. He's got some over-the-top songs about Al Qaeda and stuff, but I think he's got a great voice and I love his songwriting.

3. Trace Adkins: The first time I heard 'Dangerous Man,' his voice was so low it just reminded me of old Johnny Cash stuff. He does have some pop songs that are kind of random on his records, but he's much more of a serious country artist, and that's one of the CDs that really got me into country. I love the production in the country records.

4. Willie Nelson: You can get any Willie Nelson record and they're f---ing amazing. And how I got into Willie Nelson was actually through a Toby Keith song, which Willie Nelson was guest singing on. I always knew who Willie Nelson was, but I didn't really care enough to go get his CD. But once I heard him guest on a Toby Keith CD, I went out and got a bunch of his records, and they're just brilliant.

5. Johnny Cash: He's just an icon, a pioneer of all that s---, and amazing voice, amazing songs.