After releasing four studio albums for Warner Bros. Records since 2005, California rockers Avenged Sevenfold are trying to get out of their as-yet-unfulfilled recording contract, citing the state’s famous "seven-year rule”, reports Billboard.com.

In turn, the label has filed a breach-of-contract suit against the hard rock act, seeking compensatory damages.

The “seven-year rule” of the California Labor Code allows parties to leave personal service contracts under certain circumstances after seven years have passed. Upon record industry lobbying, the 70-year-old law was amended in the 1980s to allow record companies to claim lost profits on uncompleted albums. Record companies, though, only have 45 days to do so when an artist exercises the right to terminate.

“Avenged Sevenfold recently exercised the rights given them by this law and ended its recording agreement with Warner Bros. Records,” the band’s attorney Howard E. King said in a statement. Since the 2004 contract was signed, King says the label “underwent multiple regime changes that led to dramatic turnover at every level of the company, to the point where no one on the current A&R staff has even a nodding relationship with the band.”

Read more at Billboard.com.

Schecter Guitar Research has announced the release of new Signature Models from Avenged Sevenfold’s guitar duo of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance.

The new SYN CUSTOM-S will retain his demanding features including the Sustainiac Infinite Sustain Systemand his Signature Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker.  New appointments include Schecter’s exclusive Floyd Rose 1500 locking tremolo and side Glow-In-the-Dark position markers.

These guitars follow Syn’s renowned ‘pinstripe’ graphic pattern, but with a burst added to the edges along with a thin satin finish for increased acoustic resonance and response. Available finishes: Satin Gold Burst (shown) and Satin Dark Earth Burst. Street Price $1259.00

The 2016 Zacky Vengeance ZV-6661(Street $999) will be armed with Seymour Duncan JB humbuckers and outfitted with ‘distressed’ chrome hardware including the TonePros TOM System.  Finished in a new Aged Natural Satin Black Burst, each guitar will have Zacky’s ‘6661’ insignia hand engraved into the body.

Zacky and Syn will be taking these new models into the studio next month as the band begins to record the follow-up to their chart topping Hail To The King.

For additional specs and left-handed availability visit Schecter Guitars.