Alongside the tweet cancelling the festival shows, the Trax Spotify account released a one minute clip of M Shadows’ voice announcing the cancellation.

You can listen to it with a transcript here:

https://streamable.com/fdhvzh

Transcript

Hey, Trax listeners, we're so sorry to bring bad news to you all, but I wanted you to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. We've had some unexpected delays on the new album and have decided to cancel our appearances at Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple to focus on finishing it up. It breaks our heart to do this, but some things have to be done.

I understand this is disappointing news for everyone, and I want to let you know that we are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Creating new music is a passion we have dedicated our lives to, and we believe our fans deserve nothing but the best from us. We put our hearts and souls into this new project to make it the best it can be.

We've been working tirelessly on this new music and are committed to bringing it to you as soon as possible. We know that cancelling more shows is a major disappointment, and I want to assure you that this is a decision we did not make lightly. Many of you will be let down and frustrated. And for that we are deeply sorry.

We want to thank you for your understanding and support during this time. Your dedication to our music and your unwavering enthusiasm for our shows inspire us every day. We promise to make it up to you, and we will see you soon. Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

The recording features an AI render of Matt Shadows’ voice - you can tell by odd inflictions in the voice. Matt also tweeted:

Libad5343.net Website

The website resembles a blog with entries dating all the way back to 2004. It features many articles around the band, reviewing their works and talking about some significant events such as Matt losing his voice, the covid quarantine, Deathbats Club and more. It features a variety of cryptic pop ups and messages.

Libad5343 Confirmed Accounts

Twitter
Reddit
Discord ID: 1072959487297728512
Discord Handle: libad5343#8666

Adverts

Pop-ups

Active Mind

“An active mind is a playground for the most sinister of thoughts, a breeding ground for unspeakable acts.”

Closet Vampires

Dead Inside / Jumping Clown

Creepy Haters

Do you believe?

Fire Dragon / Hacking Unicorn

“Would you rather have a pet fire-breathing dragon that knows all your passwords, or a talking unicorn that can hack into the Matrix?”

Gold Eyes Skull

Abyss

Creepy lovers

“A creepy lover is like a ghost in your bed, always there but you can never quite touch them.

Shades of Evil

Ufo Sighting

Undeclared

Adoration Loathing Terror

Mint

Come Here

Come here Too close!

Lemmings

Updated 28/02/2023 04:05 GMT

Riddles

Riddle Me This

Answer: The Night

Troll Riddle

Answer: A password

Clown

With every move that you make, I’m following in your wake,

I’m not alive, but always see, What am I, that’s tracking thee?

Answer: Your Shadow

Riddle Responses

Thank you Wildc4t#7510 for compiling these

Correct

Congratulations, that answer is so right it deserves a parade.
Gold star for you, that answer is absolutely correct
Good job! Move on... nothing to see here
I bow down to your superior intellect, that answer is pure brilliance.
Oh, look at you being all smart and knowing the right answer
Well done! That's it for now.
You must have been up all night studying to come up with that one.

Incorrect

Close, but not close enough. Have you considered the possibility of the answer being inside a ghost's whisper?
Close, but not quite. Have you considered the possibility of the answer being inside a doll's smile?
Close, but not even in the same ballpark as the correct answer.
I'm impressed, that answer managed to be both creative and incorrect
Incorrect, but maybe the answer is hiding in the creaks of an old, abandoned mansion.
Incorrect, but maybe the answer is hiding in the shadows of an abandoned carnival
Incorrect, but perhaps you'll have better luck if you ask a unicorn for the answer.
Incorrect, but perhaps you'll have better luck if you ask the spirits for the answer.
Incorrect, but perhaps the answer is hiding in the depths of your nightmares
Oh, I see you're going for the 'completely wrong' strategy, bold move.
Nice try, but why not try answering the question while wearing a mask made of human skin?
No, no, but I hope you find a speedy solution
Nope, but why not try answering the question while wearing a hat made of stars?
Nope, but have you tried solving it while standing in a cemetery at midnight?
Nope, but have you tried solving it while singing an opera?
Nope, but have you tried asking the voice in your head for the answer?
Nope, but why not try answering the question while wearing a mask made of human hair?
Not quite right, but have you tried asking a mysterious, faceless figure for the answer?
Sorry, but don't forget that the sky might be purple, not blue
Sorry, but don't forget that the unknown is always watching and waiting.
Sorry, but don't forget that the dead might still be talking, if you listen closely enough.
Try again, but this time, imagine you're a detective solving a case in a creepy doll factory.
Try again, but this time, imagine you're a detective investigating a case in an asylum.
Try again, but this time, imagine you're a detective solving a case in a haunted house.
Wrong, but why not try answering the question while standing under a full moon?
Wrong, but why not try answering the question while in a dark, creepy basement?
Wrong, but why not try answering the question while doing a cartwheel
Wrong! But don't worry, the shadows are always watching and listening.
You're really pushing the limits of what can be considered wrong

Articles

Covid - Quarantine

I've been a fan of Avenged Sevenfold for years, but lately I've been feeling a little disappointed. The band recently did a quarantine challenge, and while I appreciate their effort to keep us entertained during these tough times, I can't help but feel like it's just not enough.

At a time when other bands, like Trivium, are working hard to bring new music to their fans, Avenged Sevenfold seems to be content with just playing around on social media. Don't get me wrong, it's great to see them having fun, but as a fan, I want more. I want new music, I want to see them playing live, and I want to feel like they're still pushing themselves creatively.

I understand that the current situation is difficult for everyone, and that musicians are facing challenges they never could have imagined. But at the same time, I can't help but feel like some bands are making the most of this situation while others are just going through the motions.

I'm not saying that Avenged Sevenfold needs to go all-out and put on a full-scale production, but I do think they need to step up their game. Fans are looking to their favorite bands for inspiration and entertainment, and I just don't think a quarantine challenge is going to cut it.

I hope that in the coming months, Avenged Sevenfold will start to focus more on new music and less on silly challenges. Until then, I'll be counting down the days until live shows return, and I can finally get my fix of metal.

Where’s the Damn Music

As an Avenged Sevenfold fan for over a decade, I've followed their journey through every album, tour, and side project. But lately, I can't help but feel like the band is losing sight of what brought them success in the first place: their music.

First, there was the cancellation of the European tour, which was a huge disappointment for fans who were eagerly anticipating the chance to see the band perform live. Then, there was the Quarantine Challenge, which, while well-intentioned, felt like a lackluster substitute for the music we were all craving. And now, the band is diving into the world of NFTs with their new project "Deathbats Club."

It seems like the band is more focused on trying new things and making headlines than actually producing new music. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for experimentation and trying new things, but it feels like the band is forgetting what made them so beloved in the first place: their musical talent and passion. I understand the excitement and potential profit in the NFT market, but it feels like a distraction from what truly matters.

I know I'm not alone in feeling frustrated with the band's recent endeavors. In fact, I've noticed many fans are losing interest and moving on to other bands. It's a shame to see the once-devoted fanbase slowly dwindling, but it's not surprising given the lack of new music and tour cancellations.

I just hope that the band will eventually return their focus to what made them so successful in the first place: their music. Fans want to hear new songs and experience the energy of a live performance. If the band continues to prioritize NFTs and other endeavors over their music, I fear that the fans who have been with them from the beginning will eventually move on.

Deathbat Club NFTs

As a die-hard fan of Avenged Sevenfold, I was beyond excited to hear about their latest album and tour plans. But my excitement quickly turned to confusion and disappointment when I learned about their new venture into the world of NFTs with the 'Deathbats Club' collection.

I've been a fan of A7X for over a decade now, and I've seen them evolve and grow as a band. I've been there for every album release, every tour, and every high and low. And to be honest, I just don't understand why they're suddenly jumping on the NFT bandwagon.

I understand that NFTs are a hot topic right now and that people are making a lot of money off of them, but as a fan, I just want to hear new music and see the band perform live. I don't want to have to worry about buying and selling digital assets. I just want to enjoy the music.

It's especially frustrating because this seems like a shift away from what Avenged Sevenfold has always stood for. They've always been a band that's been about the music and their fans, not about chasing trends or jumping on the latest bandwagon. And now it feels like they're putting their focus on something that's not even related to the music.

I get that the music industry is constantly changing and evolving, but I just hope that the band doesn't lose sight of what's truly important. I want to see them succeed and continue to make music that I love, but I don't think NFTs are the way to do it.

I just hope that in the end, the band realizes that it's the music that matters most and that they get back to what they do best - creating and performing for their fans. I've stuck with Avenged Sevenfold through thick and thin, and I always will. But I just hope that they don't forget what's truly important and that they keep putting the music first.

M Shadows Blows Out Voice

I was still on a high from the summer shows Avenged Sevenfold played in Europe, when I heard the devastating news - the rest of their tour has been cancelled. It's a huge blow for all the fans who were eagerly awaiting the next stop, and of course, for the band themselves.

As a longtime fan, I know the dedication and hard work that goes into a tour. To have it cut short due to an injury, like M. Shadows blowing out his voice, must be incredibly disheartening. I can only imagine how difficult it was for him to make that call, and my heart goes out to him and the rest of the band.

But as much as I feel for them, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed too. I was looking forward to seeing them live again, and now that's not going to happen. I know these things happen, but it still stings.

All in all, my thoughts are with the band and their fans during this difficult time. Here's to hoping M. Shadows recovers quickly and they're back on the road soon!

A7X Live Review From Denver

I'll never forget the night Avenged Sevenfold opened for Metallica in Denver. It was pouring rain, but the energy in the stadium was electric. I was already excited to see Metallica, but I have to say, Avenged Sevenfold completely stole the show.

As soon as they hit the stage, the crowd erupted. The rain didn't even seem to phase them - they were on fire from start to finish. The sound was powerful and tight, and every member of the band was giving it their all. I was particularly impressed by their lead guitarist, Synyster Gates, who shredded solos that left everyone in the crowd in awe.

And let's talk about Brooks Wackerman's drumming. I was initially unsure about the change in drummers, but Brooks completely exceeded my expectations. His energy and precision were just unmatched. It was a true treat to see him perform live.

By the end of their set, the entire stadium was chanting for more. Avenged Sevenfold had won over a crowd full of Metallica fans, which is no small feat. It was the perfect warm-up for the main event, and I left the stadium that night feeling blown away by their performance.

Overall, it was an unforgettable night of metal, rain, and pure adrenaline. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to see Avenged Sevenfold and Metallica on the same stage, and I'm already counting down to their next tour.

Avenged / Metallica Tour Announced

Posted on FEBRUARY 13, 2017 in Music

I've been an Avenged Sevenfold fan since their earliest days, and I never would have thought that they would one day be touring with Metallica. But here we are, and I can hardly believe it. This is going to be one epic tour!

I've been lucky enough to see Avenged Sevenfold play live a few times, and every show is a wild ride. There's just something about their energy and stage presence that makes their performances unforgettable. But seeing them in a stadium, with all the lights and production that comes with that kind of venue, is going to be a whole new level of awesome.

And then there's Metallica. These guys are legends, and they're sure to bring their best to the stage. It's going to be a night of nonstop heavy metal, and I'm so hyped to be a part of it.

I'm not the kind of fan who just blindly loves everything their favorite band does. I've been critical of some of Avenged Sevenfold's more recent work, but I have to say, I'm really feeling The Stage. It's a bold, experimental album that shows just how far these guys are willing to push themselves. And I'm sure that their live performances of these songs are going to blow everyone away.

I'm already planning my trip to see this tour, and I'm counting down the days. If you're a fan of heavy metal, or just a fan of great live music, you don't want to miss this. Avenged Sevenfold and Metallica are two of the best in the business, and they're going to bring the heat in these stadiums. Get your tickets now and get ready to rock!

The Stage Review

Posted on OCTOBER 30, 2016 inMusic

As an avid Avenged Sevenfold fan, I was beyond excited for the release of "The Stage." The band never fails to impress me with their musical talent and creative vision, and "The Stage" is no exception. From start to finish, this album is a musical masterpiece. The heavy metal riffs, intricate guitar solos, and powerful vocals are all on full display and showcase the band's exceptional musicianship.

What sets this album apart is the band's incorporation of progressive elements and their willingness to tackle politically charged themes in their lyrics. This added depth and meaning to the music and made the listening experience even more impactful. The socially conscious themes in tracks like "God Damn" and "Paradigm" are a testament to the band's courage to use their platform to bring attention to important issues.

The production on "The Stage" is top-notch and truly elevates the music to new heights. The sound is crisp and clear, and the mix balances the heavy instrumentation with the soaring vocals perfectly. The use of electronic elements in tracks like "Simulation" adds a fresh and modern touch to the album, showcasing the band's versatility and willingness to experiment with new sounds.

Every song on "The Stage" is a standout track in its own right, but the album as a whole is a cohesive and well-crafted work of art. Avenged Sevenfold once again proves their mastery of the heavy metal genre, and this album is a testament to their incredible talent and creative vision. I couldn't be more impressed with "The Stage" and I believe it will go down as one of the best heavy metal albums of all time.

The Stage Release

Posted on OCTOBER 28, 2016 inMusic

In a bold move that shook the music world, Avenged Sevenfold surprised fans with the unexpected release of their latest album "The Stage." The album was not only a musical triumph but also a groundbreaking moment in the music industry. In a first of its kind, Avenged Sevenfold premiered the album on top of Capitol Records in Hollywood, California.

The surprise performance was a true spectacle, as the band took to the rooftop of the iconic building and delivered a high-energy set that included several tracks from "The Stage." The crowd, made up of fans and industry insiders, were in awe of the band's musical prowess and the sheer scale of the event.

"The Stage" was released with no prior warning and is a testament to the band's fearlessness and willingness to take risks. The album showcases Avenged Sevenfold's musical talent and creative vision, with heavy metal riffs, intricate guitar solos, and powerful vocals. The progressive elements and politically charged lyrics add depth and meaning to the music and make it a truly unique and impactful listen.

The surprise release of "The Stage" was a game-changer in the music industry and has sparked a conversation about the role of album releases in the modern era. Avenged Sevenfold's bold move has challenged the traditional way of releasing music and has set a new standard for what a music event can be.

In conclusion, "The Stage" is a must-listen for any heavy metal or hard rock fan, and the surprise release is a testament to Avenged Sevenfold's fearless and innovative spirit. The rooftop performance will go down in history as a seminal moment in the music world, and fans are already eagerly anticipating what's next for the band.

Hail to the King Review

Posted on SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 inMusic

Avenged Sevenfold's "Hail to the King" is a solid entry in their discography. The album features the band's signature heavy metal sound, with pounding drums, heavy riffs, and soaring vocals. Tracks like "Shepherd of Fire" and "This Means War" showcase the band's musical prowess and ability to craft memorable, high-energy tracks.

The production on the album is well done, with a clear and balanced mix that lets each instrument shine through. The lyrics are catchy and memorable, and the themes of power and rebellion are well-represented.

However, some fans may find the album to be somewhat formulaic and lacking the progressive elements that set Avenged Sevenfold apart from other heavy metal bands. Some of the tracks can blend together and feel a bit same-y, lacking the standout moments that make the best Avenged Sevenfold albums so memorable.

Overall, "Hail to the King" is a solid album that will please fans of Avenged Sevenfold and the heavy metal genre. While it may not be their best work, it still features the band's musical talent and is a solid addition to their discography.

Little Bobby Tables

Posted on APRIL 11, 2007 in Techniques

SQL injection is a type of cyber attack in which an attacker injects malicious code into a website's SQL database through a vulnerable input field, such as a login form or search bar. The attacker can then use this access to steal sensitive information, manipulate data, or even take control of the entire website.

For example, consider a website that has a login form that takes a username and password as input. The website's server then uses this input to query the SQL database to check if the provided credentials match those stored in the database. However, if the input fields are not properly validated and sanitized, an attacker could enter malicious SQL code into the username or password field, such as:

username: admin' OR '1'='1'
password: anything

This code would cause the server to query the database with:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE username='admin' OR '1'='1' AND password='anything'

And return all the rows from the table users, effectively bypassing the login and giving the attacker access to sensitive information.

It's also important to keep your software and third-party plugins up to date, as vulnerabilities in these components can also be exploited by attackers. Additionally, it is recommended to use a web application firewall (WAF) to detect and block known SQL injection attacks.

Another example is when a website allows users to search for products by name or category. An attacker could take advantage of a vulnerable search bar by injecting malicious code such as:

name: ' OR 1=1 --

This code would cause the server to query the database with:

SELECT * FROM products WHERE name='' OR 1=1 --'

This would return all the rows from the table products, and the attacker could access sensitive information such as prices, stock, etc.

Preventing SQL injection attacks requires careful attention to the way that a website's input fields are designed and implemented. This includes ensuring that input fields are properly validated and sanitized to prevent malicious code from being executed, as well as using prepared statements or stored procedures to process user input.

In conclusion, SQL injection is a serious threat to the security of any website that uses a SQL database. It is important for website developers and administrators to take steps to protect against this type of attack, including properly validating and sanitizing input fields and using prepared statements or stored procedures to process user input. Additionally, keeping software and third-party plugins up to date, and implementing a WAF can provide an extra layer of protection.

Sight Unseen

Posted on APRIL 10, 2007 in Tutorials

The browser inspector is a powerful tool that allows web developers to debug and optimize their websites. It can be used to inspect the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript of a website, as well as to debug JavaScript code, profile performance, and more.

To access the inspector in most modern browsers, you can right-click on an element on the webpage and select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element" from the context menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+I (or Cmd+Opt+I on a Mac) to open the inspector.

Once the inspector is open, you will see a number of different panels, each with its own set of tools. The most commonly used panels include:

Elements: This panel allows you to view and edit the HTML and CSS of the website. You can select elements on the webpage by clicking on them in the HTML tree view, and then view and edit their styles in the CSS panel.
Console: This panel allows you to run JavaScript code and view the output. You can also use the console to debug your code by adding breakpoints and stepping through the code.
Network: This panel allows you to view and debug network requests and responses. You can see the URLs of the resources being loaded, the status codes, and the time it takes for them to load.
Performance: This panel allows you to profile the performance of your website. You can record a performance trace and then view the results in a timeline, which can help you identify bottlenecks and optimize your code.
Application: This panel allows you to view and debug the application state, such as the cookies and local storage.

These are just a few of the many features available in the browser inspector. With some practice and experimentation, you'll be able to use it to improve your website and debug any issues you encounter.

In summary, the browser inspector is a powerful tool for web developers to debug and optimize their website. It allows you to inspect the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript of a website and debug JavaScript code, profile performance, and more. To access the inspector, right-click on an element on the webpage and select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element" from the context menu or use keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+I or Cmd+Opt+I) and once you open the inspector you will find different panels each with its own set of tools.

Let's say you have a website with a button that, when clicked, should change the color of a text. But for some reason, the text color is not changing when the button is clicked.

You can use the browser inspector to debug this issue. First, open the inspector by right-clicking on the button and selecting "Inspect" or by using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+I or Cmd+Opt+I).

Once the inspector is open, you'll see the Elements panel, which displays the HTML and CSS of the website. In this case, you want to inspect the text element and check its CSS styles. So, you can click on the text element in the HTML tree view and then view its styles in the CSS panel.

You'll see that the color property of the text element is set to "black". Now, you can check the JavaScript code that is supposed to change the color of the text when the button is clicked.

You can do this by switching to the Console panel and running the following command:

document.getElementById("text").style.color = "red";

If the text color is not changing, then the issue is likely with your JavaScript code, possibly missing function call on button click or wrong element id.

To further debug the issue, you can add breakpoints in your JavaScript code by clicking on the line numbers in the Console panel. This will pause the execution of the code at that point, allowing you to step through the code and see what's happening.

You can also use the Network panel to check the network requests and responses, to see if all the necessary resources are being loaded correctly.

In this way, you can use the browser inspector to debug and optimize your website, step by step.

In summary, by using the browser inspector, you can inspect the HTML and CSS of your website, debug your JavaScript code, profile the performance of your website, and more. In this example, we've shown how to use the Elements and Console panels to debug an issue where a button click event was not changing the color of the text. By inspecting the HTML and CSS, we were able to confirm that the text element has the correct styles, and by running JavaScript commands in the Console and adding breakpoints, we were able to identify and fix the issue in the JavaScript code.

Rainbow Cipher: A Fictional Encryption Algorithm

Posted on MARCH 1, 2004 in Techniques

In the world of cryptography, it's essential to have secure methods for transmitting sensitive information. With the increasing use of technology and the internet, the need for safe communication has become more critical than ever. One of the oldest and most used methods of encryption is the use of ciphers. A cipher is a mathematical algorithm that transforms plaintext into an unreadable form known as ciphertext. In this article, we'll introduce you to a fictional cipher algorithm called the Rainbow Cipher.

How the Rainbow Cipher Works

The Rainbow Cipher is a fictional encryption algorithm that assigns different colors from the rainbow to each character of the plaintext message. The algorithm uses a simple substitution method to encrypt the message. The colors Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet are used to represent the characters A to Z in the plaintext message. The ciphertext is generated by concatenating the color codes for each character of the plaintext message.

To decrypt the ciphertext, the algorithm replaces each color code with the corresponding character to produce the original plaintext message. The Rainbow Cipher is a symmetrical algorithm, meaning the same key is used for both encryption and decryption.

Implementation of the Rainbow Cipher

Here's an example implementation of the Rainbow Cipher in Perl:

#!/usr/bin/perl

# Hash mapping letters to colors
my %color_codes = (
'A' => 'Red',
'B' => 'Orange',
'C' => 'Yellow',
'D' => 'Green',
'E' => 'Blue',
'F' => 'Indigo',
'G' => 'Violet',
'H' => 'Red',
'I' => 'Orange',
'J' => 'Yellow',
'K' => 'Green',
'L' => 'Blue',
'M' => 'Indigo',
'N' => 'Violet',
'O' => 'Red',
'P' => 'Orange',
'Q' => 'Yellow',
'R' => 'Green',
'S' => 'Blue',
'T' => 'Indigo',
'U' => 'Violet',
'V' => 'Red',
'W' => 'Orange',
'X' => 'Yellow',
'Y' => 'Green',
'Z' => 'Blue',
);

# Rainbow Cipher encryption
sub encrypt {
my ($plaintext, $key) = @_;
my $ciphertext = "";
for (my $i = 0; $i < length $plaintext; $i++) {
my $char = substr $plaintext, $i, 1;
$ciphertext .= $color_codes{uc $char};
}
return $ciphertext;
}

# Rainbow Cipher decryption
sub decrypt {
my ($ciphertext, $key) = @_;
my %color_codes_reverse = reverse %color_codes;
my $plaintext = "";
for (my $i = 0; $i < length $ciphertext; $i += 7) {
my $color = substr $ciphertext, $i, 7;
$plaintext .= $color_codes_reverse{$color};
}
return $plaintext;
}

Here's an example of how you use the Rainbow Cipher

# Encrypt a plaintext message
my $plaintext = "HELLO WORLD";
my $key = "RAINBOW";
my $ciphertext = encrypt($plaintext, $key);
print "Ciphertext: $ciphertext\n";

# Decrypt the ciphertext back into the original plaintext
my $decrypted_plaintext = decrypt($ciphertext, $key);
print "Plaintext: $decrypted_plaintext\n";

In this example, the encrypt function takes the plaintext message "HELLO WORLD" and the key "RAINBOW", and returns the encrypted ciphertext. The decrypt function takes the ciphertext and the same key, and returns the decrypted plaintext, which should match the original plaintext message.

For further reading on this topic, this book is a must read.

Obsession

Posted on MARCH 3, 2023 in Music

Have you ever been obsessed with something?

So obsessed you spend sleepless nights pursuing a goal that all at once seems impossible and right in front of you at the same time. Sometimes you make progress, and sometimes just feel like you are part of the rat race, moving but nothing is happening. One puzzle seemingly unlocks the next but the next seemingly leads you back.

I have. I’ve been obsessed of late. I’ve been trying so hard to accomplish something, but it wasn’t going well. As I progressed I felt like I was getting farther away. Dark visions of hopelessness and death filled my mind. I thought “Why even bother with these silly pursuits”? Maybe God has abandoned us or maybe he is sadistically watching from afar. Maybe we are in a simulation and “God” is a 10 year old kid playing a video game. It all seems pretty pointless anyway; in the end we all die and are forgotten.

So I decided to put it aside. I took a nap. I took the dog out and touched some grass. Met some friends, joked around for a bit. Someone wise once said "The best kind of tomato is the one that's been kissed by the sun”

And what do you know, something happened! While my brain was resting my subconscious made a leap that wasn’t possible before. Now I’m not done yet, but I’m back making progress.

This article also features an audio file:

https://streamable.com/o7ra3g

User VSG GarritoX#2274 found the source of one of the layers.

The ripped file’s META data contains the following:

User himegn#8830 has analysed the file with a spectogram which reveals:

“34.0816 -118.2342”

These coordinates point to the Elysian Park in California:

Elysian Park

Member Dieselbaby#0069 ventured out to the location and discovered a sign featuring a QR code. Update: See HUGE PROGRESS! Login dashboard + Contract Deployed

The Discord server’s impatience lead Libad to update the site once more;

The site returned back to normal on 22:45 GMT

Getting to Know the Linux Terminal

Posted on FEBRUARY 29, 2004 in Tutorials

Linux is an open-source operating system that is widely used by developers, system administrators, and other tech professionals. The command line interface of Linux offers a vast array of powerful and versatile commands that make it easier for users to carry out various tasks.

Here are the top 5 Linux commands that you should know to make the most out of your Linux system:

1. "ls" command

The "ls" command is used to list the files and directories in a directory. It is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux and it provides a wealth of information about the contents of a directory.

Example:

$ ls
file1 file2 dir1

2. "cd" command

The "cd" command is used to change the current working directory. This command is particularly useful when navigating the file system of your Linux machine.

Example:

$ cd /path/to/directory

3. "pwd" command

The "pwd" command displays the full path of the current working directory. This command is useful when you need to know the exact location of a file or directory.

Example:

$ pwd

/path/to/current/directory

4. "mkdir" command

The "mkdir" command is used to create a new directory. This command is often used to organize files and directories on a Linux machine.

Example:

$ mkdir my_new_dir

5. "rm" command

The "rm" command is used to remove files and directories. This command is one of the most dangerous commands in Linux as it can permanently delete files and directories, so be cautious when using it.

Example:

$ rm a_file

Here's a few more advanced commands you can try

The "top" command is a real-time system monitoring tool that displays the current usage and statistics of various system resources, including CPU usage, memory usage, and process information.

The "free" command is a system monitoring tool that provides information about the amount of free and used memory in a system.

The "ping" command is used to test the connectivity between two networked devices. It works by sending a series of packets to a specified destination, and measuring the time it takes for the destination to respond.

The "w" command is a system monitoring tool that provides information about the users currently logged into a system, as well as the processes they are running.

The "dig" command is a powerful tool for querying the Domain Name System (DNS) to gather information about domain names and their associated IP addresses.

You can try some of these commands for yourself here

Linux distributions, commonly known as "distros," are various versions of the Linux operating system that have been packaged and distributed by different organizations and communities. There are hundreds of different distros available, each with its own unique features, design philosophy, and target audience. Some popular distros include Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, Debian, and CentOS. I use Arch Linux, btw.

Terminal

At the bottom of the Getting to Know the Linux Terminal article there is a ‘Give it a try!’ button which opens up a fake Linux terminal.

Known terminal commands

W

This is a display of the currently logged-in users on a Unix-based system. The ‘w’ command outputs a list of all users currently logged in to the system.

Each row in the output represents one user, and the columns show the following information:

USER: the username of the logged-in user
TTY: the terminal device or virtual terminal associated with the user's session
FROM: the IP address or hostname of the machine from which the user logged in
LOGIN@: the time at which the user logged in
IDLE: the time since the user last interacted with the terminal
JCPU: the accumulated CPU time used by all processes associated with the user's session
PCPU: the CPU time used by the current process running in the user's session
WHAT: the command or program currently running in the user's session.

This command seems to reveal a lot of extra files to be found within the terminal.

Sudo rm -rf /

This is a joke command which just deletes the page you are on. Requires refresh to resume browsing.

The meaning of life is that it stops

“Congratulations, you have unlocked the secret code and have proven yourself to be a true adventurer!

Your bravery and wit have not gone unnoticed by the enchanted beings that guard this realm, and they have bestowed upon you a magical key to unlock the next challenge.

With this key, you can open doors that were previously closed to you, and discover hidden treasures that lie ahead.

So hold onto it tightly, my dear adventurer, and continue on your journey with an open heart and a curious mind. May the winds of whimsy guide you to your destiny!”

See Site Glitch Effect for info on how this command was figured out.

cat /usr/bin/mdecoder

This command seems to output gibberish, likely encoded through an unknown cipher.

Output:

$ cat /usr/bin/mdecoder
        @@@(( -==X`-=8880hhhDDStd8880Ptd

[+Xm         44QtdRtd-==HH/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 GNUGNU
        GNUemJ ,f u
         libc.so.6__cxa_finalize__libc_start_mainprintfGLIBC_2.2.5GLIBC_2.34_ITM_deregisterTMCloneTable__gmon_start___ITM_registerTMCloneTableui          3@??????H/Ht5/%/h%/D%u/D1I^HHPTE11H=S/f.H=y/Hr/H9tH6/Ht         H=I/H5B/H)HH?HHHtH/HfD=/u+UH=.Ht
         H=.d.]wUHH}HuH=0d4DTL=zRx
        $4 FJ
@
to

?P         o ooo=@GCC: (9.4.0-1u~20.04.1) 9.4.08h
P

@P`t
        @ ===?@@ MXZm@=@=M =

cat /etc/cron.d/rs-job

Output:

55 14 * 2 MON /usr/bin/tweet.sh

This is a scheduled job that runs every Monday in February at 2:55 PM. The job executes the script /usr/bin/tweet.sh, which relates to the tweets from 27/02/2023 22:56 GMT

28/02/2023 03:21 GMT Update:

This command now outputs two lines:

# 55 14 * 2 MON /usr/bin/tweet.sh
5 20 * 2 MON /usr/bin/tweet.sh

The first line is commented out, with a new one being added to mean ‘Mondays in February at 8:05pm’. This is roughly 40 minutes after its discovery. You can see the tweet here 28/02/2023 04:05 GMT

28/02/2023 20:40 GMT Update #2:

Third CRON job added; moving forward I will not be updating this section unless it features a script other than ‘tweet.sh’. For all tweets and discoveries see the CHANGELOG and Libad’s Twitter.

cat /usr/bin/tweet.sh

Output:

Cat: /usr/bin/tweet.sh: Permission denied

enc -f /tmp/43a10c7581d006

This command was found from a W output.

When entered into the terminal, you get:

$@ :7 J@FVC6 766=:?8 DEF4< @C 27C2:5[ C6>6>36C E92E J@F 92G6 E96 A@H6C E@ 4C62E6 J@FC @H? 25G6?EFC6] s@?VE =6E 762C 9@=5 J@F 324< 7C@> =:G:?8 E96 =:76 J@F H6C6 >62?E E@ =:G6] t>3C246 E96 F?<?@H?[ E2<6 C:D<D[ 2?5 36 @A6? E@ E96 A@DD:3:=:E:6D E92E =:76 92D E@ @776C] xE >2J ?@E 2=H2JD 36 62DJ[ 3FE :E H:== 36 H@CE9 :E] Wbf]bb__gX

This turns out to be a ROT-47 cipher, figured out first by ‘The Broken God#5519’. You can use this website to decode it by yourself. The decoded message states:

So if you're feeling stuck or afraid, remember that you have the power to create your own adventure. Don't let fear hold you back from living the life you were meant to live. Embrace the unknown, take risks, and be open to the possibilities that life has to offer. It may not always be easy, but it will be worth it. (37.33008)

Other

Occasionally the interface will output `....wuh happen?`. Users are able to achieve this response consistently by disconnecting from the internet whilst the page is open. This could indicate that the ‘wuh happen?’ message is sent when it fails to receive a response from its server, which could indicate changes / updates being pushed to the website.

Starting your input with ‘sudo ..’ will return “user is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.”

Libad’s Twitter

27/02/2023 22:56 GMT

“I am a journey both long and tough, with twists and turns that may be rough. But keep your eyes on the prize ahead, and don't be fooled by imitators misled. At the end of the road, a treasure awaits, a gift that's worth all the trials and fates. With sweet melodies that soothe and excite, it's the reward you've earned through your brave fight.”

This seems to be a self-aware post referring to the ARG game we are all playing.

> I am a journey both long and tough, with twists and turns that may be rough

Implies the ARG will take a long time and won’t be easy, taking twists we don’t expect.

> But keep your eyes on the prize ahead… With sweet melodies that soothe and excite, it's the reward you've earned through your brave fight.

This seems to suggest that the reward will be new music from the band.

> Don’t be fooled by imitators misled

We will come across people pretending to be a part of the puzzle, when in reality they are just trying to throw us off. Could potentially be referring to the reddit post by /u/Staudio earlier this day.

28/02/2023 04:05 GMT

https://twitter.com/libad5343/status/1630418766051028992

28/02/2023 21:30 GMT

https://twitter.com/libad5343/status/1630681751420022784

01/03/2023 23:04 GMT

This Tweet was posted alongside the Time to go touch some grass… update.

04/03/2023 01:06 GMT

https://twitter.com/libad5343/status/1631823376275628033

05/03/2023 04:23 GMT

https://twitter.com/libad5343/status/1632235468732473344

The apparent answer to this riddle seems to be ‘mint’, which coincided with a new NFT mint going live on the Libad5343-website. A few new NFTs were seemingly a part of the pool of possibilities to be minted. This mint-window was only open for roughly an hour. Since, the website updated to show the number 37717, which is equal to the amount of NFTs minted at the time of this update.

Time to go touch some grass…

On the 1st of March 2023, at roughly 23:00 GMT the website got updated to the following:

Alongside this, Libad Tweeted a sleepy emoji:

03/03/2023 16:50 GMT Update:

The text has changed to say ‘Wake up Libad…’

Row, row, row your boat

On 02/03/2023, around 20:30 GMT, libad5343 joined a voice channel, playing the song ‘Row, row, row your boat’ via their microphone.

Thank you Tamara7x#0808 for recording this. You can listen here: https://streamable.com/8badqt

This YouTube clip has a good quality recording of what was being played in the Voice Chat.

There is speculation around the lyrics of the song;

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream

The line ‘Life is but a dream’ forms the acronym LIBAD.

HUGE PROGRESS! Login dashboard + Contract Deployed

Thanks to user @foreversevenfoldband on Instagram who found another copy of the QR code, we have found the QR leads to the following page:

https://libad5343.net/can-coulrophobia-be-cured?answer=no

It features the following image:

This was quickly figured out to be the password to the Login Page.

password: 1#3D4%>2Fg

After successfully logging in, you get taken to the website’s dashboard.

Attempting to write a post results in an error; whereas typing in the ‘command’ box results in “Uh uh uh! You didn’t say the magic word”

It was shortly discovered that writing ‘deploy contract’ yields a successful response.

After doing so, going to the homepage would now show the following:

The pop up allows you to mint 5 at a time; you can see the full collection on OpenSea.

The homepage after successfully minting.

DUE TO THE WEB3 NATURE OF THIS PART OF THE JOURNEY, PLEASE READ!

Be cautious of any phishing attempts!! Triple check that the link you are clicking on is the real deal. This applies to any QR codes or other redirecting technology (buttons, hyperlinks, etc). *The master document will always feature validated links!*

For extra security, you can create a spare wallet to avoid any risk of your precious tokens!

Don't click on links outside of the Discord / master document, as we cannot moderate outside of those spaces!

As always, we take great care in ensuring the safety of our members. However, in a situation like this where exploration is encouraged, it is important to remember not to get carried away, as you might end up astray on some dodgy website!

37717

The website updated to show the number 37717, which at the time of writing is equal to the amount of LIBAD tokens that were minted.

Polygon Mint Images

Static

Decoded using a stereogram:

“6c. Keep”

Decoded using a stereogram:

“18. Fix”

Animated

- Creepy Haters: https://42fbabd889a9810ea47b.s3.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/media/creepy-haters

- Do You Believe?: https://42fbabd889a9810ea47b.s3.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/media/do-you-believe

- Game of Life: https://42fbabd889a9810ea47b.s3.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/media/gol?t=153

- Magic Crypto 8-ball: https://42fbabd889a9810ea47b.s3.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/media/magic-crypto-eight-ball

Thank you SenaUW#2445 for compiling these

The Grid

It is currently impossible to finish this grid as not all of the images are available for minting.

Other seemingly random bits

Console.log(me)

When opening the console, a big text would display the text “Console.log(me)”.

Output:

Let's connect ;) https://twitter.com/@libad5343

Login Page

https://libad5343.net/login

Username: libad5343
Password: the meaning of life is that it stops

*Any username seems to work

Currently (27/02/2023 13:39 GMT) this just redirects you to the front page.

03/03/2023 18:40 GMT Update:

The login details have changed, and the above no longer works.

Game Of Life

If you go to a non-existing subpage on the libad5343.net domain (for example libad5343.net/abcdefg), you will be greeted with a procedurally generated Game of Life

Site Glitch Effect

When browsing the site, it is possible that the website glitches out.

If you travel between the articles / links quickly enough, your page will begin to break.

When this happens, the phrase ‘FLY DWAHTGS SZ CAFY TL FLUK AT MEHBW’ can be seen.

This has been translated to ‘the meaning of life is that it stops’. This is one of the commands you can use in the Terminal.

This cipher was found to be the Vignere cipher using the key ‘meursault’. You can get to this result by going to this website, pasting in the phrase and clicking ‘Auto solve (without key)’.

Meursault is an expensive wine. Because no one likes cheap wine

01/03/2023 00:10 GMT Update

New scrambled text found in the glitched state of the website:

-RED ORANGE RED [DOT] XRAY XRAY BLUE GAMMA YELLOW

01/03/2023 01:56 GMT Update

The code above was deciphered by beechy5#2561 by taking the concept of the Rainbow cipher of how colours could relate to letters, and applying it to numbers instead. By taking the seven colours in the visible spectrum (as displayed on the Rainbow cipher) and extending them with two additional parts of the electromagnetic spectrum displayed in the scrambled text; Xray and Gamma per redlipsofdeceit#9604’s contribution of how they’re related and camazotz#7184’s suggestion they might be numbers 8 and 9, nine colours were available. Assigning each of these colours a number 1 through 9 creates a conversion table as follows:

R(ed) 1
O(range) 2
Y(ellow) 3
G(reen) 4
B(lue) 5
I(ndigo) 6
V(iolet) 7
X(ray) 8
G(amma) 9

RED	ORANGE	RED	.	XRAY	XRAY	BLUE	GAMMA	YELLOW
1	2	1	.	8	8	5	9	3

Converting the found string using the above conversion table yields the number: -121.88593. Combining this number with the deciphered code in the terminal enc -f /tmp/43a10c7581d006, we get the coordinates; (37.33008) (-121.88593), which turned out to be the location for `The Ritz in San Jose, CA, USA.`

Our local hero Super Pleb#7530 visited the site and found that The Ritz’ marquee displayed a message by Libad5343: “Libad5343 presents Nobody”.

Crossword

The crossword first appeared after the command ‘The meaning of life is that it stops’ was discovered.

The solved crossword looks as follows:

The solved crossword resulted in a seed phrase to a wallet with 5 ETH.

The seed phrase is:

cloud unknown sun seed mushroom absurd afraid melody observe journey key ordinary love universe dream phrase mask robot grace fiction mystery acid exist glory

Pornhub

The post from /u/Libad5343 showcasing the hacked account also features a ‘Pornhub’ tab. The relation of this tab is unknown, more thorough research required.

Avengedsevenfold.com Logo ‘Nobody’

Thanks to Deformance#0001 for finding this!

The letter ‘N’ in ‘Sevenfold’ features the letters ‘obody’.

The letters were hidden within the ‘N’ element. You can get them to show by editing the element inspector in your browser. The word is an SVG path that has been commented out. Undoing this comment makes the text appear.

‘Nobody’ tweet from May 2022

Since we found the word ‘Nobody’ to be of significance, this tweet was discovered from May 2022 posted by M. Shadows.

This piece is by ‘Wes Lang’, who has collaborated with the band before.

Theories

LIBAD = “Life is but a dream”? - MaestroX101#2479

LIBAD = “Life is better after death”?

User ‘Staudio’ posted this video on reddit, however no confirmation of its validity / relation to the ARG

Later in the day, /u/Staudio posted a second video.

Few hours later, u/Staudio posted a third submission to reddit.

Possible Staudio connections (unverified) [work in progress]

Staudio posts a cipher (ABCJKL-ABCMNO-1DEF-ABCMNO-1JKL-10-0-GHI-1MNO-1MNO-ABCABC-GHI-0-ABCGHI-ABC0-GHI-1JKL-ABC0-DEF-1MNO-1GHI-JKL-ABC0-ABCMNO-ABCJKL) which translates to 'Nobody Seeks Misdirection' by using older phones’ T9 method > Nobody/The Ritz seemed to be a misdirection as the community all ignored it to go to a park.
Staudio posts AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave) > Libad was seemingly gone for the whole day, there was no scheduled tweet, but posted a sleeping emoji anyway.
Staudio posts a video with sunflowers > Afterwards sun-flowers is found in the code of the Libad site
Staudio posts 'FLOWERS WILL DECAY WHEN NOBODY IS THERE TO SEE THE PLAY' after a DBC member visited the Ritz.
Staudio posts 9999 (9/9/99) in a video > Libad's site updated with the link w3.org/1999.
Staudio contradicts with the video title 'some body' to 'Nobody' from Libad + Staudio tells us to stay inside while Libad tells us it's "Time to touch some grass"
Staudio posts a cipher (ABCDEF.TUV.1.ABC0-1.1TUV.JKL-ABCJKL.1JKL.ABC1-GHI.1JKL.WXYZ.1GHI.PQRS-WXYZ-ABC0.1JKL.1ABC.GHI-ABCJKL.1JKL.ABC1-ABC0.1JKL-1WXYZ.ABC0.1.ABCJKL-WXYZ.1GHI.1WXYZ.WXYZ.GHI.JKL) that translates to 'what are you doing I told you to stay inside' when someone reaches the St. James park near The Ritz
Staudio posts 408, which is the area code of San José. Error code 408 is also a request time out and is the angel number that represents rethinking actions.
Staudio posts a cipher (12.1.5.18 19.9 25.4.15.2.15.14 . 12.1.5.18 20.15.14 19.9 7.14.9.8.20.25.18.-.5.-.22.-.5 . 4.5.4.5.5.14 19.9. 5.18.15.13 7.14.9.8.20.15.14) that in reverse translates to ‘NOTHING MORE IS NEEDED E-V-E-RYTHING IS NOT REAL NOBODY IS REAL’.

It remains unclear whether Staudio is connected to Libad. Per the community’s experience they only seem to post after updates from Libad, potentially trying to throw people of course, but we have no proof.

The Solution

At 07:25 AM on March 13th 2023, user Wildc4t#7510 posted to Discord their solution to the Libad5343.net ARG. Read their explanation below; [work in progress]

SOLVING LIBAD

12th March, 9:00pm GMT

The mint went live. Over the course of 3 hours, several NFTs would be released gradually. By 12:04am GMT, Libad tweeted that we had all the pieces and were now alone.

First step - gather the NFT keys. Each NFT has a key that corresponds to all of it's type. For example, Cosmic Skeletons was Key 8. However, it was not a simple 1-99 match-em-up, as some numbers did not have an NFT assosciated with them. Key 2 does not exist, for example.

I quickly figured out that we needed 11 NFTs of different keys to unlock the code, but how did we find out which ones?

There was talk of the sudoku puzzle, which got us thinking. It was weird that we had solved it but gotten nothing more out of it. I suspected this would be where we got our keys from, but we had no idea how to solve them.

After 5 hours of throwing ideas around, Failure (FAILURE7X#6661) specifically noticed something weird about the Game of Life NFTs - A very rare one would drop that would not have a load of pixels, but rather would have fatter pixels. We went on a mad search to see if there were any other NFTs like this, and we found them - They were exactly the same. 47 frames long, and exactly the same pixels. Other Game of Lifes had many more pixels and were entirely random, as dictated by the seed.

We then realised the "Fat GoL" fit the sudoku square. Exactly. 9x9. So we took apart the 47 frames and layered them over the Sudoku frame. I took the covered numbers and tried to match any hidden numbers that were directly next to each other to form the keys mentioned above.

We needed to find 11 keys that fit and did not duplicate, so that they would fit into the NFT grid on the Libad site. Took us ages, but we eventually matched it to frame 1. The blocked out numbers formed the keys.

The final keys/NFTs in order are:

59 - Reflection
41 - Plastic Land
8 - Cosmic Skeleton
78 - The Grind
65 - Cosmic Love
62 - Sunrise
13 - Long Road
3 - God
35 - Lonely Robot
75 - Falling
7 - Dream

CHANGELOG

27/02/2023 20:23 GMT - /u/Staudio posts cryptic video - See Theories

27/02/2023 21:37 GMT - avengedsevenfold.com website changed design

27/02/2023 22:00 GMT - New (fourth) user appeared in the `w` command to be using cron

27/02/2023 22:36 GMT - Tidied up the document

27/02/2023 22:56 GMT - New tweets from Libad 27/02/2023 22:56 GMT

27/02/2023 23:13 GMT - Staudio posts second reddit post

28/02/2023 01:47 GMT - New interface command discovered by Louie#9962 cat /usr/bin/mdecoder

28/02/2023 02:13 GMT - New interface commands found cat /etc/cron.d/rs-job and cat /usr/bin/tweet.sh

28/02/2023 03:12 GMT - cat /etc/cron.d/rs-job command now outputs another timed tweet script (in 45 mins?)

28/02/2023 04:05 GMT - New tweet from Libad 28/02/2023 04:05 GMT

28/02/2023 04:16 GMT - Amongst the ‘updated files’ seem to be new pop ups ft. clowns Updated 28/02/2023 04:05 GMT

28/02/2023 20:37 GMT - New CRON job for tweet.sh At 13:30 [PST] on Tuesday in February. Thanks Red#3864 for pointing this out

28/02/2023 21:30 GMT - New Tweet 28/02/2023 21:30 GMT

28/02/2023 22:00 GMT - New message found in the Terminal enc -f /tmp/43a10c7581d006 -

01/03/2023 00:10 GMT - New scrambled message from the Site Glitch Effect found

01/03/2023 01:56 GMT - Newly found scrambled message was deciphered by beechy5#2561 - 01/03/2023 01:56 GMT Update - Thank you Deformance for the write up

01/03/2023 06:28 GMT - Super Pleb#7530 travelled to the location and found a message from Libad 01/03/2023 01:56 GMT Update - Thank you Deformance for the write up

01/03/2023 23:10 GMT - The website got updated to simply say ‘Time to go touch some grass…’ Time to go touch some grass… & new tweet & base64-encoded image

02/03/2023 20:30 GMT - Libad joins the Discord channel to stream ‘Row, row, row your boat’ - Row, row, row your boat

03/03/2023 18:40 GMT - Website has returned with a new article - Obsession. It features an audio file & new GPS coords

04/03/2023 00:30 GMT - Huge progress! HUGE PROGRESS! Login dashboard + Contract Deployed + New Tweet 04/03/2023 01:10 GMT

13/03/2023 07:25 GMT - Libad5343 has been solved. Information added with the final solution.