Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare

5 months following the death of founding member Jimmy "the Rev" Sullivan, A7X have refused to sit at home and weep, instead recuiting Jimmy's all-time favorite drummer, Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), to drum with them on their new album, titled Nightmare.

Quick, rythmic tempo aside, Portnoy has done an incredible job of replicating the Rev's style, which has always been an essential part of A7X's iconic sound. Constant double bass also makes it distinctly Portnoy, although overall Portnoy has indeed stayed true to Jimmy's drum parts, thus it is almost as if Jimmy himself was sitting at the kit.

A sinister piano "solo" opens the song, before the guitars and drums come crashing in, mirroring the initial piano melody. The result? Pure, unadulterated awesomeness that takes the piano to whole new different level.

Throughout the song, the drums are fast and furious, complementing Synyster Gates' raging guitar solos as well as M Shadows' screaming and singing. The song also never tires despite its colossal length of 6:16, as the style of the song constantly switches, from pounding intro to melodious choruses and of course, Gates' awesome guitar work while the rythm guitar backs the song alongside the drums.

The chorus is also distinctly Avenged, with a piano line providing a subtle, but still distinct melody that was recorded by the Rev, just days before he died. In fact, Nightmare was one of the last songs the Rev wrote
before he died.

All in all, Nighmare is a wonderful piece of work, and I can't find many negative attributes to the song, but I would have liked to hear a more predominant bass line from Johnny Christ. Nonetheless, A7X is still one of my favorite bands. A7X foREVer. R.I.P Jimmy "the Rev" Sullivan (1981 - 2009).