Nightmare (Avenged Sevenfold album): Difference between revisions

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Nightmare is the upcoming sixth studio album by American metal band Avenged Sevenfold, which is due to be released on July 27, 2010 through Warner Bros. Records; it was produced by Mike Elizondo and mixed in New York City by noted engineer Andy Wallace.^[1] Nightmare is the first record without James "The Rev" Sullivan performing drums after his death in December 2009, although he still wrote some of the songs before his passing.^[2] Mike Portnoy, from Dream Theater, performed as the drummer for this album in his place and will play with the band for all the upcoming tours through the end of 2010^[3]; And, as a tribute, The Rev's vocals are still on the album.^[1]

In late 2009, two years after Avenged Sevenfold released their self-titled album, and four years after they've issued their breakthrough studio set, 2005's City of Evil, the Huntington Beach, California rockers started working on their next record, the band's "most personal and epic" that will "definitely take you on a very dark journey"^[4]. Around early winter 2009 the band worked on the album's production until the death of their drummer.

It was then on December 28, 2009 when the body of James "The Rev" Sullivan, was discovered inside his home. This incident made the band suspend the work of the album for some time.^[5][6] In the later months, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater (a major influence on The Rev and Avenged Sevenfold) agreed to finish recording the drumming tracks for the album. After a couple of months, more notices about the album became available; A short message from Zacky Vengeance was posted on the official Avenged Sevenfold Twitter on April 17, 2010: "Tracking is complete. There are no words that will ever describe the feeling of listening to this album while driving home alone at 4 am."^[7]

Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy issued a statement about being tapped to work with Avenged Sevenfold on the band's new album. Portnoy filled in for James "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in late December. Portnoy said:

Even under normal circumstances, I would've been happy to help the guys out in any way I could as I think Avenged Sevenfold are a great band; But under these incredibly sad and tragic circumstances, I must say I am truly honored to have been asked to play with them and I didn't even have to think twice about saying yes. [...] These guys are a true family and it is an incredibly emotional experience to be here with them for the first time without their lost brother. But they have welcomed me into the family with open arms and there's a real excitement to make the record they had set out to make. I am treating my participation on this album with the utmost respect for Jimmy's memory and am remaining as true as possible to the drum parts that he wrote for the songs and the record he wanted to make. [...] Although I wish I could stay on board with Avenged Sevenfold in a more permanent capacity; I will need to resume work with Dream Theater to start a new album at some point in 2011. However, I will be able to join my brothers in Avenged Sevenfold for at least the duration of their touring throughout 2010, and hopefully this will give them the time to continue to heal and get comfortable back on the road.^[8][3]

M. Shadows and Synyster Gates have recently given an interview to Hard Drive radio in which they announced that the band's new album is to be titled Nightmare. Not confirmed by any official sources as of yet, the information reads: "[...] The new album, Nightmare, is dedicated to [The Rev's] memory and although it's not exactly a concept album, it does center around The Rev. The eeriest thing about it is there is a song on the album called Fiction (a nickname The Rev gave himself) which started out with the title Death. And the song was the last song The Rev wrote for the album, and when he handed it in, he said, that's it, that's the last song for this record. And then, 3 days later, he died."^[9]

In another interview, this time with The Pulse of Radio, M. Shadows said that not only did Portnoy replicate the drum patterns Sullivan had already written for the record, but Sullivan himself makes an appearance as well: "[...] Jimmy actually left a couple of vocals on the record. They're kind of like a goodbye. It just happens that he sang them in key, he sang the words very clearly, and there was no bleed in the mics or anything; And so, we used them on the record. Jimmy actually sings on the record. All of his drum fills are intact; It feels like Jimmy playing, like our last record with him".^[1]

The first single, "Nightmare", was released digitally on May 18, 2010.^[8][10] A preview for the song was released on May 6, 2010 on Amazon.com, but was removed soon after for unknown reasons^[10]; However, on May 10, 2010, a 30-second audio uncensored sample was again revealed, but this time at SoundCloud and Avenged Sevenfold's official website. The band have also posted the song on their official YouTube channel with animated lyrics.^[11][12]

• "Nightmare"
• "Fiction"^[9]
• "Danger Line"^[13]
• "God Hates Us"
• "So Far Away"

Avenged Sevenfold

• M. Shadows – lead vocals
• Synyster Gates – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Zacky Vengeance – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Johnny Christ – bass guitar, backing vocals
• The Rev – backing vocals, drum arrangement^[1]

Additional musicians

• Mike Portnoy – drums
• Brian Haner - guitar

Production

• Produced by Mike Elizondo
• Mixed by Andy Wallace

• Official Avenged Sevenfold website
• Template:Myspace
• Warner Bros. Records