The Iconic Drumming Behind “Nightmare” | Avenged Sevenfold
Nightmare” by Avenged Sevenfold is a defining track in the band’s catalog, and Mike Portnoy is here to break down how he recorded the drum parts, originally crafted by the late, great Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan.
When Portnoy joined the band, he was given a demo of The Rev’s drum part recorded on an electronic drum kit, allowing him the creative space to build on that foundation. The result is the dynamic, hard-hitting performance you hear in the final track. Tune in as Mike Portnoy takes you through the fills, transitions, and emotion that shaped this iconic Avenged Sevenfold track.
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Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:27 – Song Overview
01:09 – Discussing The Rev’s Demo
02:05 – Listening To The Rev’s Original Demo
02:40 – The Intro Drum Fill
03:27 – The Chorus
04:01 – Touring With Avenged Sevenfold
05:39 – Full Performance
11:12 – Final Thoughts
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@HadesArmy1990
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
The only channel that appreciate the rev. My idol. ❤ rip the rev. Miss him so much. 😢
@jasonhiller3380
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
I almost died at their concert.I ended up spending a month in the hospital with kidney failure full recovery.Now would love to see them in concert again
@jasonhiller3380
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Well, I got to see Avenged Sevenfold.Just after the rev passed away they put on one hell of a theatrical show
@ramadavit7342
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Next bat country please😁
@saputro5384
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
It's undeniable that there's no life in his drumming. The beats are dead.
@full-stroke4308
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Die Götter
@blazeofglory450
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
i saw the nightmare tour right after the release of the record, literally right around my birthday and this is when i was in my peak a7x fandom era lol i had waited 4 years for them to come back to Baltimore and i remember when Jimmy passed i woke my best friend up who was also a drummer and a huge rev fan and we cried together all night. I will always remember seeing them on the Nightmare tour and how emotional it was for EVERYONE. Us in the crowd, the band etc. Still to this day the two concerts ive seen that absolutely blew me away were A7X on the Nightmare tour and on the HTTK tour.
@gamelucu3851
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Bukan sembarang aki aki , legend
@MosinMaster
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
If you didn't know better you would have thought that Jimmy had recorded this song. Mike did an amazing job honoring his vision and talent.
@victorbarbera7171
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Best player drum my favorit mike portnoy
@zachwilliams8136
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Portnoy is such a legend it must have rough filling such a fresh wound when the rev died
@romankrhounek5974
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Masterpiece album
@edyalf25
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Man this video made me cry! RIP The Rev
@Jon-k1o4d
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
One of my top 2 drummers
@Relaxingmusic-tw4qn
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Nightmare is last a7x album for me which feels like a7x I didn't even know rev didn't play it
@migueldelrosario2351
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
I love the bell part!!!
@TiamoaTzudir
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Such a down to earth humble person .. A legend ..Portnoy is the best
@StigmaShadow
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
damn the demo sounds SO much better. So much tighter, snappier, syncopated
@1976oswald
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
the vocals sound very "kind of joke" weak or poppy
@Kratos324354
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Nightmare is the Definitive album of A7X. Was never the same after that 🙁
@Izzy-143
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
I love nightmare so much I've been knowing it for so long I kinda made my 1st period teacher listen to it he got scared heh..
@henryjohnhenry7308
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
That would have been so cool to see “the rev” on drumeo if he was still alive
@TimeWiz
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
Man I remember seeing you Live in Toronto The year the rev passed. Thanks for one of the best concerts i have ever been too
@redim777
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
I discovered this legendary drummer and human being Mike Portnoy through your channel. What a man Portnoy is… That Pantera shirt suits him so damn well… RIP Jimmy Sullivan and the Abbott brothers..
@Sh4tterdL0g1c
October 14, 2025 at 1:38 am
How do you even make a comment about this video…the sickest shit I’ve ever seen
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