The Iconic Drumming Behind “Nightmare” | Avenged Sevenfold Song Breakdown

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. ►FREE 7-DAY TRIAL: ___________________________ 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 ___________________________ Follow @MikePortnoyDT1 ►Instagram: ►Facebook: ►Twitter: ►Website: Follow @BrandonToews ►Facebook: ►Instagram: ►TikTok: @ ►Twitter/X: ___________________________ ►Learn Drums Here: ►Free Lessons: ►Our Favorite Music Products: ___________________________ Follow us: ►The Drumeo Beat: ►Facebook: ►Instagram: ►TikTok: @drumeoofficial ___________________________ #Drumeo #MikePortnoy #AvengedSevenfold