Late AVENGED SEVENFOLD Drummer 'Appears' On Band's New Album

Southern California's AVENGED SEVENFOLD recorded its new album, titled "Nightmare", with drummer Mike Portnoy of DREAM THEATER recording the drum tracks after the death last December of the band's drummer and main songwriter, James "The Rev" Sullivan. But singer M. Shadows told The Pulse of Radio 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," he said. "They're kind of like a goodbye. It just happens that he sang 'em in key, he sang the words very clearly, and there was no bleed in the mics or anything, and so we used 'em on the record. So Jimmy actually sings on the record. All of his drum fills are intact, it feels like Jimmy playing. So it feels like our last record with Jimmy, pretty much."

Shadows also told HardDrive Radio that Sullivan wrote his last song for the album, originally called "Death", just three days before he passed away.

Sullivan was found dead at his California home on December 28, 2009. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.

"Nightmare" will arrive in stores on July 27 via Warner Bros. Records. The CD was produced by Mike Elizondo (DR. DRE, EMINEM) and is currently being mixed in New York City by noted engineer Andy Wallace (SLAYER, SEPULTURA, NIRVANA, DISTURBED). The title track is also the first single from the record. A 30-second clip can be streamed below.

Portnoy will play with AVENGED SEVENFOLD on all their 2010 tour dates as well, including the Uproar Festival tour with DISTURBED and STONE SOUR that begins in late August.