Avenged Sevenfold credits guest drummer Mike Portnoy for helping them complete their number-one album after the death of Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan.  “Nightmare” is currently the top record in the country and guitarist Zacky Vengeance says Portnoy was their only option for a drummer because he’s one of the “best drummers in the world.”  The Dream Theater drummer originally thought it would take just three days for him to learn Avenged Sevenfold’s songs.  But, according to Vengeance and the rest of the band, Portnoy soon found out he was wrong. 

Vengeance says the best compliment he can pay Portnoy is that he sounds like their late drummer.   He adds, “He’s been an absolute pleasure and I can’t even imagine…if that guy said no, there wouldn’t be an album right now.”   Singer M. Shadows chimes in with, quote, “He makes you want to celebrate life.  That’s what Mike Portnoy does.  You look at him and say this is a guy who is coming into the worst situation and he’s got all this to lose.  He’s not really got anything to gain…and he’s sitting there through the whole thing and everyone’s saying, ‘Wow, this is a real standup guy.’”