Comparing The Drummers of Avenged Sevenfold (The Rev vs Portnoy vs Wackerman)

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Comparing The Drummers of Avenged Sevenfold (The Rev vs Portnoy vs Wackerman)
The band A7X has been through 4 incredible drummers...The Rev, Mike Portnoy, Arin Ilejay, and Brooks Wackerman. All 4 drummers are incredible in their own rights. They all 4 brought a different energy to the band Avenged Sevenfold and the drumming in their music. So in this video we will be looking at A7X's drummers as they perform. What are the similarities? The Differences? Looking at all 4 will allow us to appreciate each individual drummer and what they brought to the band Avenged Sevenfold.
Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
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[@chrisggoodwin777]

I could be wrong, but I think Portnoy said Jimmy was working on Nightmare before he passed, so Mike used the rough tracks and put a bit of his own flavor in it. Brooks looks like he's showing up to play with a jazz quartet then proceeds to rock like nobody's business. Love this series!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You're probably right...I've heard the same. I don't like to include anything in a vid unless I'm 100% sure (or try to be) so im learning a lot from the comments!

[@chunkycarson3596]

@@StephenTaylorDrumsIf you watch the Drumeo video on Mike Portnoy playing “Nightmare” they talk about The Rev’s demos on the album.

[@gregday9943]

You can listen to some of the nightmare album with jimmy playing on his electric kit.​@@StephenTaylorDrums

[@Critchy92]

He said that the rev laid down want he envisioned the drum part to be like and mike portnoy just added some mike portnoy elements ​@StephenTaylorDrums

[@69djpitbull]

Mike said himself that after jimmy passed. Matt got in touch with him and said "Jimmy really looked up to you and we'd be honored if you'd help finish the songs" mike ending uo using alot of Jimmy's parts that he wrote before he passed.

[@spongeb27]

Oh man, the Rev was definitely no stranger to showmanship hahaha he used to twirl his sticks non stop

[@mikemickey6415]

yea that was an interesting take by him lol

[@HeyLook287]

As an FYI: The small hi-hats on Brooks' kit for Nobody is just for that song, they immediately switch it out when he's done that song back to normal ones.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks for that info...I was looking up photos of his setup and couldn't find small hats anywhere haha...I was like "I know I'm not crazy!"

[@HeyLook287]

@@StephenTaylorDrums Its really neat if you find one that shows the end of the song, he undoes the hihat and holds it over behind his head for his drum tech to take and then gives Brooks the normal hihats lmao

[@jamesthestormchaser556]

You beat me to it

[@emilionavarrete5169]

@@HeyLook287 he's posted videos about it on his Instagram!

[@EzDyt]

@@StephenTaylorDrums “I’m not insane, I’m not insane”

[@r6exrider]

That girl in the background is Matt's wife I think. Probably heard the song a million times.

[@jayson2015]

That's what I came here to say I'm pretty sure that's Val

[@ThePyroKnight]

She helped manage the band for years

[@Lineuzinhoputao]

She's just a blond girl guys

[@Aknight292]

I actually think some of Brooks best work is from the album The Stage. Higher, The Stage, paradigm, Exist are all insane work by Brooks.

[@AdamRocksOut]

for sure

[@sVieira151]

One of my favourite bits of material Brooks has done for A7X is that verse tom groove in Paradigm. Helped elevate that song as a standout on that album, in my opinion.

[@WatchMattGo]

I believe the song was actually written around Brooks drumming on that song. There is a video where they break down the song and Matt says that Brooks was just jamming playing a groove and they all liked it and ran with it. Which became Paradigm!

[@Flibberty-Giblets]

I can’t help but smile any time I watch Portnoy playing. Dude is always having a blast.

[@DDubs730]

portnoy brings so much personality to everything he does which is why hes my favorite drummer of all time

[@Its_Noonan]

If you watch the whole drumeo video, Mike shows them that rev did the demo for that track and all Mike added was basically fills and little things here and there.

[@Marc-xo2rx]

in my opinion, Brooks is the best drummer. REV was the better all around musician and the way he was writing songs were amazing. Drumming Only, Brooks gets the edge

[@bruhmoment8699]

Agreed I’d rather watch the rev but Brooks’s skill is just stupid good

[@StevenJS89]

I disagree I think the Rev was a better drummer, he was just more disciplined in his writing. His feet were def better anyway

[@drummonkey9643]

I recall seeing a video where Matt and the Rev stated that Brooks Wackerman was an influence on the Revs drumming

[@Scoots1994]

I appreciate the word definition at the beginning. So many people think comparing two things means you are equating them or ranking them rather than just noting similarities or differences.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Agree. And that's a shame because a proper comparison is such a great learning tool

[@DanzySL]

Didn't The Rev write the nightmare album, and mike came in and did the professional recording

[@njbinkers]

Yep he did! He played the parts that the Rev wrote and recorded on a electric kit and Mike polished it up in the studio for the final recording

[@nathanwilkerson4382]

I think Mike was a great "hired gun" and did a fantastic job. I think he provided what they wanted. I really like the knowledge, versatility and technique Brooks brings. With his upbringing, its no wonder. His brother played with Zappa...I think he's great and hopefully having a great time.

[@Drummer885K3vinRios]

Thank you for doing this, I loved it for me it would have to be 1.The Rev 2.Brooks Wackerman 3.Mike Portnoy And least of all 4.Arin Iljay I mean they all brought their own flavor the the group

[@AdamRocksOut]

I hate to say it but the “black album” approach with heavy, simple drums and slow grooves on httk just doesn’t have me. Arin Iljay is a great drummer but the whole style of the album set him up for faliure

[@Vorticy135]

​@AdamRocksOut he didn't even write the drum parts Syn did. Arin did write Carry On and Not Ready To Die, though.

[@AdamRocksOut]

@@Vorticy135 I said it set him up for failure. I thought it was clear that I wasn’t saying it was him?

[@Munkydroid]

That girl behind Jimmy on the Warped Tour performance is one of the twins married to Matt and Bryan. 😂 They toured with them so I’m sure they had just seen it too many times.

[@jimmyjames7809]

Brooks is definitely my favourite. He is so professional in every way and a true legend in my opinion. He comes from a family of drummers and his brother Chad played for Zappa.

[@DrumEducatorsNetwork]

Awesome vid! My choice is Brooks, of the legendary Wackerman drum fam. They're all amazing though 🤘

[@dominicnevins2144]

First thing, real quick, it's actually been confirmed by some of the members that Arin Ilejay's name is pronounced "Eye-le-hay" (it threw me off as well when I first heard it 😅) Secondly, I love absolutely everything about this video. Avenged Sevenfold was definitely one of the first bands I ever heard on my own and each individual member displayed a strong influence in my music instrumental inspiration; ESPECIALLY The Rev in his drumming. And I love what Mike Portnoy did, and I love what Arin Ilejay did, and I love what Brooks Wackerman is doing. Thank you for doing this video, Stephen. 👏

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Haha..thank you for the correct pronunciation! I was like "imma get this wrong"

[@devonrotharmel9620]

Digging the hoodie man! My band is playing a show at the Moxi theater on the 21st of December! We've played there about 5 times now.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Great venue...load in sucks a hit. And Greely overall has a bad smell lol...really cool toy/game store close to the venue. They always treated us well. Hope the show goes great!

[@niklask7635]

Mike didn't write the drums on Nightmare btw

[@DrummerDann95]

Brooks if by far the most versatile drummer out there, the rev was an overall musical genius!

[@jacksonjDell]

brooks is a phenomonal drummer, and he might even be more techincally proficient than Rev was. But REV was the best man for the job. his ideas and his writing, matched with his skill, precision, and creativity was the life of the band imo.

[@grantkelly2751]

I wouldn’t count Mike as one of “their drummers” EVERYTHING on the nightmare album Jimmy already wrote in demos. He just made it “a finished product” as per mikes words instead of a demo.

[@adamsatterwhite1541]

I agree that each drummer has their own tools and chops that they bring to the band. I also agree that there shouldn't be a judgement call on which drummer was the best for the band. However this video didn't really do an apt comparison of any of the drummers other than looking at how Brooks played Unholy Confessions. Essentially we just saw how each of the drummers played a song that they had a hand in the creative process with, which of course is going to be completely different as each drummer has a different style (personally I think Rev and Portnoy were much more alike than different as Portnoy was a huge influence on the Rev). A more critical comparison would've have been to find each of them playing the same song and then comparing the way that each of them played that song and brought their own flavor to the song. Just my opinion. Thanks for the videos and for the kindness you showed during one of my visits to Nashville. Saw you at the Tin Roof one night and you were kind enough to let me sit in for a couple songs.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Yea, i looked at doing that but had a ton of trouble finding all of them playing the same song. As well, there weren't a lot of differences in how they approached their more popular songs, from the vids I could find. So I had to go this route (at least for me that's what made sense). I remember that haha! Thanks for giving me a break!

[@ClarenceWijaya]

Arin's time in A7X may be short, but I really like his playing in Shepherd of Fire, it really is the highlight of his time there.

[@donaldtrump4206]

I'm glad you included Arin ❤

[@bdn8161]

Stephen. Your great at these video analysis. Also a great drummer, teacher. Would u do one over Pearl Jam w Dave K, Dave A, Jack irons and Matt Cameron. Love to see that one. Thank you!

[@dfdemt]

Jimmy wrote Almost Easy. His double ride work in the song became his signature move because no one else had ever done it.

[@undertheinfluence1654]

He got it from Tommy Lee I believe. And Gene hoglan had done it before too.

[@boendahbandofficial8628]

So far, in my opinion, the most similar character in the rev of technique is Mike Portnoy, for some reason I feel they have the same taste in hitting the drums.

[@zachwhittaker5886]

glad ppl still remember the rev!!! RIP homie!

[@spongeb27]

Great concept for a video but I can't watch it in case you don't mark the Rev as the best 😂 Never mind, I watched the first minute and you clarified you won't do that, I can watch :) Brooks may be better technically with 20 years more experience he had than the Rev, but the Rev's style and creativity will always keep him at #1 for me. Although honestly I do think Brooks is my 2nd favourite drummer of all time lmao

[@patrickyasko7443]

Papa Gates heard Jimmy play when he was only 15 and said his chops were masterful. So anytime you see Jimmy playing live as a grown up just assume he was already a master. Id rank Brooks as the best of all the drummer, his tone and groove are unmatched.

[@Tore_the_tilla]

I do believe the Rev wrote most of the drum tracks for the Nightmare album. And Portnoy did the recordings.

[@meanmetalmike666]

Compare all 3 drummers of ac/dc

[@davidkrzeszewski4561]

They're all great because they're all just a little bit different and it all works!!! I do really miss Brooks playing with Bad Religion!!!!!!

[@ClarenceWijaya]

The debate about Nightmare album being Jimmy or Portnoy's work will never and and its tiring because the truth is there. The Rev wrote all the part, Portnoy plays it in the recording while adding one or two parts of his taste.

[@xerodelacroix5552]

The woman at 5:41 is Val Sanders, Matt's wife lmao.

[@dandavidson1704]

Mike was an excellent choice for a temporary replacement. Brooks was an excellent choice for a permanent replacement.

[@KasumovMedia]

Shadows has an incredible live voice tho.

[@BassExpert666]

Mike Portnoy didn't write any of the parts in Nightmare. He just recorded what The Rev had demo'd and added some of his personal flairs to it.

[@BradleyEgeberg]

Mike didn’t write nightmare rev did back in 2005

[@Flibberty-Giblets]

True, though the bell hits during the chorus were all Mike

[@VasilisKritikopoulos]

Jimmy was the best fit for the band, period

[@J_THOR]

That girl is one of their significant others LOL

[@dexsullivan7929]

They’re all so sick in their own ways. Was my dream to carry the torch for Jimmy but all these dudes have crushed so hard.

[@ryanandrews9102]

I'll disagree on one thing. The more straightforward writing began on the verse of Critical Acclaim, which was on the self-titled album, which was the last album the Rev played on.

[@garamata]

3:01 PUNS!!!

[@niklask7635]

I didn't know they used to play almost easy in a higher key

[@benedictcumberbatch9844]

Brooks is an absolute beast I’m all for jimmy but brooks is an absolute monster

[@btharp_drumz]

Love the hoodie! #CO

[@SynysterGoose]

The rev wrote drums for nightmare

[@domithedrumster]

to my taste Brooks is overdoing it with splashes, fills and stuff so that it distracts from the song, the songs with him are always a char of a surprise where I can not let myself fall into and just enjoy because I get distracted from stuff all the time

[@YellowB-mw4gp]

random question: what would you say would be a good add-on for my drumset to enhance the sound? I have a cowbell.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

An extra crash, a wood block, another tom...lots of options. I would listen around and find a sound you like

[@Silvermetal954]

For me The Rev is the best sevenfold drummer and Mike is a better overall drummer

[@davidisanidiot1181]

And Brooks smokes both of them.

[@GodSmacK5181]

Literally ​@@davidisanidiot1181

[@GLMZIGM]

​@@davidisanidiot1181Are you perchance the "David" that is referred to in your username?

[@Xd_Silvious]

@@davidisanidiot1181 hell no, I love brooks but the rev was one of a kind

[@zanewonsey9176]

I believe that is M Shadows wife 5:53

[@igorpodemski9596]

No it's not his wife.

[@thatenglishgentleman]

I thought it looked more like her sister, Syns wife

[@ZyzerrrYups]

😂

[@rodelquirante5487]

Where's Arin Ilejay? He's also ex drummer of A7X

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

He's in the video

[@jasrob419]

Did you watch the video?

[@J_THOR]

Fun fact, the rev recorded almost easy in one take. That one take is posted on their KZbin channel Edit: u knew

[@niklask7635]

Edit: He fucked up in that take so that statement can't be true

[@J_THOR]

@niklask7635 edit:so did your mom, but hey, you exist!

[@niklask7635]

@ that doesn’t even make sense. Try again kid

[@olliebonugli8881]

@@J_THORwhere tf did that come from

[@WellsWestContractors]

Gotta love the Revs backups let alone his playing. One of a kind.

[@seitsen]

They all pretty much had 'Karen hair' back in the day, in the first video, didn't they

[@TheeCableguy]

So, A7X has session studios for Wackerman's first album "The Stage". Their most recent album was very experimental. If you want a good look at The combination of every drummer they had up to that point you should listen to Paradigm which is my personal favorite song of that album (drum wise). Here is a good live clip of it (video is edited live performances audio is the live recording) of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZjLfaRmm9OiZ6Msi=d-laSRSMKYT4TDXD

[@SynysterGoose]

Avenged sevenfold dies with The Rev

[@KeeganMakesOpinions]

It's honestly insane that I don't cry often but when I went to the A7X Concert a while back when they did the Audio of The Rev in the background they still play his voice.

[@MrEmagtsr]

Nightmare mp kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqjVn4GKrsl8f6Msi=rYyIqkauDLlqqvx6

[@MrEmagtsr]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6O8gK1reLeVoaMsi=T8cApGXoHcuXd5hl

[@MrEmagtsr]

Almost easy

[@JohnSmith-oc9iw]

Honestly just a basic drum skills from basic rock band .bit boring not impressed at all.Mediocre drummers at best.

[@MrEmagtsr]

Welcome to the family mp kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2PMqZyHiMyjhJosi=C6LQD3p7b9H9QxGy