What's your "Nightmare"? Avenged Sevenfold ANALYSIS and we're all missing The Rev now.

My nightmare is losing someone close to me, especially my husband and father to the most amazing kiddo. Given this song was recorded after The Rev passed away, the nightmare of losing a friend and bandmate is real. . . and I can't imagine how the rest of the band felt while they recorded this. We're diving in deep today.
Join professional opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff, as she listens to Avenged Sevenfold performing "Nightmare" for the first time.
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Written and Performed by Avenged Sevenfold, featuring Mike Portnoy
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I definitely recommend watching the original video without interruptions. Here's the link: • Avenged Sevenfold - Ni...
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Elizabeth Zharoff is an international opera singer and voice coach, with 3 degrees in voice, opera, and music production. She's performed in 18 languages throughout major venues in Europe, America, and Asia. Currently based somewhere between Los Angeles and Tucson, Arizona, Elizabeth spends her days researching voice, singing, teaching, writing music, and recording TONS. She also plays Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons.
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We have a sister channel: THE SINGING HOLE. Join us there to examine how ordinary creatures create extraordinary sounds. / @thesinginghole
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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#avengedsevenfold #Reaction #TheCharismaticVoice
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[@jonathanmillett4734]

M. Shadows has an interesting history of punishing his vocal chords. Would love to see Elizabeth do tea time with him and have him give his full story.

[@SuperXD44]

Seconded this. Due to Shadows having wrecked his vocal chords he was the one to reach out to Mathew Heafy from Trivium after he wrecked his vocal chords too. IIRC he went and gave him the contact of a voice coach that he practiced with for a long time to get his problem solved

[@agustinjauregui2127]

I would love a tea time with M Shadows

[@ConloRoxx]

He’s on record for saying his voice coach was the same one used by Axl Rose when he had issues

[@DeadWirePromotions]

he would actually be a good subject for the ongoing vocal research they're doin.

[@ConloRoxx]

@@DeadWirePromotions they both would Shadz has blown his vox a few times now and Axl has real issues lately

[@colehaugen6391]

“Save me” by Avenged Sevenfold is an absolute must-listen. It’s probably my favorite song by them. It showcases a lot of the sounds you hear across their whole discography, and M-Shadow’s vocal performance is definitely one of his best.

[@jennymarie.]

YES! Such a heart grabber for sure.

[@leojohansson935]

Totally agree

[@magatcvg]

Possibly the best A7X song ever.

[@Secrets17x]

I concur, it's also my favorite song.

[@allentastic]

I’M TRAPPED IN A VILE WORLD

[@kevinpearson8562]

Really hope you do a tea time interview with Matt. He is INCREDIBLY well informed about his voice and has had really specialized vocal surgeries too.

[@gjf992]

I second this! 🙏

[@_WeDontKnow_]

SO glad she came back around to them, and you're right I think Matt would make an amazing interview with her

[@rodrigopumpkin9018]

100%

[@iamdondawson]

Seriously, Elizabeth, a conversation between you and Matt would be an absolute must-watch for anyone remotely interested in vocal technique! You’re one of the best interviewers out there, and he’s one of the best interviewees, truly. He’s also super supportive of “new media” talent like you. I’d love to see this happen!

[@nicostrabac768]

Upvote this comment ya'll!

[@dawncapps5172]

Synyster Gates is an incredible musician! No matter how heavy the song is, he always plays a really beautiful melody somewhere in there. His talent is amazing!

[@DeadWirePromotions]

He’s also a great backing vocalist. He’s able to create great vocal harmonies no matter the song.

[@ygortavares4685]

@@DeadWirePromotions not that great. Check out their live videos. He under and over tones a lot.

[@thelonewolf7443]

We aren’t talking specifically live for Syn, just his overall discography with A7X’s albums.

[@EatinPaste]

Yeah! And I love that they ended the Life Is But A Dream album with just piano! Played solely by Syn!!

[@DeadWirePromotions]

@@EatinPaste LIBAD is a great album. So many great songs on there.

[@quintonj7221]

If I remember correctly, they asked Mike to finish this album because The Revs favorite drummer and major influence was Mike Portnoy, and Mike really liked the Revs drumming so he was really honored to work with them.

[@CarlWheathers-ch5xs]

He was so into it he actually quit Dream Theater to join A7X permanently without discussing it with A7X first, and A7X wasn’t ready for that level of commitment off the rip so Portnoy was bandless for quite a while. Always thought that was kinda funny, sucks Dream Theater wouldn’t take him back right away.

[@ChrisHinton1967]

@@CarlWheathers-ch5xs DT didn't take him back right away because he didn't quit to join A7X. He left because he was feeling burnt out from the 2-3 year record/tour cycle Dream Theater was on. He suggested a longer break -- I think it may have been around 5 years or so. He also wanted to explore more music beyond Dream Theater. That's not to say that once he worked with A7X he did not want to continue. Also, he was never band less but had multiple bands he was part of. These are all the releases where he was a major part of the writing and production process after he left Dream Theater. There are others, like A7X, where he drummed but was minimally involved otherwise. Liquid Tension Experiment: one album Transatlantic: 3 albums Neal Morse/Neal Morse Band: 7 albums! Flying Colors: 3 albums Adrenalin Mob: 3 albums Sons of Apollo: 2 albums Winery Dogs: 3 albums

[@quintonj7221]

@@CarlWheathers-ch5xs I actually didn't know that, I just knew Portnoy really liked to hop between bands and figured that was the most of it

[@Dr4ftFunko]

The rev has the ground work or demos. But portnoy actually finished the album and recorded. Watch his interview on drumeo

[@ChrisHinton1967]

@@Dr4ftFunko Fair. I hadn't followed A7X and didn't know how far into the recording they were. He still wasn't involved as heavily into that release as in all his other projects though.

[@PhatGuSS]

The Rev changed how we understand, hear and process metal drumming forever. He was a pioneer and visionary for all aspiring percussionists that heard him. A once in a generation talent. RIP.

[@Moon_Presence]

Curious, but how?

[@mjstories7181]

@@Moon_Presence Listen to the chorus of Sidewinder, the verses of Scream, the whole of Bat Country- he could have gone with a straight 4/4 beat like most bands but he made it artsy and perfect to fit with the music. His understanding of rudiments and fills was masterful, and he always put 100% into every song to orchestrate it just how he wanted it. He also wrote a ton of their music and was an amazing vocalist/contributor. Without Afterlife, Almost Easy, and a Little Piece of Heaven, all of which he wrote, they wouldn't be nearly as famous as they are now.

[@shezz2437]

Buried Alive by Avenged Sevenfold needs to be the next one. It's their best song imo and it really has everything.

[@PlyrMava.]

Considering she is a mother now, I think Cosmic would be a great song for her to react to, especially with the info that Matt is a father now.

[@BrolyOrAurak]

Tbh, I prefer the stage to buried alive, but id be happy with any of them

[@Qliphirot]

Next A7X song she should listen to is any song from LBC

[@jamescrisp2380]

@@Qliphirot 100% critical acclaim LIVE LBC is brilliant

[@vasqaze8458]

Most people don't know about the song 'Blinded In Chains' from A7X unless you've played the game Need For Speed: Most Wanted. It's easily my fav. driving song to get through traffic.

[@vandermerwedawie1]

We need "The Stage" and "Buried Alive" pleaasssseee

[@Dmitriy88S]

+++

[@Fuwret]

The Stage would be amazing

[@zacharyhall5263]

Both are excellent examples of his vocal range.

[@josues1929]

To address your question about "pure screams", the band started doing metalcore songs in their early days and has transitioned to metal/hard rock as you look at their more recent discography. Their 2003 album "Waking the Fallen" has a lot more "pure screaming" especially their song "I Won't See You Tonight Part 2", but even still there is a good bit of mixing singing and harsh vocals throughout most of their albums.

[@johnnott5773]

It is a great album and different from a lot of their later work

[@robertsmith470]

I was coming to mention this album and Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. Their early stuff had more harsh/scream vocals

[@paytonharrison5391]

I would love to see her listen to both of the I wont see yoy tonight I think it's would be quite the vid

[@superrad1659]

Waking the Fallen was a masterpiece of an album, but you get an ever harder A7X on Sounding The Seventh Trumpet. Less refined, but def a higher pecentage of harsh vocals.

[@Nastyb77]

Waking the Fallen was my first A7X album. Took me a while to appreciate the albums after it. Didn't like the vocal changes at first.

[@Conquest13]

The anticipation for this album was insane. I was 13 when the Rev passed away, just after Christmas. When we heard that this album would be his sendoff, we all eagerly awaited for it. This music video was the first one released after he passed, and boy did we all feel it. I'm 27 now and I still get chills listening to the Rev's voice and drum parts. Rest in peace Jimmy ❤

[@joshuajeppesen4455]

The scene when Shadows is pushed by the room with the broken drum set is heart breaking 💔. RIP Rev.

[@hayleyscomet4380]

Please do “Afterlife” Live at the LBC performance!!! 🙏🏼 Also “Unholy Confessions” is a great live performance from that LBC show and one of the most classic A7X songs

[@bob-ov4iq]

Avenged sevenfold- buried alive Avenged sevenfold-Higher, for a truly spiritual and other worldly experience , Matt’s vocals in this song are pure perfection

[@LucasGabriel-xz8nk]

@@droids75 wasn't it a little piece of heaven?

[@droids75]

@LucasGabriel-xz8nk yep you're right, my mistake

[@DuckAllMighty]

Exist, but that would become a 1,5 hour video.

[@FunhausRyan]

​@@droids75 Why did you delete your comment?

[@droids75]

@@FunhausRyan because I was wrong

[@Dark3ndCyph3r]

Tonight the World Dies is one of my favorites for showcasing Matt's voice. I dont know why but for some reason that song to me is just so perfect for his cleans and a bit "grittier" tones. Hope to see you break it down some day!

[@moncalimarimoncalimari8964]

You've gotta do Fiction now. It was the last song the Rev wrote, he did it 3 days before he died and he has some great vocals on it. It was originally titled Death and its basically his farewell to all his friends and fans.

[@queenbytch144]

She really does! Great song!

[@davidtaylor1299]

Rev had recorded his demo parts, so Portnoy played them almost exactly to the demos. The video itself, according to M. and Synyster, is based on the movie Jacob's Ladder, which blew their minds when the director suggested it, because The Rev was a huge fan of it and talked about it a lot while the others didn't know what he was talking about.

[@laurieemme1534]

SO excited for more A7X! "Nightmare" is one of the first songs I heard from them. The video creeps me out a little, lol, but the song, vocals and instrumentation are excellent! Can't wait for tomorrow! Maybe "Afterlife" Live at LBC could be next.

[@LucasGabriel-xz8nk]

up!

[@altairtodescatto]

The LBC performance of "Afterlife" is next level, along with the rest of the show, but damn that song

[@TheBlindGuardian20]

The whole band is very talented. And personally Matt is so gifted with lyrics and vocal Melody writing and singing all together.. I love all of their catalogs and if you listen to their new stuff you can really get an idea of where Matt's voice has evolved into something incredible.. if you want to hear haunting listen to fiction, as stated above its the revs final song He wrote, but with Matt's voice with it it's just so haunting and beautiful. The piano work is insane too.. I really resonate with the Rev and his writing styles quite a bit, as a singer I loved what he did, but Matt just put some flare on it that's just unmatched.. it's so sad he's gone still can't believe that over and over again, but the new albums are fantastic the stage, and their newest are just insane!.

[@juancamargo9322]

The Song "Second Heartbeat" by them is one where M. Shadows uses 90% screams, you should listen to it!

[@_WeDontKnow_]

I loved their live version in the LBC where he worked a little more singing in there. but yea, his screams are super impressive. both live and on the recorded version.

[@renanlpps5691]

Metalcore era 🫴🏻

[@jacobsobelman3923]

I second this!

[@Qliphirot]

LBC LBC

[@jakeblo4]

Best album hands down!

[@Will-ej7sp]

i seriously want you to consider his vocal work in "unbound - the wild ride" from their self titled album. its my favorite vocal work he's ever done and i genuinely believe it will shock the hell out of you. thanks for making this, it's always fun having such a professional make content on my favorite band like this.

[@FarGoblin]

Afterlife - Live In The LBC should absolutely be next. It is not only a banger of a song on its own but this particular live performance is astoundingly well done. It also features a vocal part from the Rev mid-drumming which is a real treat.

[@thejesus95]

The whole set 👌

[@jasonvandrese2581]

She should just do the whole LBC set!

[@SoupSultan]

Really glad to see more A7x. "I Won't See you Tonight Part 1" is pretty interesting, vocals wise. Pretty sure it has the highest notes Shadows has hit in any of their songs.

[@nicoleeravioli]

Especially because they've all been friends since middle school too. You can really feel the sadness/acceptance in "Fiction" and "Victim" and anger in "God Hates Us All" off the same album. From start to finish, you can feel the band's whole full grieving process. FoREVer.

[@holidayonion]

I’d like to add St. James to that list. That song hits me so hard whenever I hear it. I’ve lost two very good friends to suicide but that song helps me pull through and realize all the great things they did in their lives, however short. Miss you, Michael and Shane. FoREVer.

[@gtyrone83]

All 3 of those songs are awesome!

[@gtyrone83]

The live version of God Hates Us All in 2010, I think, is the best.

[@allentastic]

Glad to see some love for Fiction here.

[@Vikingfhclips3531]

Can’t forget “Won’t see you tonight” “So far away” “Seize the day” show that same emotion especially after Revs passing

[@chrisggoodwin777]

Mike Portnoy is one of my all-time favorite drummers! He fit in so nicely with Avenged and was able to help keep their sound and separate from Dream Theater. This whole band is so fun to listen to and analyze rhythm, melody, and harmony

[@Cadinho93]

This is one of the songs they dedicated to their late drummer, The Rev, hence the drum set at the very end. Basically, the whole album is a tribute to The Rev. Also, I got to see Avenged Sevenfold live back in March of this year and I am glad that I did. They're one of the best live bands you will ever see and I definitely would recommend for you or anyone on here to see them live.

[@Robert_Douglass]

Hey, which one was wearing the Army Class A jacket with the Spec-4 rank, Zacky Vengeance or Johnny Christ?

[@bernardtiengo3307]

I’m glad u got the chance to experience them live. It’s really great, such energy!

[@heatherattaway9160]

I've seen them live twice. Once this tour and the first time before his vocal injury. Both times they sounded great, almost as if you were listening to the record. I become a bigger fan every time I see them.

[@ajjohnston78]

Saw them before Metallica when they toured with them. They just absolutely killed it.

[@jayson2015]

@@Robert_Douglasszacky has the bright red hair and Johnny has the Mohawk

[@1WildNevada]

Would really love to see a review of any song from their Live in the LBC performance. Kind of a magical time where Matt and the band all were at their peak together both in ability and popularity. Throwing it all together with The Rev was very special. Afterlife, Beast and the Harlot, Critical Acclaim, Seize the Day, Almost Easy…. You really can’t go wrong. A tremendous live show that really showcases Matt’s vocal ability and showmanship

[@bigtomivan]

The song lyrically isnt really about their emotions of losing the Rev. Its about an individual damned to hell either thinking to themselves about whats become of them or being mocked by another resident of hell. All the stuff in the video like the drums and white light etc were tributes though. Glad to see you finally covered my fav song!!!

[@laurieemme1534]

Agree with the above!

[@anthonyvalentine9685]

Glad I'm not the only one to see this.

[@RTSRAZORBACK]

I didn't think it was either, since it was written with The Rev... I definitely feel like 'Fiction' was a goodbye letter from him, even though it wasn't ruled as a suicide. Elizabeth would be overwhelmed with emotion listening to that song, I literally cried when they played it live, as I never expected it and it takes a lot to make me cry!

[@rockingamer100]

Yeah yup this song and the whole album was written before he died just not recorded yet when he passed

[@ASClarinet1227]

One of my personal favorite songs by A7X is Afterlife. It's beautiful, but still heavy. The Rev had some great backing vocals in it as well!

[@lepe916]

Would love to see Afterlife - Live at the LBC

[@robsharp688]

That whole concert is absolutely fire 🔥

[@jennymarie.]

YES, this!!! That performance was incredible!

[@DarkTerrex]

Glad you're seeing more of A7X with the rough start you had. Almost Easy is a perfect one to go to next. This song (Nightmare) in particular got me into the band because of the chorus vocals. His sustained high notes with the slightest vibrato at the end of them would give me chills every time.

[@Lurch685]

When I heard that, I knew this guy can actually sing. It’s not all studio tricks and engineering to make him good; he’s just good.

[@TobbeBoll]

Matt has one of the most epic screams in metal, Critical Acclaim Live LBC, God Hates Us Rock am Ring 2011. Elizabeth needs to hear the live versions.

[@mastod0n1]

The scream at the beginning of Critical Acclaim Live LBC is incredible, especially the prominent harmonics towards the end.

[@JoelMiller-p3f]

It's a fact, the best time of shadow voice was 2007-2012 but the peak was 2011, the whole year in all performances in all festivals he shouted at God Hates Us 12-13 seconds, now calculate how many shows in 365 days... 150? 200? 250 maybe? There is no doubt that not everyone is able to endure between 200 and 250 shows in a year screaming like that, taking into account that the setlist had Critical Acclaim, God Hates Us, Afterlife, Buried Alive and Unholy Confessions in the same show.

[@KeaganZ2737]

I saw them play on Halloween night in London, back in 2010. They started playing God Hates Us and Zacky's equipment kept on noping out after a few notes. Thankfully the techs got it sorted out, it definitely added to the spooky vibes!

[@gtyrone83]

Yes!

[@DeadWirePromotions]

@@KeaganZ2737is there a video of it?

[@swansong425]

You definitely need to do Buried Alive.. It is like their stairway to heaven with the buildup.

[@frozenninja4030]

I love how A7X has such a great theatrical quality to a lot of their music.

[@sharkworm2015]

Nightmare is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. I am so happy you covered it.

[@matthewglover2218]

I really recommend that you watch A7X's "God Hates Us live in Rock am ring 2011" it's from the same album as Nightmare and M Shadows really demonstrates his range with singing and screaming. He's at his peak during this time period imo

[@brianwhorrall1769]

I second this!

[@JoelMiller-p3f]

It's a fact, the best time of shadow voice was 2007-2012 but the peak was 2011, the whole year in all performances in all festivals he shouted at God Hates Us 12-13 seconds, now calculate how many shows in 365 days... 150? 200? 250 maybe? There is no doubt that not everyone is able to endure between 200 and 250 shows in a year screaming like that, taking into account that the setlist had Critical Acclaim, God Hates Us, Afterlife, Buried Alive and Unholy Confessions in the same show.

[@ICRA95]

I admire his talent but i dont agree with his view and blaming God for The rev death, It doesnt make sense

[@matthewglover2218]

@ICRA95 The song is about what any person goes through when losing a loved one, questioning the world. I respect your opinion but for me the meaning of the song doesn't matter at all, plus it slaps

[@markw6457]

Save me is heart wrenching, and one of their best! DOO IT

[@Earth1stSpaceL8tr]

I'm so glad you didn't give up on this band because of one song. "Nobody" is on of their best and latest ones too. Thanks!

[@DerekFrampton]

I've been around a few years... and It's been SO ENJOYABLE to watch/experience your musical tastes in Genres EXPAND to the point that it has. Your knowledge, and experience PROVES that no matter the genre, ALL music is relevant! Blessings!

[@alexistrahin1644]

It’s great to see you react to more avenged sevenfold!! An amazing song for you to react to is “The Stage” studio version, it has great instrumentals and pure vocals that keep you hooked through out the while song!! No disturbing images!! In my opinion one of their greatest songs!! Please react in the future!! Guarantee you’ll LOVE IT!!

[@nicholasvinen]

The Stage is excellent!

[@sebastienbouche7069]

Didn't she already react to it?

[@alexistrahin1644]

@@sebastienbouche7069 To The stage not yet, not sure if she already reacted to it and posted it on patreon, but on youtube not yet.

[@dawncapps5172]

“So Far Away” is a beautiful tribute to The Rev. You have to hear it.

[@emilybaldi4848]

Check her playlist, it was like the first A7X song she reviewed

[@seshdg3065]

We need some "Avenged Sevenfold - Live in the LBC" content!

[@DAHamilton]

So glad you decided to come back to Avenged Sevenfold! This band meant so much to me when I was serving in the military, City of Evil was practically permanently installed in the cd player in my car. I would love for you to cover "M.I.A.", this song perfectly embodies the conflicting emotions both of serving and returning to civilian life.

[@ryanmattison2044]

Big a7x fan here, the guitar harmonies got me hooked nearly 20 years ago. Shadows voice has definitely evolved over the years, early albums were much more screaming metalcore, later trending toward more singing and vocal harmonies. I was lucky enough to see them live in 2005 and again in 2018, the same band and a very different band at the same time. The 2018 show was actually on the Rev's birthday and they did a special tribute. Even 9 or 10 years later, you could feel the impact he'd had on the band and how much they missed him.

[@elerinwen]

I would pay to see you react to a string of chronological Avenged Sevenfold songs, from their first album to the last, just for you to witness Shadow's vocal growth, it's a thing of beauty!

[@JoeMama-oq8wl]

That whole album is just...😢👍😡 stuff. To lose 1 of the best all time drummers, the way they did. To fight thru the grief, anger, doubts, & all. To find a drummer right up there in skill. To come back. I think we are all grateful for all they give us. 💪👏👏👏

[@lisamblue]

Thanks for reacting to more of Avenged Sevenfold! Love them!

[@ethanscharfe9454]

A7x live in the lbc is the best concert if you want to see them live

[@TheDjMoo]

Nightmare as an album was something of a tribute to The Rev, and I would recommend checking out "Fiction" from this same album. IIRC it was the last song The Rev wrote, and it is such a beautiful piece that gets me misty eyed every time.

[@ApocApocrypha]

The Rev was such a talented musician. He is known for his amazing drumming but he brought so much more like with his unique backup vocals. When we lost him, I understood how much of my love for A7X was because of him.

[@MetalGearShredding]

His drumming wasn't that great, it was more how good he was in his songwriting imo. His songwriting was next level

[@jennymarie.]

Thank you so much for covering another A7X song, Elizabeth. foREVer 🖤

[@marabudka7062]

YES! More Avenged Sevenfold please! I think the next step is something like Bat Country becuase that album is Matt's peak nasality and it would be interesting to hear you react and explain everything.

[@ZbuntowanyGwindon]

There's no going back now, Elizabeth - you're a full-time metalhead!

[@jonathanbrown2025]

I am excited to see her review another one of their songs! I hope she gets the chance to review their song "Victim", which is one of my personal favorites.

[@katelynasher5]

Victim is one my favorite songs. Makes me cry every single time because you can feel Shadow’s emotion so deeply.

[@hitoka3180]

My favorite Avenged Sevenfold song (that tends to be considered as one of their best masterpieces online) is the closer of this album : SAVE ME I highly recommend, it's my favorite song of all time, it feels like EVERY NOTE of the song just hits perfectly ! ALSO if you want the hear The Rev SING, he started singing a bit on their Self Titled album (he was the main vocalist in Pinkly Smooth, a Mr Bungle inspired band he had with Syn, the lead guitarist), he's got a big part on CRITICAL ACCLAIM, his voice is really unique I'd recommend the LIVE IN LBC version of that song too (also, heartwarming fun fact : the band said that they use recordings of his voice during live performances, so he's still playing with them in a way 🥲)

[@alangadbois]

Shout out to my favorite drummer's The Rev and Mike Portnoy. The Rev laid down all the drum templates for the song, and Mike did the parts justice.

[@granthamlin8126]

I would love to hear where The Rev would be now, in terms of drumming ability. I don't know if he'd be at Mike Portnoy's level, but I think it would be up there.

[@sammythecat2072]

This song is 100% iconic. Would love to see your reaction to The Stage!

[@kennethmoore427]

I see Charismatic Voice and Avenged Sevenfold I watch. Best rock band and best reaction channel. The Stage next?

[@SkipChylark]

If no one has told you, Avenged Sevenfold have a video series called Breakdown where they dissect some of their songs and give you some behind the scenes. Fully recommend. Also, you mentioned metalcore and screaming, they actually started as a metalcore band. Sounding the Seventh Trumpet is almost entirely screaming, Waking the Fallen is half screaming, half screaming. Sounding is a bit on the sloppy side, given it's their first album, but Waking is what established their sound and solidified their core fan base. Unholy Confessions would be my recommendation from that album. That's sort of one of the tentpole Avenged songs. Finally, the music video for Nightmare was based on one of The Rev's favorite movies, Jacob's Ladder.

[@gabrieldesousa8900]

Hey Elizabeth, thanks for one more A7x reaction! Two things. One: if u want to get up your mood by listening to A7x songs dedicated to Jimmy "The Rev" u should listen the b-side "ST. JAMES". After a couple of years the feeling of missing Rev changed from anger to honoring love memories and it could be seen in that song. Two: u CERTAINLY should listen to their most new single "COSMIC". Maybe their best song written ever! Tears come to my eyes everytime and it could be interpretated as a message to the loved ones that already passed away, including Jimmy "The Rev". Love your channel and, if it is possible, keep doing this amazing job to the ones who love music! ❤ Greetings from Brazil! 👏🏻👏🏻🇧🇷

[@Malrats]

PLEASE do an analysis of one of their songs from their second album, Waking the Fallen. It’s their 50/50 harsh/clean vocal masterpiece and I’d love to hear what you have to say about the way that M. Shadows screamed back then. I’d recommend the song “Remenissions”, or “Second Heartbeat”. Or “Radiant Eclipse”. They’re all so good, honestly. My favorite album.

[@Medelmessaoudi]

Finally more avenged🎉 Please do Afterlife next, it's a wonderful song

[@ramiropalacios7660]

the Live at the LBC

[@xXNum1SniperXx]

The Revs vocal part in that song is haunting

[@Apositronic]

I feel like Afterlife and Nightmare go hand in hand. Two very different death experiences and I love the contrast between the two.

[@tlnr2f]

I REALLY think you'd enjoy doing some of their "live in the LBC" concert songs. They're all available on YT, and they are so incredibly amazing. One of the best live shows I've ever seen and TONS for you to analyze! Critical Acclaim Live in the LBC would be my pick for best song to analyze both him and the Rev's singing/screaming :)

[@GarylIl]

With A7X their sound and style has changed and developed over time. Their older stuff (especially first 2 albums Sounding the Seventh Trumpet and Waking the Fallen) had much more harsh vocals, and then continually over time M Shadow's became more melodic than just doing harsh vocals. Their two most recent albums don't have much of the general screaming but it's sprinkled in here and there. Glad to see you didn't give up on them after your attempt at A Little Piece of Heaven XD I'd like to see your thoughts on "Cosmic" "Nobody" or maybe "Mattel" from their latest album so you can see how he sounds now compared to some of their older stuff you've heard.

[@civil_fellow2985]

Yes, a Cosmic reaction/analysis would be great!

[@fuhtehangzo1465]

yes Cosmic ❤

[@michaelmyers1199]

Dueling solos always pumps me up. Metal!

[@michaelmyers1199]

Also, burried alive was mentioned as the next song. I agree with that. It realy shows their range. But, The Stage, is a good one. Starts with a solo. It's long, it changes pace , and solos! I have to mention Hell. Yeah, the band. I recommend Moth then love falls. Moth is about being drawn into bad situations again and again just to get burned down. Love falls, for me is the fallow up. Drawn into love, get crushed, then I'm more empty and hardened. Wich leads to Mud Vein's, same singer as hellyeah, world so cold. About being fed up with life and wanting to withdraw frome everything.

[@rynethorup5690]

OOOH Im excited for this one. It would be really cool if you reacted to a song from before his voice change in City of Evil. I wont see you tonight part 1 would be great

[@andrewford7243]

Would love to see more A7X! Highly recommend Afterlife (Live at LBC, but as long as it's not the music video you'll get the full experience), Fiction (this was written by The Rev, and he handed the demo to M Shadows and Gates 3 days before he passed), Brompton Cocktail (also written by Rev), The Stage, Cosmic! Edit: Forgot about God Hates Us, its a lot more intense than the previous songs mentioned but its got some pretty gnarly screams (live version from Rock Am Ring 2011 is the best version, M Shadows manages to get out a 12 second scream).

[@iAnimeDude]

You have to watch one and react to one of their performances, or more of course, of the live at LBC concert. That whole concert is amazing!

[@carolinedaniels1910]

While the guys in Avenged -- mainly Matt from what I remember --- enjoy gaming, this video was based on the movie Jacob's Ladder in honor of the Rev since it was one of his favorite movies. If you get interested in how they made the song, Avenged has "the making of" and "breakdown" videos for both the song and video on KZbin.

[@DuckAllMighty]

I still remember my first concert with A7X, right after Nightmare, Shadows needed a little break from singing, so he went like: "Yo Gates while we go out and take a brake, can you entertain our amazing audience?" And Gates just went on stage and played his heart out on the guitar, other than hearing Draiman perform Sound Of Silence, it's the best concert experience I've had. Gates is a damn god on the guitar. Man I love these guys, have always made awesome music and have never been afraid to do something new. A thing to know about the Nightmare album, is that The Rev said himself, that he would not survive making it, Nightmare was to be his Magnum Opus, and ohh boy was he correct. It's one of the most beautiful and at the same time saddest suicide letters ever written. We will miss you always Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan.

[@eclipsegaming1326]

The first time I saw A7X, disturbed opened for them so I had the sound of silence and the syn going wild. Probably the best concert I’ve attended

[@beantown702]

My first time was December 2010. About 1 year after the Rev passed. They were on the Nightmare tour, and it was insane. Seen em 3 more times since, last one being their pop up show before the album drop of LIBAD. That's the best they've ever sounded.

[@leojohansson935]

Their best Album. Every Single song is it own masterpiece

[@tacobob3953]

16:49 shadows used to be an exclusively harsh singer who pretty much only screamed in every song. If you listen to their first two albums they’re very different than their newer stuff.

[@ajrocker1353]

Yep, also i believe M Shadows said they learned how to actually scream before the stage if that makes any difference. Could be wrong but i thought that's what i heard in an interview he did

[@dago_cl8298]

I loved your input on this song, great video again! I would love to see more A7X in the future. In case you didnt know, there is an amazing live concert from A7X called „live in the lbc“ from 2009. It has been amazingly restored in fhd and I think there are some bangers on there.

[@00death80000]

Finally you do their best song, can't wait.

[@jacobsobelman3923]

Highly recommend checking out Critical Acclaim, Seize the Day, Unbound (The Wild Ride), Shepherd of Fire…ugh I could go on and on

[@_grigoryta]

I really love Portnoy's playing during the solo part. Those 32s vs 16ths kick drum runs were one of the most original things I've heard WHEN I first heard it. Simple on the surface, probably kills your legs if you try to play it, and so tasty to listen to.

[@aarondieringer6997]

Man every time you drop an A7X video I’m praying it’s a live performance 😩. But make no mistake I’m still happy for anything lol. However, as a vocal reactor I can’t suggest anything other than some of their live performances to really get an idea of all their vocals and talent. The back up vocals is all the members, including Jimmy (The Rev). * If you want a taste of full screaming - God Hates us (Live at Rock AM Ring) proof his voice/screams isn’t doctored post edits. If you want to hear a showcase of both Matt and even Jimmy (The Rev) vocals then (Live in the LBC) concert is a must! - Critical Acclaim (Live in the LBC) - Afterlife (Live in the LBC) Those two are good choices to also see Jimmy singing. All others from that concert are also worth the listen. Ps: A little piece of heaven from live in the LBC concert also showcase jimmy’s vocals really well, but unfortunately I also know where you stand on that song lol.

[@laurieemme1534]

Yes, Afterlife Live in the LBC!

[@rodneymartin7110]

Did I hear you say that guitar solo sounds like something you'd hear in a "Castlevania " game? Awesome! Big retro game guy here, too. Castlevania happens to be one of my favorite game series. Great shout out.

[@kenleppek]

This song hits bitter sweet with me. Almost 15 years when my grandfather died my cousins and I were pallbearers. We were given control over the radio in the funeral coach during the procession and this song came on. All of us having the same taste in music it was very similar to a session of the game rock star. That's the last time I've seen those cousins because life takes you where it takes you. Back when my grandparents were still with us it was almost a weekly occurrence that we would all get together and hang out at their house as kids.

[@gustavopauli4591]

that intro alone is the reason I love this song so much

[@alijah1539]

I've lost alot of people in my 28 years on this sometimes god forsaken planet. Two of my highschool best friends. One of my childhood friends parents who treated me as their own and helped me make one of the hardest decisions I ever made. My fiance. My grandparents.... There is almost no song that hurts me more now than this song. It was because of Avenged Sevenfold that we started a band and we would dream of playing as good as them (and me dreaming i could some day sound vocally as good). This song and alot of their others just hurt so much... and you talking about strengthing your head to help almost control your heart is something i struggle with everday. Thank you for covering them and I hope you do an interview with the lead singer.

[@tw1st3dw1ll7]

If you have a VR headset. A7X has a VR concert that you can watch. It's incredible and you get to hear him live.

[@Lurch685]

Oh shit I need to see this

[@larrysamples9810]

Too many people sleep on Afterlife. Great song and showcases all their talent.

[@nightwish7074]

15:38 He used to do a lot more. Their first album was almost purely screaming (see: Sounding the Seventh Trumpet), but after wrapping up recording for their Waking the Fallen album, the producers of the album told him his vocals sounded great. He then decided he was going to go for more of a melodic sound, which led to the City of Evil album's sound that contained almost no screaming except for emphasis on certain lines. It was a hit, so he's kinda kept that modus operandi ever since Also, 22:32, I'm really glad Synyster Gates has been doing more solos on their recent albums! I'm a guitarist and he's one of my inspirations. There for a while their songs preferred bridges and breakdowns over solos starting from City of Evil, and while those did sound amazing, I love when Syn gets to shred. They started doing more of them again beginning with Hail to the King

[@OneAngryPagan616]

Goosebumps. I get them EVERY TIME I hear that solo....

[@ygortavares4685]

to hear him really "screaming" you need to listen to their Waking the Fallen album.

[@MZ_RU_MBA02]

Just started checking out your channel. I love exploring new music and you have helped reinvigorate my interest in several songs I have not listened to in a while. Offering up one of my favorite metal songs for you to try. I think they’re not very well known, but I think all the pieces clicked into place on this one song. I love their vocals and would love to hear your analysis. Give it a listen: Your Betrayal by Bullet For My Valentine.

[@orcohen3560]

You really should be listening to The Stage

[@RVize]

Man i miss the Rev RIP to a legend..

[@TheMagicalBIob]

I hope she ends up covering The Stage, am curious what she'd think of his newer singing style- also, that song is just a masterpiece lol All hail Brooks Wackerman

[@TheSyncos]

That *ALBUM* is a masterpiece, in my opinion.

[@marvelousrex2866]

@@TheSyncos Gotta say, I was a really big fan, but was so disappointed with that album, I haven't really listened to anything new they've done since. It's just a really boring album.

[@TheSyncos]

@@marvelousrex2866 To each their own, I guess.

[@guardian0740]

@@marvelousrex2866 Same

[@luisguilherme2403]

Today, along watching this video, I've recommended this channel to at least 3 friends because I know this as I said: "this is called the charismatic voice. This woman is so sensible [.. no. wait I want to hear rock. why are you talking about a vocal coach with backgrounds in opera ..] hol'on. Just look at her chanel. You see one video you see the quality. That's why this metalhead has been here for 4 years" and it pleases so much to watch this chanel for so long I see the quality keeping up and even us helping her getting her hang this fcking well of the rock and metal world. Damn she's so much more integrated now than in the first videos I feel I'm in a full on rocksong analysis. This just keeps getting greater

[@ofsinope]

You should do Live (that's the name of the band) - "Lightning Crashes" ... Ed Kowalczyk is the singer and he's so unique and wonderful

[@Roguegunslinger1]

Classic grunge rock song. That whole album is good.

[@nicholasvinen]

Live is great. Their Birds of Pray album is perfect for driving.

[@dawncapps5172]

Lightning Crashes is such an awesome song.

[@jenh9221]

I like live but prefer “Selling the Drama”

[@imanassole9421]

Song still gives me chills. Probably my favorite A7X song. The drumming, the guitars, vocals.. it's all just great!

[@mcurtise17]

The live at the lbc concert is amazing

[@SimphanieFair]

The last “nightmare” with the empty drum kit makes me tear up every time

[@Hulkzilla0]

Yo this was my first Avenged Sevenfold song! This is awesome!

[@Nik-pl1lj]

Their earlier albums he screamed more. He almost destroyed his vocal chords. He did more vocal training and has cut back on the screaming. Bat Country would be excellent for your next A7X analysis. This is the song that propelled them into mainstream success. They also do incorporate strings and even entire orchestras into some of their songs with Matt composing! I’ve been watching your channel for at least 3 yrs. A7X is the reason I found your channel. Your analysis of So far Away and I’ve been a subscriber since. Love your channel and am looking forward to your future videos. ❤

[@Cabamacadaf]

So glad you're doing more A7x. I hope you like it!

[@deathswitch2404]

Idk if Elizabeth has heard it yet but Papa Roach just released a remake of a song of theirs called "Leave A Light On" with Carrie Underwood. Jacoby and Carrie sound absolutely incredible together and I'd love for her to hear it

[@givenspade]

TEA TIME WITH MATT PLEASE also I would love to see critical acclaim or afterlife from the lbc please

[@itsPoddington]

The song is beautiful and as you said it's an honour to hear the song due to the emotions felt. We get an idea of the chaos that not only The Rev felt that led to his fate, but what the band went through after. In a way for fans that are either going through their own troubles or that of dealing with The Revs death they get to share it with the band and get acknowledgement to fight, to heal, and that they are not alone.