The drummer who filled in to complete the album is called mike portnoy, mike is considered one of the best drummers of all time and he was a huge inspiration for jimmy. Really beautiful to have one of your heroes fill in to honor you and help complete your work!
@@TheDyllsim my opinion brooks is much better then portnoy. Portnoy has that old style drumming that is good but doesn't fit with avenged sevenfold style. Jimmy the rev Sullivan was already way better then is idol when he died. The drums were already done, portnoy just recorded...
Fiction: All this hurt can finally fade… So far away: Your pain is gone, your hands untied…. Fiction: Found a place for me to rest my head… So far away: Lay away a place for me cause as soon as I’m gone I’ll be on my way. Fiction: So tell everybody, the ones who walk beside me… So far away: The ones that we love are here with me… Fiction: Promise me you ll never feel afraid… So far away: Sleep tight I’m not afraid. 💔
A cool queue i found for a feels roller coaster: To be continued.. by KillTheNoise Fiction by Avenged Sevenfold Save Me by Avenged Sevenfold. It certainly adds that extra bit to the experience.
It’s weird to watch you experience what I went through as a fan ever since 2007. I feel the hurt all over again watching your videos, but also feel the joy and excitement all over again. It’s never too late to get into avenged sevenfold. Much respect and welcome to the family
@@rona7xfandragonballzfan247it looks like you don't really know how to use the perfect emoji. RIP and using a laughing emoji at the end doesn't make sense at all.
Fyi : The rev (their drummer) made this song 3 days before he passed away, he made these instruments and song alone, from vocals, drums, guitar, and piano, and the previous title of this song is "Death", then a7x members changes the title with "fiction" (the rev's tatto) for his honor
So for a bit of context. The Rev wrote both the piano and drum parts for this song The original song was titled Death but for obvious reasons they changed the name to Fiction, which was one of his nicknames. The Rev did manage to record the demo lyrics for this song, which they ultimately used parts of, he sings: The first line of the first verse, the chorus and then the first verse the ending part. He turned this song in on December 25th, 2009, telling lead singer M. Shadows, "This is it, this is the last song for the album,"(obviously it wasn't as So Far Away was written by Synyster Gates after the fact but obviously that wouldn't have been apart of the album had the Rev not passed away later) He died 3 days after turning in the song He past away as the result of an overdose of oxycodone, oxymorphone(both of which I believe he was prescribed to deal with the pain related to his enlarged heart he was born with), diazepam and nordiazepam(which are both anti-anxiety meds) and ethanol If I had to guess what probably happened was the diazepam and nordiazepam had him so zonked out(heavy doses of that stuff can leave you so incapacitated that you won't even be able to get up to use the restroom) that combining that with the ethanol left him unable to get anyone's attention as he was dying, he probably couldn't have called for help if he tried. Rather or not he intentionally overdosed or not will obviously never be known but yeah his health mentally and physically were both in a pretty rough place by the midway point of 2009, apparently a lot of the tracks they wanted him to sing on his vocals were in such rough shape that they just couldn't use any of it, and honestly the band was genuinely surprised he was able to vocalize as well as he did for this song. Very tragic, very unfortunate
the rev didn't write any song by avenged. he wrote the drum track because he played it. that is obvious. he was a great drummer, but the band marches on with amazing music without him.
@@paulm8908 what? rev abosultely did write songs for a7x. yeah of course the songs will have input from others, its not like he makes a song and everything is perfect right away but for example ALPoF was written by jimmy, he turned in the demos and then the whole band started brainstorming and perfected it.
@paulm8908 yea bruh what are you on about, majority of the songs before he died were written by the rev. He was the heart and soul of a7x. Ofc they are still great musicians and making great music without him, but it will never be the same..
This was originally a Pinkly Smooth demo that jimmy was remaking for the end of the concept album that became Nightmare - he had placeholder lyrics in that they did their best to re-use so they could use his voice on the track. God i miss hearing Matt and Jimmy sing together 😢
Jimmy is one of my favorite singers of all time. It’s hard to explain why. He hits these notes that are really impressive, his singing is not perfect and his voice is so different and unique. Pinkly smooth rips. I don’t listen to a7x much since like 2005, but I always go back to songs like critical acclaim because his part is just so good.
@@kingchuckfinleyyou gotta check out some of their newer stuff, they seemed lost for a bit but I Think Brooks was exactly what they needed as a drummer(besides Jimmy of course). Brooks is mainly a punk drummer(and one of the best drummers out) and I feel like that energy was lacking after the rev died
5:00 it was actually The Rev's drummer idol: a man named Mike Portnoy (formerly of Dream Theater) who accepted requests to help A7X finish the drum track for Nightmare album. As a drumming casual i feel he really tried to emulate a bit of the Rev's style with when he helped to record the drums. He even sidelined his main band's commitments to tour with Avenged for a few months after the Nightmare album released.
The Rev saga continues with Save Me and closes with St. James if you are interested in continuing. Both songs are the ultimate send off and are definitely worth the listen if you are interested. Save Me is still my all time favorite song by them so i would at minimum try to get that in 😊
St James is one of the best celebrations of life I’ve ever heard. My grandma wanted her ashes spread heading south way over the speed limit like a bay out of hell with music blasting. I didn’t know what to play but this felt like something she’d love.
I’ve had the privilege to see Avenged Sevenfold 32 times, some as a paying fan, and some as a stand by paramedic contracted through several private ambulance companies who were contract holders offering medical coverage for several large venues in Ohio and Indiana. I was at one of their first several concerts after losing The Rev, and they played “So Far Away” and “Fiction” back to back following a video montage of The Rev declaring his love for his band members and best friends. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house, even the 63 year EMT who hadn’t ever heard of A7X that I was assigned to partner with that night sobbed like a baby.
Hey ray. Thanks for reacting A7X live in the lbc all the way to this song. It’s impossible to not be sad or teared a little listening to the rev or seeing him performing live. He’s a big inspiration to many people i believed. I was inspired by him to play the drums at the age of 12 and i still do today. Personally i wanna thank you for reacting to avenged sevenfold live videos and music. I feel you are one of the best vocal coach giving a reaction and remarks. Keep it up!! Love from Singapore!
I remember the day the Rev passed, just after Christmas, and I sobbed knowing this beautiful soul was no longer with us. The only other time I cried was for Mac Miller. Super glad to have you listen to this beautiful song ❤
@@fallenx6735 I still get "allergies" when listening to these songs. But whenever I listen to "So Far Away", "Fiction", "Save Me" I just die. Save Me have many opinions but I just can't help but connect it to Fiction. I have not felt a loss that big as I did with Jimmy, not even for a family member, and I didn't know him personally, I can't even begin to imagine what Matt, Brian, Zacky, Johnny and the rest of the family must have felt. Thanks to Jimmy and Mike Portnoy Is that I decided to improve my drumming and to not settle for limits and keep improving.
@@aleksandarradovanovic8496 yeah so far away already done it before fiction/death but they change a little bit lyrics after Jimmy died so probably is not just coincidence maybe is latter (so far away) to answer Jimmy last latter (fiction)
This track is so eery and heavy. Ive always thought of it basically as the Revs suic!de note with it being the last thing he wrote and handed them before they ultimately found him unresponsive. Nightmare is my fav a7x album because being a drummer myself sullys drumming drug me into their early stuff but the drummer they got to perform this album in studio and the following tour cycle, mike portnoy is a drum god and my idol! Couldnt have gotten a better fill in
Fast : They really did all know each other from childhood, the “past”’visuals were an accurate representation. Also I think you should know that the lyrics of this song are a response to the Rev’s last song called “Fiction” (which used to be his nickname). That song was created and sang by him as a demo and it was handed in by him as the last song of the Nightmare album 3 days before he passed away. The song is basically his good bye letter. It’s important to know that even though the Rev was living the rock star life he had a heart condition which caused him a lot of pain and would prevent him from going more than 30 years old. If you decide to listen Fiction you will hear his voice in his last days and you will hear what he tells his friends. They added Matt’s voice in some parts when they released it. It’s a hard one
Supposedly he walked into the studio and handed the "tape" and said "I'm done, I'm finished" his death was an accident, but like So Far Away said "You were ready, your pain is gone"
This song, from top to bottom, was what the Rev recorded, apart from M. Shadows' vocals. They did give Mike the leeway to change some parts of other songs on this album, but when it came time to record this song, they wanted it just as he wrote it. Just his pianos and his drums. Nothing else.
If you listen to the words, it sounds like a prophecy. Like he knew it was going to happen or something. It sounds very creepy and tragic. I also advise you to watch 'Fiction - Rock in Rio 2013'. The vocal part of Synyster Gates in the end sounds as hard and heartbreaking as possible.
I went and watched that video and it was heartbreaking. A video popped up in my suggestions when I watched that video and it is a video put out by A7X and it's tribute to The Rev (27 minutes) and it shows all kinds of video of the band and The Rev and people talking about The Rev. A must watch if you haven't seen it already. "Avenged Sevenfold Jimmy The Rev Sullivan (Tribute Video)"
@@ericstang0519 It's really hard to tell but it surely looks like he did went off the stage. And then he returns and gives you all his pain through his voice. It shakes my heart every time I watch that concert.
@@ericstang0519yeah, his guitar failed midway through the lead guitar solo, which understandably was probably heart wrenching and he went off stage to replace the guitar I think
rarely do I see people give this much credit for the passion that this band had and is giving with their art with youtube reactions, thank you for sharing your experience
Loved hearing your input again as usual, love hearing the Rev on the vocals in this song. Hard to choose a favorite on the album between this, So Far Away, and Victim. So many good tracks
Every time i remeber Jimmy singing "promise me you'll never feel afraid" and then Matt singing "sleep tight I'm not afraid" in So far away. Brings tears to my eyes every single time.
So, this song is the 2dn part of a 2-part message from The Rev. This was his "farewell". He literally told the band this song "MUST" be on the record. Once they agreed, and once he finished his lyrics, he had tears. Two days later, he was gone. His death was a Brompton Cocktail. Brompton Cocktail is the 1st part of the 2-part message from Jimmy. If you could, and if you're willing, I'd love to see your reaction to Brompton Cocktail from the Self-Titled album. He was crying out for help with the pain he was in. He had an enlarged heart that was continuously growing and causing him so much pain.
Ive never been hit so hard by the passing of someone i dont personally know than i was when my brother told me The Rev had passed away. What an incredible talent, RIP Rev
For me it was Jimmy and Chester Bennington. Up until then I never really understood how someone could be so sad after someone that they never met died. 😢
The Rev selain hebat bermain drum dan piano,, Beliau juga sangat mahir membuat lirik lagu dan aransemen lagunya. Ini yang membuat the Rev menjadi musisi yang unik dan jenius. Tapi sayang di tahun 2009 beliau menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya di akibatkan overdosis alkohol dan obat-obatan terlarang. Apapun itu beliau sangat jenius dan sangat berjasa bagi A7X. we Miss you Rev, still loving you.😢
dia punya penyakit jantung rumor nya dan hanya dengan alkohol dan obat2an itulah ia dapat melupakan rasa sakit (jantung) nya sampai akhir nya ditemukan tak bernyawa dirmh nya
There is a belief among some of the A7X community that this was his suicide letter, Jimmy died of an overdose, the debate is if it was deliberate or accidental. but listening to fiction and following the lyrics, as someone who suffers with depression it feels like a goodbye letter.
considering how he wrote the lyrics to brompton cocktail and then took his life with a brompton cocktail while leaving this as his last song entitled "death".. pretty sure he killed himself.
@@nickreza641 Matt wrote lyrics for brompton, he and jimmy wrote the song together. Also Jimmy had similar drugs in his system but he didn’t have all the actual drugs that make up a brompton cocktail
@@puppetmaster8551 if I remember rightly, he had a mix of (I think) prescription drugs and recreation in his system at the time which is why some people aren't sure, if he mixed them with intention or it was an unfortunate cross reaction, most songs are a group effort but fiction was purely Jimmy's lyrically
Honestly knowing that he had a heart condition and being told he wasn’t going to live past 30 I believe this was a goodbye letter and he decided to go out on his own instead of suffering in pain. Regardless if accidental or not his death hit me really hard and this song is such a bittersweet listen
This song The Rev made 3 days before he died. And in response to this song they made So far away and dedicated it to The Rev. If you look at the lyrics for both songs you can see where they give responses to one another.
This song was the last song The Rev wrote and it was originally called Death. Some speculate it to be a suicide note bc he finished it 3 days before he died but we'll never know I guess.
Also the nickname he gave himself was fiction. They renamed "Death" to "Fiction" Also when he handed the demo in he said something along the lines "I've given everything I can"
great reaction, Rachel. Now I think your next Avenged Sevenfold reaction should be the song "Save Me". And for their new album I would recommend "Mattel" and "Game Over".
I always tried to avoid this song not because i hate it, but because it brings back the pain it's also relate to my depression. But it's dilemma cause this song is beautiful and I love and I want to hear Jimmy's voice in this so I always ended up listening to the whole song
In the rock in río performance you can see Synyster Gates lead guitarist and best friend of the rev craying wile singin the lyrics, such a touching image
I love how you react this song, that was a great reaction! I love how you telling the message of the lyric, how do you feel the emotional of the music, you're really-really got me! I want to see u more for reacting a7x song, I recoming you to listen Cosmic from they're new album, i want to see your reaction, it will be got your feeling and emotional! it's the first time to me for saw your reaction. but i really-really love you in the first time! keep your great work going baby. i will keep on you!🔥🖤
Also, another thing in an interview when this first happened, Matt said that the rev turned this song in and gave it to him and looked at him and was like man I don’t think I could write anymore. This is the last song.
Great Reaction! It makes one feel sad to listen to this knowing this was the last song The Rev wrote and it's so dark and seems to be saying goodbye. Somebody in the comments suggested watching the video of this song at Rock in Rio 2013 and I did and it was awesome, but a video popped up in my suggestions and it was a video put out by A7X and it's a tribute to The Rev, showing all kinds of video clips of him and the band and people talking about him, including his drum teacher. It was a beautiful tribute. "Avenged Sevenfold Jimmy The Rev Sullivan (Tribute Video)"
Mike Portnoy stepping in to pay tribute and make sure these songs got recorded for this album goes under the radar. Also this album released within a month of my grandfather passing away and I owe this record a lot to processing that grief.
You should listen to Pinkly Smooth- Mezmer. Some people refer to it as Avenged Sevenfold before Avenged Sevenfold. It has The Rev doing Vocals/Piano and Synyster Gates on guitar. Very fun song. I think you would really enjoy his vocals in it!
this album cover really get deep feeling of the entire tracklist, just really fit to any track no matter if it's "victim" sad/slow song or "god hates us" heavier song, the blue night sky and the fogs really done it
Jimmy wrote this song 3 days before his death. And recorded some parts of this song too. This song is talking about his pain that's finally will "go away". If you listen to the "All this hurt can finally fade, promise me you'll never feel afraid" part, it's Jimmy. And the band has the answer for that lyrics. You can find them in So Far Away, there's "Sleep tight, I'm not afraid" part there. Jimmy had an Enlarged Heart Disease, and it's just getting worse as he gets older. And this song is just describing his pain. He's dead in an overdose of painkiller which he consumed to reduce the pain of his disease. He died on 28th December, 2009 Which means he wrote this song on the Christmas Day
If it wasn't for Jimmy I wouldn't have ever picked up the drums, and my life would've been very different. I can't listen to this song without tearing up, especially because you can tell all of the emotions on these lyrics. Jimmy was a master of his craft and I don't think we will ever see someone like him
jimmy had a side project band called Pinkly Smooth. It was definitely a niche band, but this sounds exactly like one of pinkly smooth's songs, unique styled piano, aggressive almost like it was written for another instrument and the effects they put on Shadows voice sort of tells me they were trying to make it more......Jimmy's sound. Been a fan for years and it took me nearly 15 years to realize this.
I always loved this song as well as So Far Away. So Far Away reminds me of my mom who passed in 2014. In March I lost my friend and this song was the first song I heard after he passed. This song hits so hard now after he passed. Still a banger though!
The Nightmare tour they did in London right after he died. I was there and it was a heart breaking show and they did this song and M Shadows struggled to get through the song without breaking down. "I hope you find your own way, when I'm not with you".
The Rev completely wrote this song originally titled "death" and making it seem like a goodbye letter to the band... hes the reason I became a drummer and avenged fan! Miss you brother! foREVer
So for the drums for this album. They got mike portnoy from dream theater to do th drums on this album. He was one of the Revs favorite drummers if i remember correctly. So he did it in honor of the Rev.
Rev wrote this entire thing.. the chaoticness you explain was The Rev. This was literally his last masterpiece and almost a deathnote. Hes now the knife master 😅 foREVer
The drummer (jimmy tye rev sullivan) had an older band with the guitarist synyster gates called pinkly smooth If you search pinkly smooth mesmer jimmy was the vocalist and drummer
The rev was left much of his legacy to this band, for the fans. I hope you react Beast and The Harlot live in lbc, there is a part of drum solo that he did. Beautiful scream by M. Shadow
IN FICTION THAT THE REV WROTE IT SAYS " PROMISE ME YOU'LL NEVER BE AFRAID and also his last letter he wrote, after he died, SO FAR AWAY SONG CAME OUT, and within that lyrics it says" SLEEP TIGHT, IM NOT AFRAID" this lyrics and music will totally make you cry,coz its so deep.
When Jimmy finished writing this song! 3 days later he passed away. When I read the lyrics, it’s like he knows he is going to die and he can see what’s going to happen after he dies!
The rev was born with an enlarged heart so all the doctors told him it would be a miracle if he was alive after his 30s so everyone knew that the only reason that the rev was gonna die was bc of the rev. R.I.P. foREVer 🤘🤘🤘 we really miss you jimmy
I remember being on Facebook that late December day and seeing one post after another announcing his death. I remember trying so hard to find a post saying it was just a hoax or a mistake in reporting. I went for a long walk afterwards. It felt like I lost a family member.
i've imagine when one of my best friends, writing the lyrics, writing the music and then 3 days after that he's passed away and it's really make me depressed even it just imagine. foREVer
![Avenged Sevenfold - Fiction [onscreen lyrics] | First time reaction](/img/1.gif)
Fiction: “Promise me you’ll never feel afraid”
So far away: “Sleep tight, I’m not afraid”
So far away ending: “and I need you to know”
Next song: “God Hates Us”
Some real anger there
I never noticed this. And now in crying
I never pieced that together before… 💔
Miss you so much Jimmy 😢❤
You should also do bring me the horizon . Shadow Moses in session
The drummer who filled in to complete the album is called mike portnoy, mike is considered one of the best drummers of all time and he was a huge inspiration for jimmy. Really beautiful to have one of your heroes fill in to honor you and help complete your work!
And Brooks Wackerman is no less a solid addition to the band!
But we'll always miss you, Rev
Yeah, he’s pretty good but the best drummer of all time is Danny Carey without a fckin doubt
@@YourLocalStoney 100% agree Danny is on another level, however mike is still considered one of the best metal drummers
@@TheDyllsim my opinion brooks is much better then portnoy. Portnoy has that old style drumming that is good but doesn't fit with avenged sevenfold style. Jimmy the rev Sullivan was already way better then is idol when he died. The drums were already done, portnoy just recorded...
@@FrancisCordieri After hearing that new album? You are TOO CORRECT!! Wackerman was truly channeling Jimmy for the entire album, IMHO
Fiction: All this hurt can finally fade…
So far away: Your pain is gone, your hands untied….
Fiction: Found a place for me to rest my head…
So far away: Lay away a place for me cause as soon as I’m gone I’ll be on my way.
Fiction: So tell everybody, the ones who walk beside me…
So far away: The ones that we love are here with me…
Fiction: Promise me you ll never feel afraid…
So far away: Sleep tight I’m not afraid.
💔
hey
For me this song paired with Save Me really solidifies the album as one of the greats.
A cool queue i found for a feels roller coaster:
To be continued.. by KillTheNoise
Fiction by Avenged Sevenfold
Save Me by Avenged Sevenfold.
It certainly adds that extra bit to the experience.
I agree, but I add Victim and Tonight The World Dies.
Dont you forget danger line man
This entire album is just beautiful. I can always come back to it and just listen through it and relax
@@kadendannenberg2897except for tonight the world dies
It’s weird to watch you experience what I went through as a fan ever since 2007. I feel the hurt all over again watching your videos, but also feel the joy and excitement all over again. It’s never too late to get into avenged sevenfold. Much respect and welcome to the family
I see what you did there
I still remember the word spreading around the few fans in my high school that day in 2007... Wild
@@TheDylls he died in 2009...
@@nalley6815 🤦I typed the date wrong cause I still had OP's comment in my head lol
@@TheDyllsI remember it too. Getting messages in Myspace and Facebook and crying 😭
The lyrics "I know you'll find your own way, when I'm not with you" cuts through me like a hot knife to the gut everytime.
Such a heartfelt, down to earth reaction. Amazing song because it's almost a last goodbye. Rev is so talented..gone but not forgotten..RIP REV ❤❤❤
🫂🫂🫂
Rip the rev 😂
@@rona7xfandragonballzfan247it looks like you don't really know how to use the perfect emoji. RIP and using a laughing emoji at the end doesn't make sense at all.
He means this "😭"@@jinxz92
Fyi : The rev (their drummer) made this song 3 days before he passed away, he made these instruments and song alone, from vocals, drums, guitar, and piano, and the previous title of this song is "Death", then a7x members changes the title with "fiction" (the rev's tatto) for his honor
and 16 years later they release a song called death;)
he wrote the song on christmas day? thats really sad..
@@CornusXBL well he gave it to them on christmas day
He finished it 3 days before he died, he didn’t make it all 3 days before he died.
There’s a lot of false info on the internet regarding the rev and nightmare album and this is one of them.
So for a bit of context.
The Rev wrote both the piano and drum parts for this song
The original song was titled Death but for obvious reasons they changed the name to Fiction, which was one of his nicknames.
The Rev did manage to record the demo lyrics for this song, which they ultimately used parts of, he sings: The first line of the first verse, the chorus and then the first verse the ending part.
He turned this song in on December 25th, 2009, telling lead singer M. Shadows, "This is it, this is the last song for the album,"(obviously it wasn't as So Far Away was written by Synyster Gates after the fact but obviously that wouldn't have been apart of the album had the Rev not passed away later)
He died 3 days after turning in the song
He past away as the result of an overdose of oxycodone, oxymorphone(both of which I believe he was prescribed to deal with the pain related to his enlarged heart he was born with), diazepam and nordiazepam(which are both anti-anxiety meds) and ethanol
If I had to guess what probably happened was the diazepam and nordiazepam had him so zonked out(heavy doses of that stuff can leave you so incapacitated that you won't even be able to get up to use the restroom) that combining that with the ethanol left him unable to get anyone's attention as he was dying, he probably couldn't have called for help if he tried.
Rather or not he intentionally overdosed or not will obviously never be known but yeah his health mentally and physically were both in a pretty rough place by the midway point of 2009, apparently a lot of the tracks they wanted him to sing on his vocals were in such rough shape that they just couldn't use any of it, and honestly the band was genuinely surprised he was able to vocalize as well as he did for this song.
Very tragic, very unfortunate
the rev didn't write any song by avenged. he wrote the drum track because he played it. that is obvious. he was a great drummer, but the band marches on with amazing music without him.
@@paulm8908 what? rev abosultely did write songs for a7x. yeah of course the songs will have input from others, its not like he makes a song and everything is perfect right away but for example ALPoF was written by jimmy, he turned in the demos and then the whole band started brainstorming and perfected it.
@@paulm8908 80% of pre 2009 a7x songs where written by the rev....
@paulm8908 yea bruh what are you on about, majority of the songs before he died were written by the rev. He was the heart and soul of a7x. Ofc they are still great musicians and making great music without him, but it will never be the same..
@ph-fi7qonuh uh
We miss you REV😢😩😩😩🤟FóREVeR
❤❤
Have you heard the new album?! I don't say this lightly, but Brooks Wackerman truly channeled the spirit of The Rev. It's unreal
The Revs voice is so unique. And his screams.. 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
This was originally a Pinkly Smooth demo that jimmy was remaking for the end of the concept album that became Nightmare - he had placeholder lyrics in that they did their best to re-use so they could use his voice on the track. God i miss hearing Matt and Jimmy sing together 😢
matt and jimmy harmonizing is so freaking eargasmic
Jimmy is one of my favorite singers of all time. It’s hard to explain why. He hits these notes that are really impressive, his singing is not perfect and his voice is so different and unique. Pinkly smooth rips. I don’t listen to a7x much since like 2005, but I always go back to songs like critical acclaim because his part is just so good.
@@kingchuckfinleyyou gotta check out some of their newer stuff, they seemed lost for a bit but I Think Brooks was exactly what they needed as a drummer(besides Jimmy of course). Brooks is mainly a punk drummer(and one of the best drummers out) and I feel like that energy was lacking after the rev died
5:00 it was actually The Rev's drummer idol: a man named Mike Portnoy (formerly of Dream Theater) who accepted requests to help A7X finish the drum track for Nightmare album. As a drumming casual i feel he really tried to emulate a bit of the Rev's style with when he helped to record the drums.
He even sidelined his main band's commitments to tour with Avenged for a few months after the Nightmare album released.
It's impossible not to get emotional listening to this song, even if you don't know the backstory. It's a perfect sendoff to the late great Rev.
The Rev saga continues with Save Me and closes with St. James if you are interested in continuing. Both songs are the ultimate send off and are definitely worth the listen if you are interested. Save Me is still my all time favorite song by them so i would at minimum try to get that in 😊
St James is one of the best celebrations of life I’ve ever heard. My grandma wanted her ashes spread heading south way over the speed limit like a bay out of hell with music blasting. I didn’t know what to play but this felt like something she’d love.
I’ve had the privilege to see Avenged Sevenfold 32 times, some as a paying fan, and some as a stand by paramedic contracted through several private ambulance companies who were contract holders offering medical coverage for several large venues in Ohio and Indiana. I was at one of their first several concerts after losing The Rev, and they played “So Far Away” and “Fiction” back to back following a video montage of The Rev declaring his love for his band members and best friends. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house, even the 63 year EMT who hadn’t ever heard of A7X that I was assigned to partner with that night sobbed like a baby.
Hey ray. Thanks for reacting A7X live in the lbc all the way to this song. It’s impossible to not be sad or teared a little listening to the rev or seeing him performing live. He’s a big inspiration to many people i believed. I was inspired by him to play the drums at the age of 12 and i still do today. Personally i wanna thank you for reacting to avenged sevenfold live videos and music. I feel you are one of the best vocal coach giving a reaction and remarks. Keep it up!! Love from Singapore!
I remember the day the Rev passed, just after Christmas, and I sobbed knowing this beautiful soul was no longer with us. The only other time I cried was for Mac Miller. Super glad to have you listen to this beautiful song ❤
I cried for days😢 My heart goes out to Jimmy’s friends and family.
@@fallenx6735 I still get "allergies" when listening to these songs. But whenever I listen to "So Far Away", "Fiction", "Save Me" I just die. Save Me have many opinions but I just can't help but connect it to Fiction. I have not felt a loss that big as I did with Jimmy, not even for a family member, and I didn't know him personally, I can't even begin to imagine what Matt, Brian, Zacky, Johnny and the rest of the family must have felt. Thanks to Jimmy and Mike Portnoy Is that I decided to improve my drumming and to not settle for limits and keep improving.
Been a fan since WTF and that day was brutal man, will never forget reading that news
it’s always a bittersweet day because the day he died is my birthday so every year it comes back to mind when I’m celebrating my birth
@@givenspade that sucks. I get sad at chritmas most of the time.
"Promise me you'll never feel afraid"
and then in So Far Away "Sleep tight im not afraid, the ones that we love are here with me."
SFA is written before. I know everyone wants symbolism but sorry.
@@aleksandarradovanovic8496 yeah so far away already done it before fiction/death but they change a little bit lyrics after Jimmy died so probably is not just coincidence maybe is latter (so far away) to answer Jimmy last latter (fiction)
I really enjoy being able to start the day with a reaction of yours ❤
Best drummer of all time, Jimmy. It's crazy to imagine what A7X would be like today if he were still alive.
Probably super weird making weird shit like the album they just released, Jimmy was all about super weird experimental shit
This track is so eery and heavy. Ive always thought of it basically as the Revs suic!de note with it being the last thing he wrote and handed them before they ultimately found him unresponsive. Nightmare is my fav a7x album because being a drummer myself sullys drumming drug me into their early stuff but the drummer they got to perform this album in studio and the following tour cycle, mike portnoy is a drum god and my idol! Couldnt have gotten a better fill in
Also lol Save Me from this album is my absolute fav a7x track...it is a musical MASTERPIECE!!!!🤘
I love your reaction videos, you've introduced me to so many songs that I didn't even know existed. Keep expanding my horizon 💯
whenever i hear this song i always burst into tears. RIP Jimmy we all love you
I recommend checking out Victim. It's on the same album. It's such an underrated song. The guitar solos are so emotional in themselves.
The 2nd solo is probably the best solo Gates has ever written in my opinion
Fast : They really did all know each other from childhood, the “past”’visuals were an accurate representation. Also I think you should know that the lyrics of this song are a response to the Rev’s last song called “Fiction” (which used to be his nickname). That song was created and sang by him as a demo and it was handed in by him as the last song of the Nightmare album 3 days before he passed away. The song is basically his good bye letter. It’s important to know that even though the Rev was living the rock star life he had a heart condition which caused him a lot of pain and would prevent him from going more than 30 years old. If you decide to listen Fiction you will hear his voice in his last days and you will hear what he tells his friends. They added Matt’s voice in some parts when they released it. It’s a hard one
Supposedly he walked into the studio and handed the "tape" and said "I'm done, I'm finished" his death was an accident, but like So Far Away said "You were ready, your pain is gone"
The story of this song is haunting and sad in so many ways i cant imagine what Jimmy was going through. You will always be missed Rev.
For some reason this song brought me back to that feeling when i found out Rev died. Its scary what a song can make you feel
The last song The Rev wrote and it holds a dear place in my heart ❤️
This song, from top to bottom, was what the Rev recorded, apart from M. Shadows' vocals. They did give Mike the leeway to change some parts of other songs on this album, but when it came time to record this song, they wanted it just as he wrote it. Just his pianos and his drums. Nothing else.
If you listen to the words, it sounds like a prophecy. Like he knew it was going to happen or something. It sounds very creepy and tragic.
I also advise you to watch 'Fiction - Rock in Rio 2013'. The vocal part of Synyster Gates in the end sounds as hard and heartbreaking as possible.
Didn’t gates walk off stage for a second
I went and watched that video and it was heartbreaking. A video popped up in my suggestions when I watched that video and it is a video put out by A7X and it's tribute to The Rev (27 minutes) and it shows all kinds of video of the band and The Rev and people talking about The Rev. A must watch if you haven't seen it already. "Avenged Sevenfold Jimmy The Rev Sullivan (Tribute Video)"
@@Ieeho98 Yes, I watched that tribute video and I sincerely join the advice to watch it for everyone who hasn't yet.
@@ericstang0519 It's really hard to tell but it surely looks like he did went off the stage. And then he returns and gives you all his pain through his voice. It shakes my heart every time I watch that concert.
@@ericstang0519yeah, his guitar failed midway through the lead guitar solo, which understandably was probably heart wrenching and he went off stage to replace the guitar I think
The Rev is and always will be my favorite drummer. He passed away a day after my bday.
You NEED to listen to danger line, It's insane how matt can do those vocals that he is doing while also having that growl and grit.
rarely do I see people give this much credit for the passion that this band had and is giving with their art with youtube reactions,
thank you for sharing your experience
Loved hearing your input again as usual, love hearing the Rev on the vocals in this song. Hard to choose a favorite on the album between this, So Far Away, and Victim. So many good tracks
Avenged sevenfold will always surprised you, they are different every album. 🖤💙🖤
This is easily one of my favorite A7X songs. I have the opening piano scale tattooed on my forearm. It’s a beautiful song
Wow! I was actually searching for “fiction - rayaction” last night hahah! Not less than 24 hrs, there it is! Wow, could wish for anything huh
Every time i remeber Jimmy singing "promise me you'll never feel afraid" and then Matt singing "sleep tight I'm not afraid" in So far away. Brings tears to my eyes every single time.
This song makes me cry every time 🥲
So, this song is the 2dn part of a 2-part message from The Rev. This was his "farewell". He literally told the band this song "MUST" be on the record. Once they agreed, and once he finished his lyrics, he had tears. Two days later, he was gone. His death was a Brompton Cocktail. Brompton Cocktail is the 1st part of the 2-part message from Jimmy. If you could, and if you're willing, I'd love to see your reaction to Brompton Cocktail from the Self-Titled album. He was crying out for help with the pain he was in. He had an enlarged heart that was continuously growing and causing him so much pain.
Ive never been hit so hard by the passing of someone i dont personally know than i was when my brother told me The Rev had passed away. What an incredible talent, RIP Rev
For me it was Jimmy and Chester Bennington. Up until then I never really understood how someone could be so sad after someone that they never met died. 😢
this lyric is like the REV saying goodbye to his friend and his fans and telling them to not afraid
The Rev selain hebat bermain drum dan piano,,
Beliau juga sangat mahir membuat lirik lagu dan aransemen lagunya.
Ini yang membuat the Rev menjadi musisi yang unik dan jenius.
Tapi sayang di tahun 2009 beliau menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya di akibatkan overdosis alkohol dan obat-obatan terlarang.
Apapun itu beliau sangat jenius dan sangat berjasa bagi A7X.
we Miss you Rev, still loving you.😢
dia punya penyakit jantung rumor nya
dan hanya dengan alkohol dan obat2an itulah ia dapat melupakan rasa sakit (jantung) nya
sampai akhir nya ditemukan tak bernyawa dirmh nya
I'm 30 seconds in and already tearing up :')
This is a great song to check out! Thank you for going outside of their singles
There is a belief among some of the A7X community that this was his suicide letter, Jimmy died of an overdose, the debate is if it was deliberate or accidental.
but listening to fiction and following the lyrics, as someone who suffers with depression it feels like a goodbye letter.
considering how he wrote the lyrics to brompton cocktail and then took his life with a brompton cocktail while leaving this as his last song entitled "death".. pretty sure he killed himself.
@@nickreza641 Matt wrote lyrics for brompton, he and jimmy wrote the song together. Also Jimmy had similar drugs in his system but he didn’t have all the actual drugs that make up a brompton cocktail
@@puppetmaster8551 if I remember rightly, he had a mix of (I think) prescription drugs and recreation in his system at the time which is why some people aren't sure, if he mixed them with intention or it was an unfortunate cross reaction, most songs are a group effort but fiction was purely Jimmy's lyrically
Honestly knowing that he had a heart condition and being told he wasn’t going to live past 30 I believe this was a goodbye letter and he decided to go out on his own instead of suffering in pain.
Regardless if accidental or not his death hit me really hard and this song is such a bittersweet listen
This song The Rev made 3 days before he died. And in response to this song they made So far away and dedicated it to The Rev. If you look at the lyrics for both songs you can see where they give responses to one another.
This song was the last song The Rev wrote and it was originally called Death. Some speculate it to be a suicide note bc he finished it 3 days before he died but we'll never know I guess.
Also the nickname he gave himself was fiction. They renamed "Death" to "Fiction" Also when he handed the demo in he said something along the lines "I've given everything I can"
@@cfishernb yeah, did you noticed with The Rev's tattoo? It say Fiction too. This is mindblowing
amazing reaction, very well put together input about the song and the emotion on the song.
great reaction, Rachel. Now I think your next Avenged Sevenfold reaction should be the song "Save Me". And for their new album I would recommend "Mattel" and "Game Over".
my first time i listen to & also reactions only in ur channel.
I always tried to avoid this song not because i hate it, but because it brings back the pain it's also relate to my depression.
But it's dilemma cause this song is beautiful and I love and I want to hear Jimmy's voice in this so I always ended up listening to the whole song
It's bitter sweet 🫂💕
Jimmy did everything on this, lyrics, piano and drums. Dude was a master at everything.
In the rock in río performance you can see Synyster Gates lead guitarist and best friend of the rev craying wile singin the lyrics, such a touching image
I love how you react this song, that was a great reaction!
I love how you telling the message of the lyric, how do you feel the emotional of the music, you're really-really got me!
I want to see u more for reacting a7x song,
I recoming you to listen Cosmic from they're new album, i want to see your reaction, it will be got your feeling and emotional!
it's the first time to me for saw your reaction. but i really-really love you in the first time! keep your great work going baby. i will keep on you!🔥🖤
Rachel, thank you for your channel and content, it's the best I've seen in a long time. Success for you and foREVer A7X!
This is one of my top favourite songs by A7X and so perfect for one of many tribute songs for their former drummer Rev RIP 🖤🤘
Also, another thing in an interview when this first happened, Matt said that the rev turned this song in and gave it to him and looked at him and was like man I don’t think I could write anymore. This is the last song.
Super glad to have you listen to this beautiful song
The best word I'd use for this song is haunting.
It's almost like a suicide note. As if he knew he was gonna die soon.
Avenged is such a creative and truly talented band, refreshing to hear music that sounds great and different!
That one hits different. My recommendation for their next song is "Save Me".
Great Reaction! It makes one feel sad to listen to this knowing this was the last song The Rev wrote and it's so dark and seems to be saying goodbye. Somebody in the comments suggested watching the video of this song at Rock in Rio 2013 and I did and it was awesome, but a video popped up in my suggestions and it was a video put out by A7X and it's a tribute to The Rev, showing all kinds of video clips of him and the band and people talking about him, including his drum teacher. It was a beautiful tribute. "Avenged Sevenfold Jimmy The Rev Sullivan (Tribute Video)"
The Rev make this song by himself.. after he died,the group continued this song,because of that you hear Rev singing from first lyrics
So glad watch u explore about this band❤..
i love this song and i love ray so much
Mike Portnoy stepping in to pay tribute and make sure these songs got recorded for this album goes under the radar.
Also this album released within a month of my grandfather passing away and I owe this record a lot to processing that grief.
You should listen to Pinkly Smooth- Mezmer. Some people refer to it as Avenged Sevenfold before Avenged Sevenfold. It has The Rev doing Vocals/Piano and Synyster Gates on guitar. Very fun song. I think you would really enjoy his vocals in it!
this album cover really get deep feeling of the entire tracklist, just really fit to any track no matter if it's "victim" sad/slow song or "god hates us" heavier song, the blue night sky and the fogs really done it
Jimmy wrote this song 3 days before his death.
And recorded some parts of this song too.
This song is talking about his pain that's finally will "go away".
If you listen to the "All this hurt can finally fade, promise me you'll never feel afraid" part, it's Jimmy.
And the band has the answer for that lyrics.
You can find them in So Far Away, there's "Sleep tight, I'm not afraid" part there.
Jimmy had an Enlarged Heart Disease, and it's just getting worse as he gets older. And this song is just describing his pain.
He's dead in an overdose of painkiller which he consumed to reduce the pain of his disease.
He died on 28th December, 2009
Which means he wrote this song on the Christmas Day
Tears... whenever I hear this song, always tears.
If it wasn't for Jimmy I wouldn't have ever picked up the drums, and my life would've been very different. I can't listen to this song without tearing up, especially because you can tell all of the emotions on these lyrics. Jimmy was a master of his craft and I don't think we will ever see someone like him
jimmy had a side project band called Pinkly Smooth. It was definitely a niche band, but this sounds exactly like one of pinkly smooth's songs, unique styled piano, aggressive almost like it was written for another instrument and the effects they put on Shadows voice sort of tells me they were trying to make it more......Jimmy's sound. Been a fan for years and it took me nearly 15 years to realize this.
I always loved this song as well as So Far Away. So Far Away reminds me of my mom who passed in 2014. In March I lost my friend and this song was the first song I heard after he passed. This song hits so hard now after he passed. Still a banger though!
Personally, I find this to be their saddest song but also one of my favorites
They played on swu festival in São Paulo, it’s on RUclips, REV had past away recently it was a good concert
The Nightmare tour they did in London right after he died. I was there and it was a heart breaking show and they did this song and M Shadows struggled to get through the song without breaking down.
"I hope you find your own way, when I'm not with you".
The Rev completely wrote this song originally titled "death" and making it seem like a goodbye letter to the band... hes the reason I became a drummer and avenged fan! Miss you brother! foREVer
warmness on the soul reaction
So for the drums for this album. They got mike portnoy from dream theater to do th drums on this album. He was one of the Revs favorite drummers if i remember correctly. So he did it in honor of the Rev.
That is beautiful 🫂
Rev wrote this entire thing.. the chaoticness you explain was The Rev. This was literally his last masterpiece and almost a deathnote. Hes now the knife master 😅 foREVer
HE WROTE THE PIANO PART TOO!! this man was so talented, lost foREVer
Save Me is my personal favorite, also love the new record. Probably my favorite release of 2023 next to Terrasite.
The drummer (jimmy tye rev sullivan) had an older band with the guitarist synyster gates called pinkly smooth
If you search pinkly smooth mesmer jimmy was the vocalist and drummer
The rev was left much of his legacy to this band, for the fans. I hope you react Beast and The Harlot live in lbc, there is a part of drum solo that he did. Beautiful scream by M. Shadow
The Rev wrote this song with Gates and originally had it titled as "Death" and they finished writing it 3 days before he passed
IN FICTION THAT THE REV WROTE IT SAYS " PROMISE ME YOU'LL NEVER BE AFRAID and also his last letter he wrote, after he died, SO FAR AWAY SONG CAME OUT, and within that lyrics it says" SLEEP TIGHT, IM NOT AFRAID"
this lyrics and music will totally make you cry,coz its so deep.
Cant imagine how hard it had to be to sing that song, Shadows truly killed it too. RiP Rev
When Jimmy finished writing this song! 3 days later he passed away. When I read the lyrics, it’s like he knows he is going to die and he can see what’s going to happen after he dies!
I never realized til now but i think fiction is in the pov of the rev talking to the band, and so far away is the band talking back to the rev
I've always seen it as Fiction was the Rev's goodbye letter, and So Far Away was the bands eulogy.
The rev was born with an enlarged heart so all the doctors told him it would be a miracle if he was alive after his 30s so everyone knew that the only reason that the rev was gonna die was bc of the rev.
R.I.P. foREVer 🤘🤘🤘 we really miss you jimmy
This song still gets to me emotionally. The album was a beautiful tribute to The Rev.
I remember being on Facebook that late December day and seeing one post after another announcing his death. I remember trying so hard to find a post saying it was just a hoax or a mistake in reporting. I went for a long walk afterwards. It felt like I lost a family member.
i've imagine when one of my best friends, writing the lyrics, writing the music and then 3 days after that he's passed away and it's really make me depressed even it just imagine. foREVer
"Cant imagine the mindset.. "
Yeah he was ready ready to die bruh. I cant imagine either
I remember I 2013 when they played this song and told us the back story it was hard not to get emotional
" Nightmare" masterpiece album 🤘