Not too shabby.

hopefully he has some opinion on the band's direction, because they've been without one for far too long

even though i hate dream theater, portnoy is a beast.

whoa, nice

Whoa, I am actually really happy to hear that they are recording, though Portnoy is a fairly overrated drummer it's fantastic to see that he is doing this.

I think it's a step up myself, no offense to the Rev.

wow they should have just broke up

Wow, I really want to hear this new album.

Nice. Maybe this will kick some ass.

Stoked.

wow....may actually give this album a listen, although if every other member is the same i know i wont like it

I wouldn't get your hopes too high then Brick.

LOL

mike portnoy sevenfold ahahahah

this is cool

Didn't see this coming. Sounds like Mike Portnoy lost a bet with someone

Portnoy's not overrated in the slightest. He may not have the most insane chops nor the speed of some other drummers but he more than makes up for it in musicality and tastefulness. His drumming's tight.

As much as I am not a fan of Dream Theater or Avenged Sevenfold, I must say that that is a pretty cool thing to do. However, I
am sure there is a lot of metal? I meant money involved or maybe Portnoy did lose a bet. Either way, that's cool of him. You can
now, pull me under because now, I am afraid.

How is Portnoy not overrated? He's not even a tight drummer ffs.

And everything he plays is bland.

I agree with witchXrapist, he does not really vary his playing at all, it's almost obvious what he
going to do in a song. Yes he is a great player, but he is given to much praise as teh gr8est drummer
eva omg, he is not even in the top 20.

I actually don't think he's that musical or tasteful, maybe it's 'cos I think most of Dream Theater's songwriting sucks. Stoked for this though.

Now they just need a new singer and learn how to not suck.

Singer was good in City of Evil

He was best on Waking the Fallen. Which is also their best album.

Self titled album gets too much shit.

CAUGHT HERE IN A FOREIGN PLACE..... NASSAL

It had a few very good songs on it.

I wish they'd redo Warmth on the Soul, that song owns except for the vocals.

People here don't really admit to enjoying radio music but a good 3 to 4 songs off that made the radio a hell of a lot more enjoyable.

I agree that their self titled gets way too much flak. LOL at the other dude who just made this news thing again.

He sounds too harsh on their earlier stuff that it almost comes off as too weak. It was good, but it could have been much better.

City of Evil's their best

Even more excited to see how this sounds.

i'd think even if you though DT blew at songwriting any drummer would enjoy Portnoy's musicality

but hey I'm probably biased. I'm a drummer myself and a bit of a DT fanboy. Portnoy is one of my idols and he really tears his set up live.

Wonder if Portnoy will replace the Rev as backing vocalist as well?

Now that would be interesting.

Oh shit, that would be interesting

i'd think even if you though DT blew at songwriting any drummer would enjoy Portnoy's
musicality

but hey I'm probably biased. I'm a drummer myself and a bit of a DT fanboy. Portnoy is one of my idols
and he really tears his set up live.

this is awesome

woah, that's an incredibly good choice...i didn't see it coming.

Even though I'm skeptical about a new album, this is great for them. awesome.

I hate Dream Theater and I hate this band now but this sounds cool.

"Wonder if Portnoy will replace the Rev as backing vocalist as well?" hahaha i loved his vocals on a nightmare to remember

How dare you say that Synyster Gates fan boy! Where's the love...

Where's the love...

I asked the same question about the s/t lol

wow
i mean yeah i hate dream theater but portnoy is like a machine
this might be good

Can't stand A7X but at least this shows that at least one of them had good taste in music. He was the best in the band anyways.

"Didn't see this coming. Sounds like Mike Portnoy lost a bet with someone..."

LMAO

fffuuu, I hoped they'd call it a day.

This band just became a billion times better

Portnoy isn't a good drummer. Why does it make this band better?

Kind of neat I guess, but Portnoy alone can't make this band even decent.

tbh He couldn't make his own band decent.

Didn't see this coming. Sounds like Mike Portnoy lost a bet with someone

this is a weird combination

i hope he influences their sound at least a bit. good luck a7x.

wasting no time with capitalizing

Portnoy is a fairly overrated drummer

Portnoy isn't a good drummer"

ya your dumb

*you're

oh shit, forgot its the internet where grammar matters

Really odd pair up, this may be the last album they do.
Rev was kinda the only thing with talent they had left.

You're.*

you're*

YAW

NAW.

i did not see this coming for one second.

this is gonna be amazing

damnit. Gonna be hard to have the rest of them die when they keep adding people to play with.

"Didn't see this coming. Sounds like Mike Portnoy lost a bet with someone..."

Lol'd.

Didn't see it coming either. I'm looking forward to the album.

Self-titled had some interesting moments IMO, I don't think it was bad.

Kind of neat I guess, but Portnoy alone can't make this band even decent.

tbh He couldn't make his own band decent.

ya your dumb

Ow come on now! It already sucks The Rev is dead, but don't make it even more unbearable.

More like enters the studio with Porn toy

Meh, will give it a listen to see if he brings anything to the band but i doubt eet

This should be interesting even though DT bores me heavily

^ same.

portfold i am interested to hear though.

Why?

A7X are a horrific excuse for a band and Portnoy is far too talented a musician to be wasting his time on them...he always bangs on about them though, God knows why

A7X's older work was pretty decent, the last few tracks on City of Evil had some pretty nice guitar work, and remenissions had some good moments, maybe with Portnoy they could expand upon that area and he could guide them in a slightly new direction, but all that to me is highly doubtful in the end.
Hopefully they can move away from their recent direction completely.

You might not like them, even im not a fan anymore, but what makes them a horrific excuse for a band?

Oh and Portnoy really isnt that great.

They're incredibly dull and unoriginal imo and they're the sort of band that make teen kids think they're into metal when really they're into something that's about as metal as a GNR tribute band.

Portnoy really is a great drummer, overrated (likes of Carey and Peart are better imo) sure but there's no denying he's super talented. The drummer in A7X was actually half decent as well tbf, he was the only talented member of the band though.

So doing nice things only comes with "losing bets". I read that paragraph and thought it was cool as hell. If your favorite bands drummer passed away and his favorite drummer came in to record for him on a new album you would probably be stoked and hate everyone with a negative comment. Just something to think about
(I'm not a fan of either band, so don't fanboi flame me k? )

Synyster is a decent guitarist, if you check out the last 3 or 4 tracks of city of evil some of it is actually really good regardless of what kind of crowds they draw.
And at the end of the day, it is metal.

But yeah band sucks now, harrrrd.

this should be really good i really like a7x and dream theater. think its cool what mike has done for them.

self titled was good. city of evil is way better though

this is a weird combination... let's hope they don't do a s/t pt. 2. say what you want, but the "dull and unoriginal" claim doesn't really work for a band that single-handedly made "metalcore" the over-saturated scene it is/was. if you were specifically targeting the s/t album, i could understand. but overall they've put out quality work - but it just so happened that thousands of people listened and kept buying - that's something that can't be said for..... let's just ballpark it around: 99.9% of bands.

i'm interested in how this is going to work and if they'll ever find a permanent replacement.

can't wait for the outcome ;-)

This is actually really awesome news. I can't wait to hear what genius Portnoy adds to the mix, he's an amazing drummer.

lol at people caring about this band. you can't polish a turd

mike portnoy?!

'i'd think even if you though DT blew at songwriting any drummer would enjoy Portnoy's musicality' - hmmm, some stuff I just think 'okay that's cool but play something that grooves ffs'. He is incredible on songs like 'The Glass Prison' and 'As I Am'...inconsistent I guess.

People don't seem to realise that Mike is not gonna have any creative input. The songs are already written and he's confimed he's purely sessioning on the album

how the combined ego will fit on one album i do not know

ah i didnt know the songs were already written, well if its anything like their last effort its gonna suck.

Porn toy

just in case nobody read

Portnoy!!! Definitely don't want a S/T Part II, should be interesting.

I hope they make something way heavier than their last record. Get all motivated cuz their drummer died and write something interesting, that would be pretty cool... who wants to bet that their new album is more mainstream hard rock than anything?

Wow I didn't expect to see this, but I'm quite interested in the results.

so, when is john petrucci stepping in?

This can be very neat, as long as they get some of their balls back and write some heavier stuff.

I find it funny that even though most of the people over here "hate" A7X, their news articles always get A LOT of replies while some other news articles about bands that users over here "love" get little to no replies.

Personally, i love A7X and i cant wait for the new album.

we love to hate them durrrr

Yeah here's hoping they get heavier in this.

Thank god Mike has no creative input.

Tut

They replace the guy who was essentially a MIDI drumkit with the guy who is essentially a live MIDI drumkit? Makes sense, I suppose.

portnoy? nice! i hope they really rock out on this record in jimmy's honor

Here's hoping they can't remember what music is and leave the business forever.

Oh wait, they already have the first part down hahahaaf.

YOU KNOW IT'S SAD BUT TRUE

This would have made me cream when I was 17.

It sucks that Portnoy has no creative input. It would be awesome to hear what he does when he might not feel compelled to adhere to the DT status quo - boring as shit, that is.

Mike is incredible, but DT has benchmarked themselves on the Metropolis album and they haven't done anything actually progressive since. This would have been a nice creative outlet for him to just go balls to the wall, fuck it I guess.

Should have got Chris Pennie.

it sucks that the most talented member of a7x had to die and be replaced. it would have been way better if m. shadows died.

Whether or not I like the band or the direction they go in, I wouldn't wish death on someone to just
make a band more enjoyable for myself, that's just selfish and really ignorant imho.

nice

I hope a plane crashes into their tour bus.

holy shit i love drean theater and a7x thats fucking amazing cant wait

i guess you mean you love "dream theater?" lol

do you guys think hes gonna influence the band or just play the drums and shut up? a7x is alright, i prefer dream theater tbh

he's just gonna play the drums

i think he is definitely gonna help make a better album because they are most likely going to get his opinion on it being who he is. but regardless of if he does or doesnt he is still gonna make the drums extremely amazing.

no they're not, he's just going to play drums.

still either way the album will suck

" he is still gonna make the drums extremely amazing."

prepare your ears for the most extremely amazing drums ever

Portnoy's update:

Just finished my drum tracks for the Avenged Sevenfold album...what an amazing and emotional experience! Me and Zacky celebrated by getting matching Death Bat tats here in the studio.

I must thank the amazing A7X fans for being so open and welcoming to me. I was fearing them being very defensive over The Rev's drum throne but they've all been so supportive, open-minded, understanding and excited by the news...it is a huge relief to me and the guys!.

Me and Zacky celebrated by getting matching Death Bat tats

ETERNAL SOLDIERS 2010

crazy

Me and Zacky celebrated by getting matching Death Bat tats

luuuulzzz

Portnoy should've slapped every member of a7x b4 agreeing to produce this new record.
The last album was so commercial its disgusting.