It’s certainly not news in the slightest that Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan passed away last month. Without a permanent drummer added to the lineup yet (if it ever happens), Avenged have decided to continue on and go into the studio. Who’s going to handle drumming duties?

None other than Dream Theater‘s Mike Portnoy.

Avenged Sevenfold posted the following bulletin on MySpace:

I want our fans to know that with Jimmy in our hearts, our journey to record has officially began. Jimmy helped leave this world an amazing gift and now it’s our job to make sure to deliver that gift to our fans. We asked Jimmy’s all time favorite drummer Mike Portnoy to record on behalf of him. Mike said it would be an honor and without question that’s what Jim would have wanted. Its comforting to us that someone like Mike, who is undoubtedly revered as one of the best drummers in the world, held such respect and adoration for the Rev’s abilities. Even though it will never be the same without our brother by our side, his essence lives in our hearts and through the music he helped create. He was a legend before any of the success or any of that bullshit and we are fucking excited to lay this down for our fans, and especially for Jimmy.
-Avenged Sevenfold

This move is a pretty big surprise, if you ask me. I didn’t think we’d hear from Avenged Sevenfold for a long time and now here they are with one of metal’s most prolific drummers. Maybe the prog influence will push A7X out of a corner and shake up their sound a little. One could always hope. I want to hear something other than pop country ballads, you know?

- JR