M. Shadows Believes Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan Would Have Loved New A7X Album

M Shadows says their late drummer Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan would have been on-board with the band’s new album, Life Is But A Dream…. The album includes many different genres, such as lounge jazz and hip-hop-inspired beats. 

The Rev is on the new album, not only in spirit and memories of friends but with his music and lyrics. There is a bridge written by the drummer in the song ‘Mattel,’ which finally found its place. Shadows said to Metal Hammer:

“He’d be stoked. Me and Brian [Haner, aka guitarist Synyster Gates] know that guy better than anyone. He was always the biggest proponent of instigation and trying new things.” 

Although the album is about exploring new paths, it doesn’t imply that the band is turning their back on the past. Another track in the album, Beautiful Morning, has a lyric the drummer and Gates wrote back in their Pinky Smooth days. The singer said:

“That’s something him and Brian came up with a long time ago: ‘It’s a beautiful morning, it’s a beautiful day, everybody is smiling, in a beautiful way.’ That’s when it [the song] gets creepy.”

The band seems to be on a spiritual journey. The frontman revealed that he flew in a shaman for a rare Sonoran Desert toad, aka 5-MeO-DMT, venom experiment. In the same interview, Shadows talked about the record’s purpose:

“This record [Life Is But A Dream…] dove into, ‘Now what do we do with all that information as a human that has emotions, that evolved to this spot where we have our upper brain [wired for reasoning] and lower brain [wired for primitive responses] and they’re battling each other?”

A7x singer had a lot on his mind. He continued:

“You come to terms with how important everyone thinks everything is, and how they work themselves up. And none of it means anything. You work your fingers to the bones and everyone tells you you’re great your whole life. And then all of a sudden, you look back on your life and you go, ‘What the fuck was that?’”

You can reach the interview by clicking here.