Life Is but a Dream... cover art

  Studio Album · No. 8

Life Is but a Dream... Songwriting Credits by Avenged Sevenfold

2023 Warner Records 11 tracks 53 min

Produced by Avenged Sevenfold, Joe Barresi  ·  Engineered by Joe Barresi, Andy Wallace

Warner Records Avant-Garde MetalProgressive MetalHeavy Metal
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Avenged Sevenfold carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by Avenged Sevenfold 0 tracksoutside writers
Avenged Sevenfold's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer91%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
6
Lyricists
2
Producers
not certified
US Copies Sold
2023
Released
Data Insight

Life Is but a Dream... credits its songs to the four constant members plus drummer Brooks Wackerman, who now shares in the writing. The most striking authorship note is the late The Rev: James Sullivan returns posthumously with a bridge melody on 'Mattel' and lyrics on 'Beautiful Morning,' so those two tracks add his name. Closer 'Life Is but a Dream...' is credited to Brian Haner Jr. alone, and there are no covers.

Life Is but a Dream... is the eighth studio album by Avenged Sevenfold, released in June 2023 after a near seven-year gap. The band's most experimental record, it blends avant-garde metal with orchestral passages, jazz, and electronics across loosely connected songs about death and existence. Co-produced with Joe Barresi and recorded over several years with the San Bernardino Symphony, it is credited to the four constant members and drummer Brooks Wackerman, with the late drummer The Rev again surfacing through a posthumous bridge melody and lyrics. Polarizing and intricate, it reaffirmed the band's refusal to repeat itself.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Game Over
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
2
Mattel
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristThe RevBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardJames SullivanBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
3
Nobody #16
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
4
We Love You #31
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
5
Cosmic
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
6
Beautiful Morning
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristThe RevBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardJames SullivanBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
7
Easier
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
8
G
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
9
(O)rdinary
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
10
(D)eath
M. ShadowsZacky VengeanceSynyster GatesJohnny ChristBrooks Wackerman Matthew SandersZachary BakerBrian Haner Jr.Jonathan SewardBrooks Wackerman Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)
11
Life Is but a Dream...
Synyster Gates Brian Haner Jr. Avenged SevenfoldJoe Barresi M. Shadows (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 13 contributors

BH
Brian Haner Jr.
Writer
On this album11 written
SG
Synyster Gates
Writer
On this album11 written
BW
Brooks Wackerman
Writer
On this album10 written
JC
Johnny Christ
Writer
On this album10 written
JS
Jonathan Seward
Writer
On this album10 written
MS
M. Shadows
Writer · Vocals
On this album10 written
MS
Matthew Sanders
Writer
On this album10 written
ZB
Zachary Baker
Writer
On this album10 written
ZV
Zacky Vengeance
Writer
On this album10 written
JS
James Sullivan
Writer
On this album2 written
TR
The Rev
Writer
On this album2 written
AS
Avenged Sevenfold
Producer
On this album11 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions Life Is but a Dream...

Who wrote Life Is but a Dream...?
It is credited to Zachary Baker, Brian Haner Jr., Matthew Sanders, Jonathan Seward, and Brooks Wackerman. The late The Rev (James Sullivan) is credited on 'Mattel' and 'Beautiful Morning,' and Brian Haner Jr. wrote the closing title track alone.
How is The Rev credited on the 2023 album?
James Sullivan, who died in 2009, receives a posthumous bridge-melody credit on 'Mattel' and a lyrics credit on 'Beautiful Morning,' drawn from material he left behind.
Who produced Life Is but a Dream...?
It was co-produced by Avenged Sevenfold and Joe Barresi, recorded over several years with the San Bernardino Symphony.
What does Life Is but a Dream... sound like?
It is the band's most experimental album, mixing avant-garde and progressive metal with orchestral, jazz, and electronic elements.
What are the singles from the album?
'Nobody,' 'We Love You,' and 'Mattel,' with 'Nobody' performing best on the US Mainstream Rock chart.
Why was there such a long gap before this album?
Nearly seven years passed since The Stage, with the band recording the dense, orchestral album between 2018 and 2022.

Sources

Wikipedia: Life Is but a Dream... MusicBrainz: Life Is but a Dream... (release group) Cover Art Archive: Life Is but a Dream... Cover Art Archive: Life Is but a Dream... by Avenged Sevenfold