How do YOU personally grade a drummer in Metal and or Rock?

Question

Is it by how fast the can use their kick drums... how "Brutally" the can blastbeat... how precise their timing is?

Or do you look beyond those things... and actually listen to see if they use counter rhythms in their fills..unique and ro unusual codas... swithc time signatures...etc?

Personally..I think the majority of people either rate drummers by how they feel about the band in general ( like most of Lars Ulrichs, or the Rev's fans ) or by how fast and Brutal they are ( such as Hellhammer ) wothout relaly knowing much of anything about actual drumming.

Mind you.. we are all entitled to our favorites ( I have a good friend who likes Lars Ulrich ( Metalica) far beyond Nicko McBrain ( Iron Maiden) for instance..and I am fine with that.. even though I know by pure technique, Nicko is a far superior drummer.)

MQ- How closely do you even listen to the drumming..or is it kind of an after thought?

MQ2- Favorite Drummer(s) and why?
got some links?

Answer 1

Depends on the Metal sub-genre



For example



Death Metal or Technical Death Metal



I judge by all around Skills. Starting with Speed primarily with Double Bass skills, Blast Beats and not just the extreme DM Blasts but also Thrash Blast Beats as well. Sound too the tuning of the drums particularly the Snare. Cymbals Usage and overall Drum Fills. How well the drummer can switch time signatures and how innovative they are with tricky bizarre off time riffs.



Metalcore, Hardcore, Groove Metal.

I judge by how well the drummer can make you want to get up and start Grooving. Seriously, in those genres I like a drummer that makes me want to get up and start moving and exercising. Then all the technique issues after that.



However, overall I judge the drummer on how well they fit in with the band as far as how smooth their playing style is with the style of the band. How innovative they write drums for the bands original style.



Good list of favorites there Peaches.



Mine

Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy)

Tim Yeung (Allot of projects, Hate Eternal, Divine Heresy)

Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)

Dave Lombardo

Tomas Haake

Bobby Jarzombek

Van Williams (Nevermore)

Mark Zonder (Fates Warning)

Answer 2

I grade a drummer by how it enhances the song probably because I don't know much about drumming...drumming adds intensity to the song imo and it changes the mood of the song as well, also something I really have been paying attention about drumming is that is doesn't need to be sloppy in order to make something heavier, and I think a drummer needs to have plenty of coordination too to compliment the rest of the instruments.



MQ-I pay Very close attention...maybe not as much as I pay attention to the guitar but the drums are the 2nd thing I closely listen to, though I am more of an air drummer lol



MQ2-

Neil Peart



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-BRee2bAho

* I think this video explains why :D





Danny Carey



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAlcvIcjFI4

*Very precise imo

Answer 3

Good evening KP :)



I don't rate any of them, as you will notice when I'm asked to name my favourites ~ I like them all for different things about their playing.



I actually have virtually no knowledge of musical terminology. I've got a sense of rhythm, and can still pick out a basic 4/4 or 6/4 pattern {this comes from my dancing days}, but the proper technical stuff? Not a clue.



So, I base my 'favourites' on the *sound* of their drumming. I may not be able to explain to someone else what is was I heard that stood out, but * I * will know that it was something special.





MQ :

It depends. Sometimes the drumming in a song really stands out, other times I'm aware of it, but it blends in well, and other times I will only really notice it after a few listens. On occasion, if I'd heard a drummer play in a way that interests me, I will then make a point of listening closely for the drums in the rest of that band's music.





MQ2 : As I said, there is no real 'why'. It has nothing to do with personality, or if that band is a favourite of mine. It is purely based on having heard something within their playing that stands-out to me. Random order :~



Mick Fleetwood {Fleetwood Mac}

John Bonham {Led Zeppelin}

Mitch Mitchell {The Jimi Hendrix Experience / Band of Gypsies}

Colin Allen {Stone the Crows, amongst others}

Keith Moon {The Who}

Clive Bunker / Barriemore Barlow {Jethro Tull}

Malcolm Dick {Blackmore's Night}

Pick Withers {Dire Straits}

Answer 4

I don't rate a drummer by any sort of drumming skill, considering I don't know much about drum technique at all, but simply how well they work. For example, in all the years Phil Rudd has been with AC/DC, he hardly ever played anything more than a basic rock beat, but it worked with the music and sounded good, so I consider him a good drummer. I also know (from my brothers drum teacher) that the best way to test a drummers true skill is to take him out of a metal or rock setting and put him into a jazz setting and see how well he does there. According to my brother's drum teacher, who is the most talented drummer (and possibly musician in general) I've ever met, much like many great guitar techniques take their root in the blues, most great drum techniques come from jazz drumming.

Answer 5

Being a drummer i absolutly love listening to the drum parts in heavy metal. Holy sh-t hellhammer is f-cking amazing.

Some of my favorite drummrers are

Abigail williams drummer

Black dahlia murder drummer

Derek Roddy

Flo from cryptopsy

Born of osiris drummer (that kids 18)

Vital remains drummer (insane blast beats)

Through the eyes of the dead drummer

And there are so many more. Most drummers in the metal section are really advanced and brilliant drummers.

Answer 6

I rate a drummer by creativity, how well everything fits together, and how fun it is to listen to. When all I can hear of the drums is bass drum over and over with a double pedal, that bores me.



MQ: Ehh, a good bit, but not as much as guitar.

MQ2: Nicko McBrain (Maiden), Neil Peart (Rush), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Brann Dailor (Mastodon)



NP: Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live) - Iron Maiden

Answer 7

the spectacular 5 Drummers for my area, a million. Keith Moon-The Who 2. John Bonham-Led Zeppelin 3. Ginger Baker-Graham Bond company, Cream, Blind faith, and Air rigidity 4. Nick Mason-purple Floyd 5. Ringo Starr- The Beatles the 1st 3 are interchangeable.

Answer 8

Great question and Im part of the non exp drummer liker haha.. I will put my faves from 1-10 to show U who i like.

1.Neil Pert-Omg. Im not an expert but he should be in anyones top ten. Sounds like he is doing multiple things at once and has a clean sound.



2. Alex Van Halen--from my fave band of all time VH so bias i am. House of Pain/Hot for Teacher are just great sounds that seem well in tune I guess U could say.

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3.Niko McBrain-Maiden gets noooo respect at all. Love his power on any of his songs and my friend whos really not a fan of the band loves drumming and loves to put their songs on based on the drumming



4. Tommy Lee.-Ive heard he is not very good just his style or something is the appeal. I love the band and I like the sound he has. Heavy heavy sound on looks that kill and he is great in concert.



5. John Bonham.-yea should be number one but Ive only gotten into the band little under 4yrs. Love the raw power he displayed and actually will move him higher in my rankings.



6.Dave Grohl--Smells like teen spirit killed my rock n roll but this dude does jam...He jammed with Lenny from Motorehead once and was amazing. very talented from what lil I know.



7. Carmen Appice- Just liked how he went to different bands and still was able to slide in and not affect their sound. He is very good from what people say.

8.Lars Ulrich, Phil Collins, Rick Allen-Def Leppard. amazing he still plays with one hand. Thats my top ten.

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Answer 9

By how powerful and/or fast they are/sound on record.



They louder, faster, more brutal or precise they are the higher I'm going to rank them. Just look at My favorite John Bonham, powerful as all thudding hell and as precise as a Swiss watchmaker. Almost all My favorite Drummers are like that. Old School power Drummers with a perfect sense of time, that's the best. To me.



I also respect some Metal Drummers (Like Ulrich) for the fact that they play so fast, yet with pinpoint control.



MA: Drumming is always one of my favorite parts of a song

MA2: For all the above stated reasons, these Guys



John Bonham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tbmgJN7fk0



Neal Peart (The best, but I like Bonham a hair better)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mR0tzt9XaM



Ginger Baker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRqjpuLFXek



Phil Collins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-F-medRWGA



Tony Thompson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUc629OcQPo



Carmine Appice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1k81E_1UGI



Cozy Powell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyN8XnFEMVM



Carl Palmer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZrvES90m2c



Lars Ulrich

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8avgd-i9QGU



Aynsley Dunbar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixZckJBOW0I



My Top 10

Answer 10

I don't grade at all - to me that would be like turning my favorite art into something as exacting and picky as my job is. I already have one job - music is one of my escapes from it so I want it to be completely different.