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Devin Townsend Sucks

SICK DRUMMERS!

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 4:00pm by

Gene Hoglan: The Atomic Clock. What he can do to an otherwise ordinary or bland riff is beyond explanation. He is an ARTIST first, world’s greatest metal drummer second. Plus… confidence and a circular groove. How many times while writing with a drummer have you heard them say “There should be no drums there, it’s what the song wants”… Never?

Ryan VanPoederooyen: RVP – strong, consistent, thick and tight as hell. Absolute precision and dedication, from mellow to full shred.

JP from Clutch: So much fun to watch, amazing groove, ass off the chair for the “one.”

Bobby Jarzombek: Holy shit, so tight, so controlled, great stick attack.

Gavin Harrison: THAT’S how you pull a tone out of the skins.

Duris Maxwell: THAT’S how you pull a groove out of the cymbals

Marco Minneman: Double kick shuffles, a much different approach that most folks.

Virgil Donati: Lots of great Aussy drummers (and bands… Cog, Contrive, Alchemist, Karnivool, The Amenta, Berzerker etc…), but this guy is a freak.

Brooks Wackerman: Amazing player who is frighteningly connected to his instrument.

Tim Yeung: I LOVE speed drumming, and he is not only ridiculous in that department, but he’s also REALLY clever.

Tomas Haake: What can I say? The intellectual punisher.

Horatio Hernandez: I saw this guy do a clinic a few weeks ago and he turned me on my ear. He’s in a place on the beat that can only occur if you are him. Behind slightly, but relaxed, incredibly intense and coooolll…

Buddy Rich: He’s dead and he’s STILL better than everyone.

-DT

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  • OhLookBirdies

    I very much approve of this list. There’s one or two blokes on there I haven’t heard of, but I totally agree on the rest.

    What about Danny Carey, though?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michel-Giroux-Burroughs/574086565 Michel Giroux-Burroughs

      I agree with that. Also, Neil Peart anybody? Come on Devin! He’s from Ontario!

    • Matthew Grant Anson

      Yea, Danny Carey for sure.

      • bleak46n2

        Danny Carey all the way…

    • tom

      No Rock Drummers No Heavy Metal Drummers. They are all little kids banging on pots and pans,. Total Noise. Only one drummer for me to listen and pay attention to. The mans name is Buddy Rich. I do not have time to listen to noise makers in rock heavy metal drumming. i have switched to Buddy Rich. No one out there today can come close to Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich is the Drummer the only Drummer. Buddy Rich

  • http://www.last.fm/user/groverXIII groverXIII

    Fuck yeah… JP Gaster and Brooks Wackerman, from two of my favorite bands ever. Excellent choices here.

    • http://verbalspace.blogspot.com verbal space

      clutch kicks so much ass. love that band, still kickin’ ass after all these under appreciated years….i only watch jp when i see them live. so expressive behind the kit and always looks like he’s having a great time. then again, w/ clutch, who are ya gonna watch?! ha!

  • Bicro

    Haake is the best.

    Period.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michel-Giroux-Burroughs/574086565 Michel Giroux-Burroughs

    If we exhumed Buddy Rich, I’m sure he’d still be better than all those “great” drummers like Joey Jordison without even having to move…

    “Wow, Jordison can play fast blast beats!”

    “So?”

    “That makes him the best drummer in the history of the world!”

    I hear that kinda thing everyday…

  • alex_z

    buddy rich forever! well also would like to mention some jazz-d&b freaks like jo jo mayer & johny rabb. and what’s bout mike mangini?

  • Chris Fuqua

    SAW HIM LAST WEDNESDAY WITH DETHKLOK!!!!! That was one goal of mine to see him live. Another is to see you live. Got my ticket for January already. Another is to see a SYL reunion show. Since I caught on after ya’ll (Texas) disbanded…. =(

  • Tanner

    The only reason i went to the Dethklok signing was to meet Gene-Fehking-Hoglan, and he was the only member who didnt show up. BUZZ. KILL :( Bobby rules fyi.

    R.I.P. Buddy Rich and Vitek

  • Caspar Colderson

    I’m a pretty good drummer, and I’ve went “this would be really great without drums” before. Just thought I wanted to tell…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Martin/1110646612 Michael Martin

    Great selections….cant forget about Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons,….Korn…bleh).

  • TheWizard

    No Lars Ulrich? For shame!

    • tomaas

      Dually noted.

      This lack of Ulrich is egregious.

      At least we didn’t have to see his dick.

    • http://www.baldmosher.com baldmosher

      This is funny.

  • tomaas

    What about some Roddy?

    That will sound gay to some.

    I fucking LOVE the Noise Bot girl. Unnnnnnnnnnhhhhh biiiiiitch!

  • http://myspace.com/bizarrodrake Marc

    This has been an awesome day at MS. Great list of beat masters!!

  • GYYUV

    Thomas Lang. Check that guy out.

    • timmah

      great chops, not much feel unfortunately. He’s a bit of a basher.

  • Matt

    Kevin Talley … drummed for Devil Driver, Black Daliah Murder, Chimera, Daath, Dying Fetus, MOD, almost got the Slayer gig a few years ago … http://www.drummerkevintalley.com

  • timmah

    Really, really impressed by this list Devin.

    I had the privilege to see Virgil Donati at a clinic this summer and it was amazing to watch. The guy has such a fat backbeat and he is in absolutely amazing physical condition. And Gavin Harrison is absolutely mesmerizing by how well he can play.

    A few I would add to this list!

    Benny Greb
    Young guy, super talented, the sound isn’t that great on this video he has a sick groove as well, amazing creativity around the kit!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYI5CQ9sgYc

    Johnny Rabb
    This guy is a human drum machine! SO accurate and so on time! Any metal drummer wanting to learn the “gravity blast” make sure you pick up his book on the freehand technique!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt2_z2kCTQg&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZHb8NbMnE

    Steve Jordan
    Undisputed king of groove. End of story.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RruAmVYiGYs

  • Zoker

    C’moooon!!!

    Dirk Vebeuren, man, you forgot Dirk Verbeuren.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtaehjdz5Ws&feature=related

  • Skanes

    I’m going to get shit for this, but I think Inferno from Behemoth is one of the greatest drummers around right now.

    • http://www.last.fm/user/M60Patton Patton

      And you shouldn’t forget Vitek (R.I.P.) he was one of my favourite drummers.

  • BT

    No Brann Dailor? No Danny Carey? weak sauce

  • DT

    Yup, to add:

    Danny Carey
    Inferno
    Dirk
    Brann…

    the list is huge, these guys were just first to mind and by no means a definitive list.

  • Pete

    In my opinion, few drummers had the feel and groove of Vinnie Paul in his Pantera days. That guy was absolutely dialed in to every song and complemented everything perfectly.

    • stinkybritches

      Vinnie may not be the best technical drummer, but what he does with the music is what has made him one of my faves.

  • msv81

    Yeah, where the fuck is Danny Carey??????

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Danny_Carey_Kit.jpg

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUcdMva9RnQ

    boooooooooooooooooo for him being absent from this list.

  • Gaia

    I hate to sound like the ‘obvious guy’ but Chris Adler is pretty sweet.

    • Discipleofthewatch

      I love Chris Adler.

  • Biff Tannen

    FLO. CRYPTOPSY.

  • Hahc Retsam

    Buddy Rich is my favorite drummer of all time and IMO the best ever.

  • http://www.last.fm/user/opeth027/ Kyle

    Richard Christy anyone!!!???

    • Matthew Grant Anson

      The Sound of Perseverance <3

  • iolanach

    Heh, Alchemist. I knew Devin would be a fan. They’re fucking great.

  • thelump

    How is Kai Hahto not on this list?

  • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/62449cbe5ea8d22bcc2e76890fceaa37.png Lord Bling

    I’d like to add George Kollias to this list:

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

    Also, I second the addition of Flo Mournier and Vitek. But if anyone thinks Buddy Rich wasn’t the greatest drummer who ever lived, they’re insanely clueless. Dude fucking DESTROYED.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/62449cbe5ea8d22bcc2e76890fceaa37.png Lord Bling

      And I know I forgot a ton, but I’ll at least add Brann Dailor from Mastodon.

  • Matthew Grant Anson

    Gene
    Brann
    Danny
    Dave

    that is all.

    • Matthew Grant Anson

      Oh yea, Paul Bostaph.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Par/1311163597 Michael Paré

    If you want to hear some rediculous technique, check out Thomas Lang, he’s fucking rediculous

  • The Goat

    2 words: PETER CRISS

    Even though no one wants to be Peter Criss… not even Peter Criss.

  • pariah

    danny walker of intronaut/uphill battle is by far my favorite drummer. great style. it’s very popular with reunions these days, uphill battle should jump on the bandwagon!

  • mike

    Another vote for Dirk Verbeuren. His session work on Sybreed’s Antares album is brilliant.

    Out of the modern American bands, I’d take Jason Bittner over Chris Adler.

    Some others…Romain Goulon, KC Howard (Decrepit Birth, Odious Mortem), Raymond Herrera, David Haley (Psycroptic).

  • SourDeez

    Great list. However, being a huge death metal junkie, I would add Flo from Cryptopsy, Mike Smith from Suffocation, and Pete Sandoval from Morbid Angel. It’s definitely a requirement in death metal that you kick serious ass on drums, but these guys were the real innovators. Also, Brann Dailor from Mastodon is fucking incredible. I think his performance on Remission ranks among the best of all time, in any genre. He actually plays RIFFS, that stick in your head and that you can sing along to, which is a serious feat for any drummer.

    • Joe

      “Also, Brann Dailor from Mastodon is fucking incredible. I think his performance on Remission ranks among the best of all time, in any genre. He actually plays RIFFS, that stick in your head and that you can sing along to”

      I get the exact same thing! I also find it works with Dan Foord’s drum patterns

  • dot

    great list! i haven’t heard of rvp and duris maxwell yet.

  • jazz

    virgil donati is a total monster, he destroys all drummers, if you get the chance to see one of his clinics you can see the man is a genuis, also slighlty socialy retarded.

  • Christopher Jack

    I would add a few more on this list: Morgan Rose of Sevendust, Shannon Larkin of Godsmack, Neal Peart of Rush.

  • Steve

    Mario Duplantier kicks ass

  • Marcel

    As far as ‘toight’ drummers go, Ed Warby (Hail of Bullets, Gorefest, Ayreon) takes the cake, or at least a significant chunk of it.
    One reviewer mistakenly thought that Gene Hoglan played all the drums on GF’s last album. No sir, he didn’t….

  • timmah

    Oh yeah,

    Vinnie Colaiuta too. Simply unreal.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE8fKhcU_ss

  • stalcu

    who has kept my attention that I really haven’t seen on here. Branden morgan, rodney holmes and Damon che.

  • http://www.heavymetalpower.com Dan

    Man… Buddy Rich is fucking captivating. Nivce to see virgil Donati on here. The guy is massively talented and knows how to be creative within a song.

  • sex robot

    Contrive is one of the worst Aussie bands ever..and the Haug brothers are egotistical wankers with no talent.

  • http://themetalgrinder.com Matt Kraatz

    How about John Longstreth (Origin) and Richard Hoak (Brutal Truth)??

    Great list!

  • jan

    Is everybody really forgetting about Sean Reinert?

    And ofcourse Tony Royster Jr.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/62449cbe5ea8d22bcc2e76890fceaa37.png Lord Bling

      Oh man, I feel ashamed now. Can’t believe I forgot Sean Reinert. Embarrassing.

  • Xenogia

    sex robot I have to agree with you there on Contrive. Good list and amazing versatile list as well. On a serious note you could have a list of top 100 drummers and still someone would think of someone else. Stef Broks from Textures is great and definetly Sean Reinhart. Even the less technical players like Tim “Herb” Alexander really stand out to me. Not purely on technique by creativity and have a unique sound.

  • Calvin

    The landfill near my town is now filled with all the rock and roll heavy metal fusion compact discs I have amassed over the years. I have thrown away to the dump every heavy metal drummer I used to like. Lars Joey Travis and Tommy Lee and Ringo and even Charlie Watts are all burried in a mound of dirt. I have really found the one drum hero that was there all along for me to listen to and admire. The mans name is Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich wraps circles around all the loud noise makers that I thought were some thing. Here is a man called Buddy Rich who played a small basic set of drums and made the most wonderfull drumming in the universe. No longer will I pay any attention to rock and loud nonsense drummers. Move over Noise makers. Buddy Rich is the Main Man to listen to. Buddy Rich Buddy Rich Buddy Rich.