Top 5 Metal Drummers of All Time

Metal has stood the test of time as a sub-genre of music that continues to enthral it’s listeners with heavy guitars, subtle, precision rhythm playing and unmistakeable drum beats that have spawned a host of instrument technologies to push the limits of this genre. The true leaders of this style of music has relied on the drummers to keep up with the influential and tight style that metal has provided millions of fans with.

Whether you are a musician or not, there are certain characters and names of drummers in the metal scene that either spark you with inspiration, or fill you with wonder about how on earth they can play the beats they do. Some, more than others have influenced more people, brought new techniques and have had a hand in creating customised drum kits to bring the world of music a new dimension altogether. Here is a top 5 list of the world’s best metal drummers of all time.

Dave Lombardo – Slayer

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What can be said about Dave Lombardo other than total legend? How about the fact that pretty much nobody could drum at the speed that this guy does- but when you add in the precision needed to keep that Slayer beat is nothing but staggering.  Dave is an aggressive player that takes both a precision and feedback from his kit to really feel the music, highlighting his passion and depth in his playing that has inspired thousands of people to pick up the sticks.

Nicholas Barker – Cradle of Filth, Exodus

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This British extreme metal drummer is well known for his collaborations with Cradle of Filth, Exodus, Lock Up and Borknagar as well as a host of other modern bands over the past 25 years. With a thrashing style that has influenced many others, Nicholas Barker has cornered the market for his very own extreme metal style of his own, with a huge range of styles when it comes to Symphonic to Grind Core.

Chris Adler - Lamb of God

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Chris Adler from Lamb of God has filled in the metal scene where Cradle of Filth left of to give us a new edge in metal drumming that combined groove beats and thrash into an unmistakable style of his own. Influenced by both progressive rock and thrash metal, Chris has continued to excite fellow drummers with an increasingly more extreme drumming technique that has featured on Lamb of God’s more recent albums.  

Lars Ulrich – Metallica

Source: www.drummerworld.com

Lars Ulrich often appears on many top drummers list more to do with his influential style, other than his actual competency when it comes to method and style. Many people are divided on whether Lars is a good drummer or a great drummer, but they cannot deny that the music he has created with Metallica, along with the drumming techniques and styles that he has brought into metal and made his own, you cannot argue with that fact that he is probably the most influential drummer that ascends the genre.

Joey Jordison – Slipknot, Korn, Marilyn Manson

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Joey Jordison is one of very few metal drummers to have played in some of the most commercially successful bands over the past 20 years. Playing with an extreme death metal and nu-metal style, he helped taking his first band Slipknot into the stratosphere in terms of recognition and commercial success. He is probably best known for his outrageous pyrotechnic and light show that included him and his drum kit rotating in all directions to add to the effect of the show-stopping beats he was playing.

There is a ton of tricks, techniques and lessons to be learned from these influential metal drummers who are widely considered as the best metal drummers of all time. With a hint of natural skill, adamant dedication, and inspired by any of these legends, you too can create a drumming style of your own. It won't be very dramatic if your name ends up in a list just like this one! And if you in Australia, there's one brand that can help you to achieve greatness, Drummers Paradise, Melbourne's #1 drum store, if not Australia's!

4 Most Admired Drumming Styles in Modern Era

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May be a little less focused than the lead, but a drummer certainly is one of the most important pieces of the band. While the lead and vocalist are always the centre of attention, and no doubt the most recognisable when you think of a particular musical group, the drummer takes a back seat and quietly (or not so quietly) holds everything together.

But this role is usually more difficult than it seems and crucial in just about any music genre. Drumming is classed into a number of different styles, and the way the drums are played depends greatly on the genre of music that is being played. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular styles and why it’s beneficial to be fluent in all of them.

Jazz Drumming

Playing drums in a jazz band takes arguably the most skill of any drumming style out there. It is characterised by the tendency of the drummer to mix up the beat and almost play off the beat in some respects, all the while keeping the rhythm and holding it all together. Swing-time and complex arrangements make jazz drumming one of the toughest drumming gigs going around.

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R&B Drumming

R&B and even funk drumming is much more relaxed and slower than other styles, with the main focus of the drumming being to keep the rhythm and groove. R&B is focused less on the fast paced, head banging style of modern genre, more on the music and the groove itself. Chris Columbo, Bernard Purdie, Nat Kendrick, Al Jackson Jr., Roger Hawkins, Earl Palmer, if one listens to these greats from the soul era, he will clearly see the difference between R&B and other drumming styles. This style has arguably the least variety of any of the others and can be frustrating at times for drummers who used to play rock or jazz, mainly due to the slower pace and decreased difficulty.

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Rock Drumming

The influence of rock n’ roll is enormous and has genres of music within itself, so you can imagine that there are also a wide variety of drumming styles under this umbrella term. By and large, rock and punk employ a more aggressive, louder style with the drummer keeping the rhythm and adding in fills between beats. Heavy metal turns this up a notch and along with heavy guitar the drums are important characteristics of the genre.

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Latin Drumming

Latin music is heavy on percussion and is known for utilising additional instruments to the conventional drum kit. Listen to this genre of music and you’re likely to hear everything from claves and bongo drums to cowbells and just about everything in between. In terms of the style, it borrows a lot from those already mentioned with energetic, complicated rhythms, meaning a talented drummer is generally required.

Like with all instruments, it’s a sign of true skill if you’re able to turn your hand to any drumming playing style. Practiing as many as possible will develop more skills on your part, so keep that in mind if you’re currently getting into the drums! Also, if you need a new drum kit, check out Drummers Paradise’s  amazing range of drum kits online today or pop into our Richmond store.

Necessary Fitness Issues for Drummers to Improve Drumming Techniques

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We all know that drum is one of the most energy-consuming instruments to play, with large arm and hand movements making up most of your technique, but many people don’t realise that drumming can actually help improve your health if used as part of a regular exercise regimen. Many people who are new to drumming will quickly feel tired with all of the work involved, but seasoned drummers know that keeping fit is key to boosting your stamina to keep going.

Drummers, more than any other musician need to keep healthy and exercise as part of their playing to minimise the risks of causing injury whilst playing. Many drummers suffer from the same kind of injuries such as wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries that could not only ruin your day, but also your playing ability.

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At Drummers Paradise customers often share many thoughts such as this kind of injuries, and we always encourage them to stay fit and keep drumming to avoid any major injury. But truly we thought we are obliged to share these important message to everyone involved in drumming, so bear with us with an open mind and courage.

Fitness is the Key for Your Technique

Drummers fitness and musicians fitness isn’t really talked about as a problem or an issue within the musicians circles, but it is a key aspect in any instrument playing that to stay fit and healthy will only benefit your playing in terms of having the perfect posture for playing, as well as having the perfect technique to give you stamina throughout playing.

Warm Up and Take Some Preparations

Warming up and staying supple in your arms is key to improve your drumming stamina, and with a few simple exercises you can stay in shape and improve your stamina for longer periods of drumming time. Not warming up or not staying in shape can result in injuries, which can be avoided if you follow a few simple warm up exercise tips before you start playing.

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One of the best ways to warm up is to move your arms and wrists in their full range of motion for few minutes to allow your muscles to warm up and be prepared for extended use whilst drumming. Standing toe touches are a great way to stretch the muscles in your arms, as well as keeping your back supple and ready to play.

Holding your drum sticks in your hands and turning your wrists also play an important role in making sure that your wrist muscles and hand tendons are nicely relaxed and aren’t too stiff before playing. If you feel any sharp pain then you should call it a day for now, and stop playing your drums if you continue to feel pain in your shoulder, elbows, wrists, and fingers.

Don’t Forget Your Lower Body!

It is also important to stretch your calf muscles in your lower legs if you are going to be using the bass drum and high-hats for extended periods of time. It is easy for a drummer to start playing from cold and get cramp in the lower leg muscles – something that can be avoided with a little warm-up!

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Drumming itself can be a great tool for exercise on its own due to the muscles involved and the length of time in which you drum. Using your large muscles in their full range of movement is the best way to burn calories and work your heart and lungs for great cardio-vascular exercise. Your upper body uses more energy than your lower body, and so with a well-positioned back and posture, you could be doing great work for your body when drumming on a regular basis.

Don’t Push Yourself, Know Your Limits!

Drummers often push themselves when it comes to stamina, and whilst pushing the limit on how long you can comfortably play for has an argument that stamina is built using ever lengthy stretches of time playing, it is important to know when to stop. Over-doing it and playing for extended periods of time will only increase the damage you may be doing to your ligaments, tendons and muscles. So if you feel any twitches, cramps or pain, just pause playing and take some time before you make the situation worse.

Warm up gently and slowly work into your regular playing rhythm. Use the full motion of movement of your muscles when warming up and ensure that you are sat in a comfortable and upright position to give you the best purchase on your kit, as well as ensuring that you aren’t going to feel tired sooner. Take breaks every now and again to get a rest, and ensure that your playing technique isn’t hindered by pain or cramps that regular exercise will be able to eliminate over time to become a fit drummer, ready for anything!