Frank’s Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Everyone Else

So this brings us to the conclusion of my 10 favorite drummers list, and it's been harder than you can ever imagine for me to narrow my giant list of awesome players. This is why I'm pulling the "I can do what I want on my site" card, and chose to provide you with several drummers I think you should check out in this last post. Up to this point I've only talked about metal drummers, but for this last entry you may notice some incredible non-metal players that are definitely worth watching. Like my other entries, these are in no particular order.

Hopefully this has been a learning experience, and who knows, maybe you'll walk away with some new favorites. The important message I hope to convey with all of this is to trade in your judgmental nature for one of appreciation. I often find myself looking for qualities within a band or player that I can respect, opposed to ones I can ridicule as I think any respectable musician, music appreciator, or human being should. (more…)

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Martin Lopez

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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Opeth has always been one of my favorite bands in the world, I've truly never heard such a unique group capable of writing compositions that defy the laws of metal music. Moving through the lightest of folk and the heaviest of metal within a single song is no easy task, likewise a drummer capable of keeping this essence together requires tons of skill, precision, soft hands, strong limbs, and comprehension of music composition in whole. Martin Lopez has always provided us with incredible phrasing we cant help but tap along and bang our heads to. He knows exactly when to rock, and when to keep it cool and has proven himself over the span of 7 Opeth LP's in the past 10 years. Apparently now working with a project called Fifth to Infinity, I cant wait to see Lopez behind a set once again in the future.

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Kenneth Schalk

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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Kenny probably has the smallest kit of anyone on my list, but damn does he make up for it with his creative grooves. Raping the shit out of his 4 piece kit is what Kenny seems to do best, proving you don't need a big set to provide thorough ass kicking. With a predominate background in jazz, he's lead the futuristic NY metal-fusion band Candiria into the progressive spotlight before one even existed. Not only is he an incredible drummer, but his form behind the set is a spectacle unto itself. If your not familiar with Candiria's music, sit down and enjoy the ride.

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Hannes Grossmann / Romain Goulon

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

Seriously, your not going to make me decide are you? Chances are if you've seen Necrophagist live in the past 5 years, you've seen either one of these guys play (unless you caught the summer slaughter set that featured Marco Minnemann). Now we all know Muhammed changes drummers like some people change their underwear, but he certainly has a knack for equipping himself with some of the top players in the world!

Hannes Grossmann
Bands you can hear him with: Necrophagist, Obscura (Germany)

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Hanneswas the first drummer I've seen play with Necrophagist, and it was nothing short of a jaw dropping experience. I had never seen such technical fast drumming executed in such precision. There was something poetic about the natural ease to what he was doing, like a bear ripping through it's prey. I'll admit I was a bit shocked when I had learned he would no longer be playing with Necrophagist, but once I heard Hannes' new project Obscura all was good in the world again. (more…)

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Kai Hahto

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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When your playing with one of the top grind bands, and one of the best neo classical bands that ever existed… you must be doing something right! Kai may be known for his ridiculously fierce blasts and record breaking fills, but if you listen close enough you'll hear some of his Jazz roots shining through. He tends to keep himself busy these days playing with various projects ranging from extreme metal to Jazz, teaching drums, and even conducts drum clinics every now and then. It's been years since the last Wintersun record, but I dont think I stand alone when I say I'm totally fucking stoked for the 2010 reunion of Kai and Jari!

You may recognize him from: Wintersun, Rotten Sound, Max on the Rox, Swallow the Sun and The Kai Hahto Band. After the jump, check out a cool Rotten Sound video… (more…)

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers (cont'd) – Danny Walker of INTRONAUT

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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Danny is yet another drummer I find myself talking about often, but after following his work over the past several years, I've grown comfortable expecting nothing but awesomeness from his forever growing bag of tricks. He's got some amazing chops, his own signature sound and style I can pick out from any play list, and severe versatility that has lead him to play with all kinds of different bands over the years. I highly recommend checking out Intronaut, and Uphill Battle (mp3 below) for a closer look at his best work. If your interested he also provides lessons via web, or in the LA area at his studio, I couldn't possibly imagine you'd be disappointed.

A few bands he's played with include: Phobia, Intronaut, Thornlord, Uphill Battle, Jesu, & Exhumed

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Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Mike Portonoy

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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Let's face it, Mike Portnoy has become something of a poster boy for instrument outlets around the world. I cant remember a time in the past several years I haven't ran into a life size poster of Mike in any music store , or an add featuring his signature drums, sticks, cymbals, hats, dvd's, cd's and probably cologne coming one of these days. This is certainly not a complaint, in-fact Portnoy and Co. have changed the way I see music forever since the release of "Images and Words" . Aside from his obvious stellar playing that has influenced thousands of musicians around the world, he is also an extremely hands on backbone of his own brand. Everything from video director, producer, lyric writer, music writer, set list organizer, band manager, back up vocalist, and drummer extraordinaire. He is a well trained machine in business, entertainment, and especially drumming. Don't take my word for it… watch this video clip and feel the wrath of his 20' ….. drum set!

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Tomas Haake

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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When you hear the name Meshuggah, you immediately think of nonrhythm insanity that has made the band what it is today. Despite Haake admitting he doesn't always write his own drum parts,I feel it sometimes takes twice the crafty player to flawlessly pull off the work laid out for him by another person, especially if that person is Fredrik Thordendal. If you've never seen Meshuggah live, your clearly missing out on some amazing musicianship. The band has not only paved the way for polyrhythmic madness I hear filtered down into so many younger bands today, but they prove to push themselves harder and harder with each effort. It's only a matter of time before Tomas melts his own face off.

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Gene FN Hoglan

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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How could I not include the Metal genre's rent-a-drummer? Gene has certainly made a name for himself as the go to session guy over the years, this may have something to do with the fact he's played with some of the most influential metal bands in history. Oh yeah!… and he's pretty fucking ridiculous behind the set too. Noted as entirely self taught starting at the age of 13, he has built up one giant resume ever since and shows no signs of slowing down. I remember the first time I saw Gene live it was in a small club when Strapping Young Lad's "City" LP came out. He walked on stage with a cane, and a handler because he was so piss drunk. I expected a train wreck, and instead got my face melted off by his flawless playing and incredible stick twirling charisma. (more…)

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Bobby Jarzombek

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order in this 2-week long countdown. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

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I talk about this guy all the time. He is hands down one of my all time favorite drummers in the world to watch. Talk about a dude who has it all, complexity, agility, and some of the sickest phrasing and stick control I've ever seen. He is as diverse as he is entertaining, being able to move through several genres of music like no ones business, not to mention he plays with cymbals behind his head!

You may recognize Jarzombek from such bands as Spastic Ink, Riot, Halford, and Sebastian Bach. The first track on this video clip "Peppered Cancer" and the last track "School" features Bobby's brother Ron Jarzombek (Blotted Science, Spastic Ink, Watchtower) on the axe.