Top 10 Metal Drummers to See in 2010

Tool's Danny Carey has an incredible drum set

Through the years I have been to several metal concerts. Most of them take place in small crowded venues. The majority of the crowd is made up of dudes dressed in black shirts. They don’t sell beer and as soon as bands begin to play the room turns into a sauna. If you do bring your girl you’ll find yourself standing in the back to prevent her from catching an errant punch to the jaw. For the most part the people are friendly as metal fans feel they are some kind of outcast for liking music that has attitude and sounds a little different. As the bands I loved started to get bigger so did the venues. The good part about that was that beer became available and the guy to girl ratio started to even out.

During my many trips to various metal concerts I have found many similarities between bands, the thing that really sets them apart are their drummers. Generally speaking, when the main acts take the stage they aren’t really all that much to look at. The singer generally bobs around the stage trying to look tough and crazy. The guitar player makes faces like he is trying to make his head explode and the base player gets in his power stance and looks around like he is lost. The only guy doing anything different seems to be the guy hiding behind the cymbals. He is responsible for keeping time during those guitar solos, he also has to put the exclamation on the “big finish” to end most songs, and most importantly drives the beat throughout every song. I have found that if you spend the time to watch these guys play it will blow your mind. The level of coordination and stamina these drummer’s poses is incredible, and they can really make or break a show.

And without any further ado and in no particular order... 10 drummers to see in 2010:

• Danny Carey: Tool
  If you go to see Tool there is generally plenty to look at. With all the lights, videos and effects going he can be kind of hard to see behind his massive drum set. Their songs are so complex and he really has to get after it. Check out this example for yourself. Song: Lateralus. Album: “Lateralus”
• Vinny Paul: Pantera, Damage Plan, current band Hell Yeah.
  Some might call him the co creator of the Power groove. He is responsible for some of the best metal songs of all time. So brutal yet so much melody! Check out this example for yourself. It’s a Pantera Song called “Becoming”. Album: “Far Beyond Driven”
• Matthew McDonough: Mudvayne
  The first time I saw this guy play I was blown away. It was back in 2000 at the Tattoo the earth festival. He was all painted up and just killing it. Check out this example for yourself. Song: Not Falling. Album: “The End of All Things to Come”.
• Joey Jordison: Slipknot
  This guy is ridiculous. Every one of their songs contains some seriously complicated drum parts. When Slipknot gets to the part in the show where they let Joey loose, and he plays his solo it’s awesome. Defiantly worth seeing live. Check out this example for yourself. Song: “Disasterpiece”. Album: Iowa
• Jason Bittner: Shadows Fall
  Dude plays a humongous drum set and has some of the coolest double bass footwork out right now. Makes it look way to easy. I saw them play a few years back and was amazed. Check out this example for yourself. Song: “Enlightened By the Cold”. Album “War Within”
• Brann Dailor: Mastodon
  The way he seems to always be compounding beats and throwing in crazy rolling fills sounds awesome. Saw them for the first time at ozzfest and I was shocked at how small his black and white polka dot drum set was. Check out this example for yourself. Song: “I am Ahab” Album: “Leviathan”
• Chris Alder: Lamb of God
  Lamb of God sounds like a choreographed car crash. Some how this guy seems pull them all together. I have seen them several times and he is the man. Check out this example for yourself. Song: “Broken Hands” Album: “Wrath”
• Trivett Wingo: The Sword
  He kind of has an old school style that makes me think of Bill Ward from Black Sabbath or Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. I haven’t seen these guys play yet but they are number one on my list of bands I am going to see this year. Check out this example for yourself. Song: “Lords” Album: “Gods of the Earth”
• Dave Lombardo: Slayer
  This guy plays a massive drum set. He plays so fast he looks like he is going to throw a shoulder out. Dave has a tremendous influence on many of today’s metal drummers. Check out this example for yourself. Song: “War Ensemble”. Album “Christ Illusion”
• Lars Ulrich: Metallica
  Lars is my hero and I’m not afraid to say it. Just getting to see Metallica live is an epic event. Lars plays to the crowd and is a true showman. He sounds as good live as on the albums. Check out this example for yourself. Song: “Blackened”. Album: “…And Justice for All”

Links to tour dates…

• Slayer Tour Dates
• Shadows Fall Tour Dates
• Lamb of God Tour Dates
• Hell Yeah Tour Dates
• Mastodon Tour Dates
• The Sword Tour Dates
• Mudvayne Tour Dates
• Metallica Tour Dates
• Slipknot Tour Dates
• Tool Tour Dates