Drummers

[piercepd]

Being a drummer myself with a disturbing obsession about the size of my kit, I have to listen to albums more than once to hear anything but the drum track.

Whilst I don't think Anders is the most technically proficient of all the drummers out there (Mike Portnoy is GOD), he's my personal favourite in terms of playing the right pattern for the music & not over playing.

Heres my list, what do you guys think?

Anders Kobro (honest, I'm not just ass kissing)
Mike Portnoy
Danny Carey
Martin Lopez
Shaun Steels

[Adrammelech]

I don't like anything that has to do with Dream Theatre....the list is ok by my except for that :p

[sirdrumsalot22]

I dont like Dream Theater either, but you have to admit Michael Portnoy is amazing at what he does

[Akobro]

Thanx alot Piercepd. I appreciate what you mentioned concerning my playing. My opinion of playing in a band is that it is a team working together. And each person must adapt their playing in concern of what the song structure demand. I do alot of different kinds of music, wich demands totally different styles of drumming. There is a saying that less is more, and in most cases that is correct, cause overplaying will result in to much attention to that instrument or voice and the song itself will become less important.

Some bands is doing music in a way that their skills is shown 100%, and there is bands making music for the sake of songs and melody. I must admit that when we did the recording of A Blessing... album, I had a hard time swallowing my drumtakes cause I played more straight than what I ever had done before. And we only had the drums, klicktracks and a helping guitar to listen to. But when the album was completed I heard that it was absolutely the right thing to do! On the new album were about to record I get alot more busy again! Yeheah. cheers!

[Alexandr]

Hi,
I'm not a drummer, even not a musician, so my opinion isn't so qualified. However I must say, that what I regard as the best drumming I've ever heard is Alf T. Leangels performance on "Journey...". I was absolutely amazed by him and by this whole album. I haven't heard any other album with his drumming, but just because of "Journey..." I would add him on the list.
Greetings
Alexandr

[piercepd]

Anders, thanks for replying, what other styles do you tend to play in & what CDs are about with you on them? Do you think there are different styles of drummer like "rock drummer", "jazz drummer", etc or subscribe to the Buddy Rich theory that there are just "drummers" who play with bands in different styles?

Can I pick your brains for advice, due to go back into the studio soon & always have trouble with this! How do you play with a click track in different times/feels? The bloody thing obviously stays static & on the beat but we tend to play a lot in odd time signatures & I play on the off beat & half beat a lot (in true prog style!), I seriously find that it puts me off to the extent that every time we do without it & the result, sadly, isn't as strict & tight as I'd like it! HOW DO YOU DO IT! :confused:

Cheers dude!
PD

PS: is the immense use of the ride bell deliberate? I think you possible play bell patterns as much as everyone else put together! :cool:

PPS: Pix of my mental kit coming soon folks, I'm so proud ;¬)

[Akobro]

Hi again. You asked about what other kind of styles and bands, and I have recorded like 18 studio albums, and I am not counting ep`s, demo`s etc. To mention a few: All Carpathian Forest albums from Strange old Brew until today. All In The Woods albums, Scariot and some session jobs with some local acts. Recently finished recording an album with Last call inc. wich is amx between Black Sabbath /Fear Factory! Also in september we will record the debut album with Chain Collector wich is more in the vein of At the Gates/Entombed blah blah.

When it comes to record with click-tracks, I find that easy. I have no problem with that at all. But I know that not everyone manage to do it. I dont know why, but my suggestion is that you try to play with click-tracks at rehersals or by yourself.
I actually dont have to sit behind my drumkit to reherse, for me its enough to tap my fingers. I use two fingers on each hand, and those represents my hands and feet. So whenever I listen to music I automatically play along with it, do my own patterns and figure out new ways of doing things.

And one more thing, we do not use click-tracks live cause I feel that it will make the performance too clinical. In a live situation the organic feel is much more important.

[Akobro]

Did not have time to reply on all your questions first time Pearcepd, but i`ll try again now!

I certainly see and hear a difference between rock and jazz drummers. And both styles is mixed in all kind of genres. For example a drummer like Mikkey Dee (Mötörhead, King Diamond), and Dave Lombardo (slayer etc) is Rock drummers. Sean Reinert (Death, Cynic) or Hellhammer to mention a couple that is jazz inspired metal drummers. Somone mentioned Alf T who did the drums on the first Green Carnation album is a jazz inspired drummer.

I certainly am a Rock drummer. Instead of playing all over all the time I focus on making things groove and sound good. (I dont use triggers/samples) Accustic drumsounds is much better in my opinion.

You ask if I use the ride- bell delibiratly, and yes I do. I see the ride as an instrument of its own, and it can be played in many different ways. Like if a 4/4 pattern goes through a song from beginning to the end, it will become very static after a while. So with a little variation on the ride will make it float much better, and things will not be too repeatative.

What is the name of your band? It would be cool to hear some stuff you have recorded.

cheers!!

[Thurisaz]

Originally posted by Akobro
I must admit that when we did the recording of A Blessing... album, I had a hard time swallowing my drumtakes cause I played more straight than what I ever had done before.

I'm so glad to read this! Cause to be honest, after hearing the Blessing album for the first time, the first thing that came to mind was, what happened to the drums? I spoke to you about that a time ago, under my other name (Krijger) that you are the best drummer to me because of your massive variation you use... Not that they are bad, the drums on Blessing... !!! No, not at all!!! They kick ass, but I missed all the varation you put in it, like you did on loddod...

But as I said, I'm so glad to read that you had a hard time not to drum like that again... But it's a pitty though, hope you just go for it on the new album... :)

Greetz...

[Alexandr]

Yes, I'm also very glad, you'll be more busy on the new album, Anders!:D
Greetings

[piercepd]

Right, having to get the old metronome out the obviously. I've nowhere to set up my kit during the week so I've got my PC table set up with a double pedal underneath to practice hands & feet. I think I've gotten the knack of it but it's still very offputting. Still, I'll keep you all posted & you can laugh at me!

My band is called Fragile Reality, website is www.fragilereality.com , we're a "progressive darkwave" outfit with 2 bass guitars & me on drums. Sadly we've no mp3s on there 'cos my PC isn't up to loading them but if anyone wants a copy of the latest CD, email me at piercepd@yahoo.co.uk & I'll bung one in the post. Listening back now we've managed to record our lighter stuff by accident rather than a range of everything we do (hence Peaceville's comment that we needed more diversity, curse it!) but that'll be brutally rectified on the next one :¬)

Bit of a rushed post 'cos I'm on the PC at work!

Later people!

[MadTinus]

Originally posted by Akobro
(I dont use triggers/samples) Accustic drumsounds is much better in my opinion.You're not telling me the drums on "LoD, DoD" are not triggered, are you? Cause.. they are..

[EonBlue]

Are you serious? The drums on LODDOD are sampled?

Wait....does that mean like...programmed into a computer or just played by someone on an electronic drumset?

I don't get it...what exactly is sampling?

I'm so confused...

[Akobro]

Yes, of all albums I have recorded, LoD, DoD is the olnly one were I use V-drums. That was because we had no other options. Dub-studio did not had the possibility to record accustic(no microphones, and recording room etc.) And I think that suck big time. I have never used samples on any of the CF recordings!!!!!
And will never happen either!!!
-Kobro

[MadTinus]

Originally posted by EonBlue
Are you serious? The drums on LODDOD are sampled?

Wait....does that mean like...programmed into a computer or just played by someone on an electronic drumset?

I don't get it...what exactly is sampling?

I'm so confused... Kind of like you described, each hit on the drum is replaced by a sample so you get a nice 'even/regular' sound and not one hit louder than/different from the other (especially useful with double bass drumming). You can also use partial sampling/triggering, then only a certain percentage of the sample is used and the other part is the actual hit on the drum. Triggering is mostly used on kick drums and snare, but sometimes the whole kit is sampled.

[EonBlue]

Cool, thanks a lot!

[piercepd]

Well that explains the drums sound, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how the hell you were getting the slightly hollower sound without the toms ringing & sounding like the snare on St. Anger.

You even used V-drum cymbals? Good ride & china sounds for electric!

BTW - In The Woods, Live at Caledonien Hall through this morning; Anders, you're on trial laddie. ;¬)

BTW2 - Fragile Reality live last Saturday, we ruled! You guys looking for support at any time? :D

[piercepd]

Well that explains the drums sound, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how the hell you were getting the slightly hollower sound without the toms ringing & sounding like the snare on St. Anger.

You even used V-drum cymbals? Good ride & china sounds for electric!

BTW - In The Woods, Live at Caledonien Hall through this morning; Anders, you're on trial laddie. ;¬)

BTW2 - Fragile Reality live last Saturday, we ruled! You guys looking for support at any time? :D