The best metal drummer?
I wasn’t going to post this… but after yesterday’s drummer confession session I thought why the hell not.
From that source of all things metal and often all things stupid, Blabbermouth, comes the revelation that Chris Adler of Lamb of God has been named #1 in Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll for the metal category.
The top five results were:
01. Chris Adler (LAMB OF GOD)
02. Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT)
03. Morgan Rose (SEVENDUST)
04. Gene Hoglan (FEAR FACTORY, TESTAMENT, DETHKLOK)
05. Brann Dailor (MASTODON)
I don’t know if Modern Drummer readers were able to nominate individuals or if the survey had a fixed number of options, but whenever I think “greatest metal drummer” the first name that pops into my mind is Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Sure, Chris Adler is no slouch, and neither are any of the others in that top 5 listing, but Dave Lombardo is just phenomenal full stop. He’s one of the best drummers I can think of in ANY genre. The fact that he wasn’t even mentioned is crazy.
Also I think the Atomic Clock, Mr Gene Hoglan, ought to have featured higher. There’s others that no doubt deserve mention as much as those in the list: Gojira skinman Mario Duplantier,the recently freelance Mike Portnoy, Igor Cavalera… man, there’s hundreds. Then there’s all the extreme metal drummers that have just insane skills – George Kollias? Kevin Talley? Derek Roddy? But I guess reader’s polls are more of a popularity contest than a real indication of merit, and extreme metal drummers are probably off the radar of mainstream publications like Modern Drummer.
So weigh in, comment below: who’s the best heavy metal drummer in the world in 2011?