Best of each artist · One record per artist
Best drumming
One album per artist, chosen for the drumming. Listen to the track we point out – then hear the rest of the record with new ears.
- 1 Rush Moving Pictures Neil Peart wrote drum parts you can sing. “Tom Sawyer” is a whole drum school in four and a half minutes. Listen to “Tom Sawyer” Timeless classic
- 2 Tool Lateralus Danny Carey builds songs from odd time signatures and polyrhythms, yet it still swings. “Schism” keeps changing metre without losing momentum. Listen to “Schism” Modern classic
- 3 Slayer Reign in Blood Dave Lombardo’s double bass drums set a new standard for how fast and precise metal could be played. Listen to “Angel of Death” Timeless classic
- 4 Meshuggah obZen Tomas Haake plays his feet in one time and his hands in another. “Bleed” is one of the hardest drum tracks in metal. Listen to “Bleed” Modern classic
- 5 Mastodon Leviathan Brann Dailor plays metal like a jazz drummer, with fills everywhere. “Megalodon” goes from straight thrash to country in a few seconds. Listen to “Megalodon” Modern classic
- 6 Gojira From Mars to Sirius Mario Duplantier’s double kick drums are like a machine gun with a feel for dynamics. Listen to “Backbone” Modern classic
- 7 Sepultura Roots Igor Cavalera mixes thrash with Brazilian rhythms and percussion – and recorded with the Xavante people in Mato Grosso. Listen to “Roots Bloody Roots” Timeless classic
- 8 Slipknot Iowa Joey Jordison held nine musicians together in a chaos that still landed perfectly. Listen to “Disasterpiece” Modern classic
25 artists in the list.