The presence and constantly increasing popularity of metal music all over the world speak of its power and relevance. While aggressive rhythm and brutal vocals may not be everyone’s cup of tea, you’ll hardly find a genre that can wring out something primal and authentic as much as metal can.
Nowadays, there are many different sub-genres to choose from. From death, thrash, black, and heavy metal to alternative, folk, and Viking metal, chances are you’ll find something that resonates with you, no matter your taste or mettle. One thing we can all agree on is that the drums are at the foundation of that signature metal feel. So, let’s take a look at how their sound and representation developed and transmuted over time.
The Role of Drums in the Conception of Metal
The components and layout of a drum kit, as we know it, are somewhat recent developments. The first half of the twentieth century brought about the birth and glory of jazz, which demanded a new complexity and layers of rhythm. With all that innovation, the modern drumset came to be.
This setup consisted of your standard bass drum, cymbals, snare drums, and tom-toms, which allowed drummers to extend their range and experiment more. By the 1940s, drum pedals were taking the music world by storm, uncovering a whole new level of drum playing and challenging musicians to bring their dexterity to (up until that point) unimaginable heights.
As time ed, the world and music changed, and so the demand for more deliberate, rebellious expression came forth. As naturally as breathing, rock and early metal bands barged in and made the stage their own. Bands that shaped music history, like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin, are also the trailblazers of early metal, as well as the lesser-known representatives like Blue Cheer, Bedemon, and Iron Claw.
Even while metal was in its infancy, you can spot the role of drums expanding from a “behind-the-scenes” instrument to a powerful tool that ed and augmented the melodic intensity of the guitar and bass. In fact, if you’re just learning how to play drums, chances are that the legendary drummers of the early metal era are your role models.
Whether you’re taking personalized drums lessons in New York or you’re trying to learn from YouTube videos anywhere else in the world, the great Bill Ward, Dave Lombardo, and John Bohnam can always inspire you.
The Golden Age of Metal and Drum Innovations
The metal genre provided people from all over the world with an outlet for their suppression (which took various forms, depending on the part of the world), which is why it spread like wildfire. The late 1970s and 1980s are considered the Golden Age of metal because that’s when some of the biggest bands of all time emerged.
Metal music was becoming louder, faster, and more extreme, with enthralling drum solos that became its staple. It was designed to bring out the strongest emotions in the audience, and people responded to it because its impact was so needed. From that time to this day, being a metal drummer isn’t for the faint-hearted – this calling requires precision, blistering speed, and endurance to keep up with it for hours.
Subgenres like thrash and death metal were the ones pushing the envelope. Bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Slayer, and Dave Lombardo, Nicko McBrain, Phil Taylor, and Lars Ulrich.
However, to make this wild, ultrafast, highly technical playing possible, there had to be changes both in drum-making materials and in drum setup. Drum shells now came in a variety of materials (fiberglass and acrylic were the most popular) that enabled and eased the production of a hard “wall of sound” that metal demanded.
The double bass drum setup became the norm, and blast beats were born, another essential element of modern-day metal drumming. You’ll recognize the technique by the extremely fast play and alteration between double bass drums, hi-hat, cymbals, and snare drums, which allowed drummers to create a wall of sound that matched the intensity of the music. This drum-playing style captivated audiences just as much as violent yet melodic guitar solos, and that was another first that came from the metal genre.
Finally, the late 1980s brought about the invention of electronic drums, which made it much easier for budding drummers to practice and perfect their playing accuracy and dynamic range.
The Impact of Drums in Modern Metal Sound
Needless to say, the traditions set in the golden age of metal still stand today. Being a metal drummer requires a fantastic combo of accuracy, stamina, and techniques, and for it all to be moved by your creative touch. That’s why some of the best and most versatile drummers in the world prefer metal as their genre of expression.
Each metal subgenre has its own guidelines for what drum sections should sound and feel like, but not to much surprise, they intertwine and meld, so the boundaries between them aren’t very clear. Modern technology has made it possible for drummers to experiment and expand their range by combining electronic and acoustic drum components for more varied and unique sounds.
And thanks to all this artistic and technological advancement, you’ve got modern-day renowned players like Igor Cavalera of Sepultura, Joey Jordison of Slipknot, and Danny Carey of Tool, who are paving the path with their playing mastery. Unconventional time signatures and polyrhythms that they use allow them to integrate complex rhythms seamlessly with the aggressive energy of the genre, creating a beast truly unique and phenomenal in its size and roar.
Conclusion
Metal music is definitely not the “one size fits all” genre, and there are plenty of people who don’t understand it. But for those who do see the intricacy and effort that goes into playing something so rugged-sounding flawlessly, metal holds a special place in their hearts. Drums have a very big role in achieving that sound, so metal gave drum players the spotlight they so long deserved for their dedication to the precision and beauty of metal rhythm.
