For the last few years, Vancouver native Ryan Van Poederooyen has been making an increasingly loud noise with Canadian prog metal masters The Devin Townsend Band. Indeed, his brutal power and precise metal chops have helped him reach the top ranks of Canadian drummers, a fact supported by his appearance at last year’s Vancouver International Drum Festival alongside Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy and Tomas Haake of Meshuggah.

Now Van Poederooyen has stepped out on his own with a face-melting project called Terror Syndrome, featuring Townsend bandmates Dave Young (guitars) and Mike Young (bass), plus vocalist Dave Padden of Canadian thrash giants Annihilator. Van Poederooyen partially credits Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison for nudging him to start the Syndrome. “Gavin’s diversity on the drumkit has inspired my approach in many ways,” Ryan says. “I always wanted to start a metal band with talented musicians where I wrote the music and lyrics, and Terror Syndrome gives me that opportunity. My drumming in the group combines creative patterns with intense fills, versatile double kick, and symphonic cymbal work.”

For more info, go to rvpdrums.com or myspace.com/terrorsyndromeband.

Mike Haid