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December 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 12

RECORDINGS Skyharbor Sunshine Dust Indian progressive metal titans release a gripping new album on the heels of successful tours with Babymetal, the Contortionist, and Deftones. Equal parts ethereal atmospherics, thick and chugging grooves, and soaring vocals, Skyharbor offer some of their finest work to date on their third full-length release. Expertly anchored by Mumbai drummer Aditya Ashok, who is also the creative force behind diverse electronic project OX7GEN, Skyharbor ably showcase their knack for blending lush synth/programming textures with thick, syncopated metal. Their expansive compositions serve as the perfect vessel for American vocalist Eric Emery’s substantial contributions, as well as those of Ashok. The drummer’s clever beat displacement on “Ethos,” textured groove on “Disengage/Evacuate,” and slippery triple-meter playing on “Menace” stand out, though his playing is dynamic, musical, and muscular throughout the album’s thirteen tracks. (eOne Music/Good Fight Music) Ben Meyer Dave Holland Uncharted Territories A return to free expression for […]
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Articles in December 2018

Keith Moon: An Examination

“In an egotistical way I always prefer my demos to what the Who does.” —Pete Townshend Rolling Stone interview with Jonathan Cott, May 14, 1970

By John Colpitts
Oct 30, 2018

Roy Haynes’ Phrasing

Modern Interpretations and Variations

by Mike Alfieri
Oct 30, 2018

Aaron Sterling’s Sound of Sterloid, Volume II

“I do almost everything at my place now,” says top L.A.-based session drummer Aaron Sterling. In addition to recording about fifteen songs per week for artists and producers around the world, Sterling has created five online master classes that focus on…

Interview by Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018

An Enduring Kit and an Unforgettable Time

This vintage 1963 Ludwig Hollywood set in an Oyster Black Pearl wrap comes to us from drummer Nelson Hawkins, who ordered it after paging through a Ludwig catalog in the early ’60s. The kit came with two 8x12 mounted toms,…

Modern Drummer
Oct 30, 2018

The 2018 Chicago Drum Show

The perennial percussion event once again serves vintage and modern drum lovers alike.

Story and photos by Robert Campbell
Oct 30, 2018
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Polyrhythmic Rudiment Applications

Using Standard Stickings to Tackle Odd Groupings

by Aaron Edgar
Oct 30, 2018

Manu Delago

“Rudi”

Article by Ilya Stemkovsky
Oct 30, 2018

In the Studio with Travis McNabb

When not touring with top modern country acts Sugarland and Frankie Ballard, this Tennessee transplant tracks drums for artists around the globe out of his home setup.

Story and photos by Sayre Berman
Oct 30, 2018

Pantera's Vinnie Paul, Elvis Presley's D.J. Fontana, Richard Swift

Photo by Paul La Raia Remembering the metal drumming icon, Pantera cofounder, and backbone of Hellyeah and Damageplan. Vinnie Paul, who died this past June 22 at the age of fifty-four, possessed an unmistakable bass drum sound. But you never…

Modern Drummer
Oct 30, 2018

Samba Rhythms - Part 1: The Importance of the Tamborim

Hello, and welcome to a new series on Brazilian samba drumming! It’s a great pleasure to be discussing Brazilian rhythms and my approach to this style on the drumset. Generally, I feel that Brazilian rhythms can be divided into three…

by Kiko Freitas
Oct 30, 2018

Roland - TD-17KVX V-Drums

A game changing mid-level kit with increased expressivity, improved pads, and highly effective practice tools.

by Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018

Drums: The Secret to Happiness

Last summer my family and I decided to move out of the house we’d been living in for thirteen years, and into a new one. Among other things, the old place didn’t have a basement, and the jazz-size drumkit we…

Article by Adam Budofsky | Photo by Jim Esposito
Oct 30, 2018
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Paiste - Masters Extra Thin and Dark Additions

Soft and sophisticated crashes and splashes for supreme expressivity.

Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018

On Relaxation - An In-Depth Study to Develop Consistency

When executing individual stroke types, it’s important that our approach remains consistent no matter what type of stroke is played. It’s very easy for drummers to be more aggressive when playing a downstroke, or rapidly pull away from the drum…

by Josh Jones
Oct 30, 2018

Scott Seiver with Tenacious D

Tracing the path that the prolific drummer, composer, and producer paved on his way to playing with the hilarious and hard-rocking act.

Article by Willie Rose | Photo by Rosalie Sage
Oct 30, 2018

Session Great Nir Z

When it comes to gear, Jerusalem-born/Nashville-based session drummer Nir Zidkyahu, whose ultra-precise, intense pocket can be heard on hit records by pop/rock great John Mayer, alt-rock legend Chris Cornell, and modern country superstar Blake Shelton, isn’t too particular, as long…

Interview by Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018
Article by Robin Tolleson | Photo by Attis Clopton
Oct 30, 2018

What’s Your Favorite Keith Moon Performance?

This month, as we dove into the drumming of both Pete Townshend on the Who’s demo tracks and Keith Moon on the band’s final output, we checked in with our readers and social media followers to see which “Moon the…

Modern Drummer
Oct 30, 2018
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Mark Walker

The Berklee professor and well-traveled performer has made a career out of adapting ethnic rhythms to the drumset—and offering valuable advice on how to do that accurately and authentically.

Story by Ken Micallef | Photos by Alex Solca
Oct 30, 2018

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