Top 10 Best Progressive Metal Drummers
List of the best drummers in Progressive Metal, Djent, etc. bands.
Michael Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater. Known for his technical skill as a drummer, Portnoy has won 30 awards from the Modern Drummer magazine. Best drummer in the world, indeed! No one can or will ever do it like he does!
Only beaten by Joey Jordison, one of the greatest drummers ever!
Best drummer in the history of mankind.
Daniel Edwin "Danny" Carey, born May 10, 1961 in Lawrence, Kansas, is an American drummer and instrumentalist best known for his work in American Grammy Award-winning progressive rock band Tool. He has also contributed to albums by and played with such artists as Zaum, Green Jellÿ, Pigface, Skinny... read more Danny Carey is not only the best progressive metal drummer in the world, he is one of the best drummers of the modern era. Without Carey, Tool doesn't exist, period. He is beautiful to watch on the drums as he effortlessly delivers some of the best sequences on the planet. The only frustration is that Tool hardly ever comes out with new material, but when they do, it's always a step above the previous sound.
Danny Carey is better, I'd say. Portnoy is also a legend but greatly overrated. Carey, on the other hand, is not as well-known as Portnoy, but I think Carey is technically better. Drumming is not just speeding up your double bass. Get it?
Mike Mangini is an American drummer. Since 2010, he has been a member of progressive metal band Dream Theater, following the departure of founding drummer Mike Portnoy. I keep seeing this debate about Mangini vs. Portnoy. First of all, they are both two of the best drummers in the world. They are both off-the-charts amazing at what they do (in fact, anyone who can play every DT song is). Technically, Mangini kicks Portnoy's ass, that's a fact. Mangini can do a lot more and is much more technically advanced. But it's Portnoy's showmanship that everyone loves. Also, it's one thing to write the drums to a DT song (Portnoy) but another to be able to cover it note for note (Mangini). In my opinion, there is no better drummer - they are both amazing in their own way. Portnoy shouldn't have messed around with taking breaks, etc., and this wouldn't have happened anyway!
He is a monster! When he was in Opeth, he did something that will never be repeated. You should be a drummer and listen part by part to find out what he plays, especially in Ghost Reveries. Best in the history of prog metal, without a doubt...
Blackwater Park and Deliverance say it all. Definitely one of the best drummers on the planet.
Mario Duplantier is a French musician and artist best known as the drummer of technical death metal band Gojira. His blast beats aren't just spamming. They have rhythm. He can flow perfectly into any part of the song and solos better than anyone on this list.
Brann Timothy Dailor is an American drummer/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he is the drummer, backing vocalist, lead vocalist and primary lyricist.
Jason Rullo is the best prog drummer for me because his rudiments are better than any drummer here. Peace.
Watch the Parallax drums video. He is so effortless in playing very complex parts, but not for the sake of complexity - it's for the groove or texture of a passage.
Blake's ability to play incredibly technical and complex rhythms while maintaining flawless technique and dynamics is simply mind-blowing.
Blake Richardson's technical ability is beyond belief.
He is a beast. Plain as that.
He is so self-aware of what he plays, and that is a quality that is hard to find among many musicians. He should get more attention than he does now, as his playing has opened up my ears to how I perceive odd time signatures and odd groupings. A good example would be Sound of Muzak or the bridge section of Halo (both are works by PT).
He also seems so humble and kind. A lot of musicians are usually quite the opposite.
Gavin Harrison is the best drummer in the world, period. Let alone the best drummer in any individual category of music that he plays. You don't win Progressive Drummer of the Year multiple times without being the best.
I wouldn't say anyone underestimates his drumming or questions his ability. He is just not higher on the list only because his bands are not as well known as Dream Theater or Tool. He is very technical and unorthodox. That makes his style unique and brilliant.
One of the most insanely technical and progressive musicians out there!
He is easily the best drummer in this.
Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he joined in 1982.The Periphery drummer is easily the best new progressive drummer out there. Obviously, he is no Mike Portnoy or Mangini, but if you listen to Make Total Destroy or Feed the Ground, then you'll know what I'm talking about. Technically superior to any other drummer on this list besides the Dream Theater drummers.
It's all about polyrhythms. Halpern can do them, and the only other drummer who can do them is Thomas Haake from Meshuggah. You guys obviously aren't very deep into drumming if Matt Halpern isn't in the top 5.
I don't know of any progressive metal songs featuring him, but I imagine he plays very long instrumental sections, full of strange time signatures, polymeters, palm mutes, and 5th chords on the guitar. There are likely guitar and keyboard duets, all being very heavy, technical, complex, aggressive, energetic, and full of polyrhythms. Judging by the way he plays, it's definitely going to be very good - a masterpiece, a classic!
Easily the best drummer of all time. His ability knows no borders. He can play anything, anytime, but his lines are really, really hard to play. No one is more relaxed and capable when playing drums, even in the hardest and most technical parts. Maybe that's his secret - always laughing.
John Dolmayan is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American songwriter and drummer. He is best known as the drummer of System of a Down. During System's hiatus, he made a solo album based solo on covers called These Grey Men, which featured vocal performances from Serj Tankian, M. Shadows, Franky Perez, Jonathan... read moreThis dude is seriously a beast. Very underrated - cannot even believe he's not on this list. Rhythm Drummer named him #7 last year. He's the current drummer for Animals as Leaders.
He is one of the most creative, technical, complex, and best drummers, not only in progressive metal but in the world. He doesn't show off like Matt Garstka, but he is better and more creative than Mike Portnoy, Danny Carey, and Tomas Haake!
Most imaginative drummer ever.
Glad that Metal_Treasure chose this guy on his remix. He is a very good prog metal drummer and also excels in prog rock. His solos are great.