Top 10 Underrated or Lesser-Known Songs with Interesting Drumming

The Top Ten
1 The Mule - Deep Purple

A pretty complex beat for its time (1971). It's almost a melody. Progressive metal drumming often uses complex beats but prog metal emerged much later. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again: Deep Purple as a whole as well as each and every member of the band were much ahead of their time. Respect!
drummer: Ian Paice
(a very underrated drummer compared to his counterparts from Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and The Who - John Bonham, Bill Ward and Keith Moon, respectively).

Thanks for mentioning this song. Ian's drumming is absolutely epic!

This is the most specific list on this website, congrats.

2 And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope - Ne Obliviscaris

It's time for something extreme (extreme progressive metal). The song is over 11 minutes long and there are several interesting things but I'd like to mention those delicious, complex and proggy drum beats (mostly in the intro - play the sample) and a cool drumming moment at 5:30-6:10. There are also blast beats in the song and so on.
drummer: Daniel Presland
(he was crowned as the Fastest Feet in Australia in 2006 because he was the Australian finalist for the World's Fastest Drummer Competition)

3 Curse My Name - Blind Guardian
4 Over the Hills and Far Away - Gary Moore

Parts of the song have some really cool drum beats. I adore this song.
There's a video clip to this song on YT (recommended).

5 All for One - Primal Fear

The drum solo at 3:55-4:30 reminds me of machine guns sound and creates the climax of the song and its meaning.
drummer: Randy Black
(he is ambidextrous - there aren't many ambidextrous drummers)

6 Starrider - Foreigner

Play the sample to hear part of the drumming

7 Bright Eyes - Blind Guardian
8 Ultra Motion - Annihilator

The section from 2:15-3:15 exemplifies the beauty of the double bass sound and drumming as well as Randy's ability to make drums a lead instrument for a whole minute. It sounds awesome to me. Play this section loud and focus on drums.
It isn't a complex beat and in general isn't hard to play but the tempo makes it hard to play. Randy's stamina is impressive.
Although the entire song is really good, I often replay only the mentioned section of one minute.
drummer: Randy Black

9 Save Us Now - Edguy

Drumming to the entire song is pretty impressive for its speed but there are 3 different cool drum fills that were the main reason to include this song:
1:00-1:05 (the sample features it), 1:40-1:45 and 2:25-2:30.
I would buy the drummer a beer.
drummer: Felix Bohnke

10 I Want You (She's So Heavy) - Coroner

The Beatles cover.
Coroner added cool double bass drumming that I like a lot (5:20 onwards).

The Contenders
11 Spirit Crusher - Death
12 Slow An' Easy - Whitesnake

Drummer: Cozy Powell (also known for his work in Rainbow)

13 Thorozine Shuffle - Gov't Mule
14 Viento Borrascoso (Devastating Wind)
15 Bad Love - Sean Paul

STILL here.

The album cover is a little obscure, but they put bongos in this guilty pleasure dancehall song. I secretly love it even though I say I hate it. Now that’s what I call bad love.

I’m still here

Ok I’m still here are you?
Girl on album cover: Zz

16 Valhalla - Blind Guardian

Drum beat is like an extension of the guitar riff (play the sample)
drummer: Thomas "The Omen" Stauch

17 Is It Luck? - Primus

Play the sample. Tim Alexander never disappoints.

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