Who are the Big 4 of Metal Drummers?

A question rarely asked: who are the Big 4 of Metal Drummers? How would we grade each players for this question – would it be by influence, musicality, technique, stage presence, or the player’s role in the band? Who would make the cut, and who would fall by the wayside?

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For me, the answer lies somewhere in the brains of actual musicians. So we checked in with a bunch of bands, a few of which possess some of our favorite modern drummers: Magrudergrind, Baptists, Candiria, Gorguts, Exodus, and more. Check out their answers below:

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Max is managing editor of Gear Gods.

Latest comments
  • gene hoglan, richard christy, hannes grossman, george kolias

    • you misspelled DAVE LOMBARDO

  • Chris Adler or gtfo

  • Not one mention of Brann Dailor. For shame. Brann And Ben Koller are the best drummers in heavy music today. There are faster dudes in the death/grind world, but nobody rips a kit like those two guys.

  • Some 13 year old is gonna come on here and say Jimmy Sullivan, be aware of this

  • Victor Valera; Paul Bostaph; Pete Webber; Max Duhamel.

  • Drummer of Decrepit Birth is nasty

  • Mike Portney, Pete Webber, Bobby Jarzombek , Mark Zonder

  • Danny Carey, Dave Lombardo, Gene Hoglan, Ben Koller

  • John Bonham, Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, Dave Grohl

  • Really? No Charlie Benante? OK, Charlie, George Kollias, Dave Culross, and John Longstreth.

  • Dave lombardo, Mario Duplantier, Gene Hoglan, Charlie Benante

  • Dave Lombardo
    Gene Hoglan
    Vitek Kieltyka
    Paul Bostaph

  • not enough Flo Mounier

  • Chris Adler!

  • Steve Shelton (Confessor)

  • fuck speed i want momentum and Creativity

  • Gene Hoglan
    Dave Lombardo
    Mike Portnoy
    Hannes Grossmann

    • Thomas Lang
      Marco Minnemann

      • and Gavin Harrison during his Porcupine Stint. Not the most metal, but a drummer with an extremely unique style

  • John Bonham, Bill Ward, Dave Lombardo, Mike Portnoy

  • Mickey Dee – sure, a pure power drummer. But he turned Motörhead around after Mr. Taylor´s Death and gave them the punch that kept them going for a long time

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