[AdamCalifornia]

Obviously Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, ...) and Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)
belong to the elite of Heavy Metal Drummers.

Remark
We do not consider (pop) rock, prog rock, hard rock drummers.
Only heavy metal drummers.
Therefore John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Neal Peart (Rush), Danny Carey (Tool)
and many other rock greats should not be considered here.
By the way, we had a poll: Greatest Rock Drummer of All Time?

Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)

Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)

 

[roadtonowhere08]

I prefer Martin Lopez (formerly from opeth) to any other drummer I have heard. Progressive Death Metal with a bit of Jazz flair and finesse. Love every second of it.

I care not for blastbeats and virtuosity. You have to hear him to see what I am talking about.

 

[DavidMahler]

I'm gonna take a beating here, but I truly consider Rush a Metal band more in spirit with Dream Theatre than Yes.

So Neil gets my vote.

 

[mattcalf]

Wouldn't consider Dream Theater to be 'Heavy Metal', however, Portnoy is an amazing drummer.

Shannon Lucas (All That Remains, The Black Dahlia Murder) is an amazingly talented drummer. Joey Jordison, Mike Smith, Danny Carey, Martin Lopez (as roadtonowhere mentioned), Chris Adler and Matthew McDonough are all extremely competent in what they do (read: awesome).

 

[fault/fracture]

Brann Dailor of Mastodon (!!!)
Ben Koller of Converge

And I'll second Mike Portnoy. However, my favorite drummer may be the guy who drummed on Gospel's "The Moon is a Dead World" whose name I do not know. Definitely check that out...

And p.s. Joey Jordison isn't that good...in terms of straight metal drummers, Gene Hoglan and Flo Mournier are probably at the top.

 

[SoupRKnowva]

Shannon Lucas - All That Remains, The Black Dahlia Murder
Gar Samuelson - Megadeth
Richard Christy - Death, Iced Earth
Ben Gordon - Parkway Drive
..others already mentions in thread

 

[Lex2]

Neil Peart. But for sentimental reasons I would also vote for Nicko McBrain.

 

[keanej6]

john longstreth of origin. freaking mindblowing. Gravity roll

also that dude from rotten sound and wintersun. kai hahto i think. really good.

 

[Azathoth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by keanej6 /img/forum/go_quote.gif john longstreth of origin. freaking mindblowing. Gravity roll

This. Longstreth is the total package as far sheer skill is concerned.

The best of the rest:

Zbigniew Robert "Inferno" Prominski (Behemoth)
Dave Lombardo (Slayer, etc.)
Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death, Strapping Young Lad, etc.)
Derek "One Take" Roddy (Hate Eternal, Malevolent Creation, Nile, etc.)
Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel)
George Kollias (Nile)
Tony Laureano (Nile, Nachtmystium)
Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka (Decapitated) RIP
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Immortal, Emperor, Arcturus, Dimmu Borgir, Winds, etc.)
Mick Harris (Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror)

 

[Meliboeus]

Sean Reinert ( Death, Cynic)

Richard Christy ( Death, Control Denied )

and i like many of those already listed...

 

[Turb0Jugend]

My top three:

Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
Hellhammer (Dimmu Borgir etc.)

(and number four: Danny Carey. I forgot about him )

 

[Rip N' Burn]

Animal

Paul Bostaph is also a very good drummer.

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

And p.s. Joey Jordison isn't that good...

Well, he did replace Frost (one of the top drummers amongst metal musicians) on one Satyricon gig in the USA because he was unable to get in the country, and apparently did a good job I heard. So he is pretty good and versatile. Perhaps not the best as Slipknot fanboys claim, but he can do anything that is needed I think.


My favourite is Derek Roddy. Another very versatile drummer. Though he is mostly known from his Hate Eternal days, he is also great jazz drummer and what not.

And here is an example in what kind of insane projects he has been involved in

YouTube - Derek Roddy with ASU Wind Ensemble

And here is something more traditional.

YouTube - Derek Roddy: Blast Beats Evolved - DVD Introduction
YouTube - Derek Roddy: Blast Beats Evolved - Cataplexy Event (performance)
YouTube - Derek Roddy - Behold Judas studio video (Hate eternal)

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azathoth /img/forum/go_quote.gif Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka (Decapitated) RIP

Oh yeah, him too. He was very good drummer, but died too young and tragically... RIP


But that reminded me, Decapitated's (Its alive again) new drummer seems very good too.

Krimh-Invisible Control-Drums Video by DECAPITATED - MySpace Video

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I wish I could consider Porcupine Tree "heavy metal", because then the decision would be easy -- Gavin Harrison. Has he worked with any metal people? He's amazing. He does this thing where the notes are played so rapidly that they become one holistic entity -- a "blur" of notes, for lack of a more technical term. The closest I've heard to that is the guy from Katatonia, whoever he is. Check out the pre-fill @ 0:59: YouTube - katatonia ashen