Blood and Thunder Swung Quasi-Blast — Brann Dailor (Mastodon) Drum Lick | MetalForge
Learn the Blood and Thunder Swung Quasi-Blast drum lick by Brann Dailor of Mastodon. From Blood and Thunder (Leviathan (2004)). Within Blood and Thunder's runtime, Brann Dailor deploys a swung quasi-blast groove that is fundamen...
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1. Brann Dailor's Signature Licks — Within Blood and Thunder's runtime, Brann Dailor deploys a swung quasi-blast groove that is fundamentally different from the melodic lead-groove approach he takes elsewhere in the song. Where the main verse groove is about melodic tom commentary and carefully placed fills, this pattern is about raw propulsion: Dailor swings the hi-hat and ride in a way that gives the beat an almost shuffle character even at 168 BPM, creating a groove that sits somewhere between a traditional thrash beat and a full blast. The swing comes from a slight lean on the upbeat strokes — rather than placing the subdivision exactly on the mathematical midpoint, Dailor leans back ever so slightly, giving the groove a muscular, lurching quality that makes the riff feel heavier than a straight pattern would at the same tempo. The kick drives in a near-continuous gallop under this swing, and the snare lands on beats two and four with enough authority to cut through the guitar's low-end thunder. What makes this pattern instructive is the way it demonstrates how feel can transform the character of a metal groove without changing the underlying time signature or tempo. The same 168 BPM pulse can feel light and mechanical if played perfectly straight, or heavy and slightly dangerous when the subdivision is bent just enough to create swing. Mastering this distinction is one of the deeper lessons in metal drumming — understanding that groove is as much about where you place each note within the beat as about the pattern itself. Drummers learning this part should focus on loosening the wrists rather than tensing them, allowing the swing to emerge naturally rather than being imposed mechanically. Practise the hi-hat pattern alone at half tempo, feeling for the swing before adding snare and kick, then gradually bring the tempo up while maintaining that loose, swung character. Related licks: [Blood and Thunder Lead Groove](/drummers/brann-dailor/licks/brann-dailor-blood-and-thunder-groove) and [Colony of Birchmen Funky Groove](/drummers/brann-dailor/licks/brann-dailor-colony-of-birchmen-funky-groove).2. Brann Dailor Profile — Loosen the wrists to let the swing emerge naturally rather than imposing it mechanically Practice the hi-hat pattern alone at half tempo to feel the slight subdivision lean Drive the kick in a near-continuous gallop underneath the swung hi-hat pattern Land the snare on beats 2 and 4 with authority to anchor the groove against the swing Gradually increase tempo from 84 BPM to 168 BPM while preserving the swung feel
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