King of All Kings Single-Stroke Blast — Derek Roddy (Hate Eternal) Drum Lick | MetalForge
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Learn the King of All Kings Single-Stroke Blast drum lick by Derek Roddy of Hate Eternal. From King of All Kings (King of All Kings (2002)). Hate Eternal's 2002 album King of All Kings is one of the defining records of modern extreme metal d...
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1. Derek Roddy's Signature Licks — Hate Eternal's 2002 album King of All Kings is one of the defining records of modern extreme metal drumming, and Derek Roddy's playing on it set a benchmark that a generation of death-metal drummers has chased ever since. Roddy's signature is the single-stroke blast beat: rather than alternating hands in a traditional blast, he drives the snare and ride/hi-hat with clean single strokes while the kick locks underneath, producing a blast that stays articulate and even at tempos where most players turn to mush. The title track is a relentless showcase of that approach — wall-to-wall blasting that never loses its definition, with each limb playing a distinct, controllable role rather than collapsing into a buzz. What makes Roddy's blasting so studied is his emphasis on relaxation and economy of motion: he generates speed from rebound and finger control rather than brute force, which is why his blasts sustain for entire songs without tensing up. In this Drumeo breakdown his blast technique is slowed down so you can see exactly how the hands and feet line up — the single strokes, the wrist-and-finger motion, and the loose, low stick height that keeps everything fast and even. For drummers, learning to play in this style is a complete study in extreme-metal coordination: it develops single-stroke blast control, snare consistency at high velocity, and the kick-to-hand alignment that keeps a blast from drifting. The key is to build it slowly and stay relaxed — speed is a byproduct of clean, even motion, not tension. King of All Kings remains a rite-of-passage record for anyone serious about death-metal drumming, and Roddy's single-stroke blast is the technique at its core.2. Derek Roddy Profile — Drive the snare and hi-hat/ride with clean single strokes rather than alternating-hand blasts Keep stick height low and the grip relaxed so the hands stay even at extreme tempo Lock the kick directly under the snare hand so the blast stays articulate, not blurred Generate speed from rebound and finger control instead of arm force to sustain long passages Build the pattern slowly and only raise tempo once every stroke is even and unforced
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