Epidemic of Hate Gravity Blast — Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus) Drum Lick | MetalForge
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Learn the Epidemic of Hate Gravity Blast drum lick by Kevin Talley of Dying Fetus. From Epidemic of Hate (Killing on Adrenaline (1998)). Kevin Talley's work on Dying Fetus's 1998 debut full-length Killing on Adrenaline introduced a wider...
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1. Kevin Talley's Signature Licks — Kevin Talley's work on Dying Fetus's 1998 debut full-length Killing on Adrenaline introduced a wider extreme-metal audience to the gravity blast — a snare-driven technique in which the stick's free fall and natural rebound generate the stroke rather than active arm or wrist force. On "Epidemic of Hate" Talley deploys this approach in the drum intro and throughout the song's fastest sections, creating a wash of snare articulation that remains audible and even where a traditional alternating blast would collapse into noise. The gravity blast differs mechanically from a standard blast: the stick is held loosely at the butt end, angled so gravity pulls it into the head, and the rebound is allowed to carry it back — the player controls the angle and catch rather than driving the stroke. Because the energy comes from physics rather than muscular effort, a well-executed gravity blast can sustain tempos that would fatigue any limb-driven technique within seconds. What makes Talley's version so instructive is his consistency: the snare stays even and round across long passages, which means every aspect of his setup — grip, stick angle, head tension, and rebound control — is dialled in together. Learning this technique requires patience and a willingness to unlearn conventional grip habits, but the payoff is a blast that is both faster and more enduring than most drummers achieve with orthodox approaches. For death-metal drummers, understanding the gravity blast opens up a tier of speed that is otherwise physically inaccessible, and "Epidemic of Hate" is one of the most direct demonstrations of what that technique sounds like in a real song context.2. Kevin Talley Profile — Hold the stick loosely at the butt end and angle it so gravity pulls it into the snare head Allow the rebound to carry the stick back rather than driving the return stroke with wrist or arm Lock the kick under the snare so the blast stays articulate even at extreme tempo Control stick angle and catch point rather than grip pressure to adjust speed Build endurance by sustaining long passages at a relaxed tempo before pushing the ceiling
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