Constellations Blast Groove — Matt Greiner (August Burns Red) Drum Lick | MetalForge
Learn the Constellations Blast Groove drum lick by Matt Greiner of August Burns Red. From White Washed (Constellations (2009)). Constellations (2009) is August Burns Red's most acclaimed album, and while tracks like "Composure" ...
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1. Matt Greiner's Signature Licks — Constellations (2009) is August Burns Red's most acclaimed album, and while tracks like "Composure" and "Meridian" attract the most attention for their groove and syncopation, the album's most intense passages — centred on tracks like "White Washed" — are equally demanding and frequently overlooked by drummers focused on the syncopation-heavy material. "White Washed" contains some of Matt Greiner's most focused blast-groove work on the record: fast, driving blast passages that transition seamlessly into the riff-locked grooves that define the band's signature sound. Greiner's blast approach on Constellations is more refined than raw metalcore urgency — he executes clean, alternating strokes at high velocity while maintaining awareness of the riff's trajectory, so the blast always feels like an intensification of the groove rather than a departure from it. The song sits at approximately 185 BPM in its most intense sections, demanding a blast execution that is both technically clean and musically purposeful: every stroke serves the wall of sound the band is building rather than racing ahead or trailing behind. What makes this an important study separate from the polyrhythmic or syncopated aspects of Constellations is that it isolates Greiner's ability to sustain maximum intensity while staying locked to the band. The Constellations production — punchy, precise, and dynamically detailed — means every kick stroke is clearly audible in the mix, raising the technical bar: there is no hiding behind a blurring sound in this recording. For drummers, this lick develops the high-speed blast stamina and musical awareness that metalcore demands at its most intense: the ability to generate maximum energy while remaining connected to what the guitars and bass are doing. It is essential study for anyone who wants to understand how Greiner approaches the most demanding moments on his most celebrated record.2. Matt Greiner Profile — Execute clean, alternating blast strokes at high velocity without losing awareness of the riff's direction Keep the blast locked to the band — use the guitars and bass as a reference even at speed Sustain the blast intensity for full song sections rather than losing control before the transition Move cleanly from blast to groove when the riff drops — the transition is as important as the blast itself Study the Constellations mix to understand how clearly every stroke registers — aim for that level of precision
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