Tomb of the Mutilated Double-Bass Assault — Paul Mazurkiewicz (Cannibal Corpse) Drum Lick | MetalForge
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Learn the Tomb of the Mutilated Double-Bass Assault drum lick by Paul Mazurkiewicz of Cannibal Corpse. From Tomb of the Mutilated (Tomb of the Mutilated (1992)). The title track of Cannibal Corpse's 1992 record is one of Paul Mazurkiewicz's most relentless doubl...
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1. Paul Mazurkiewicz's Signature Licks — The title track of Cannibal Corpse's 1992 record is one of Paul Mazurkiewicz's most relentless double-bass showcases. Where some Cannibal Corpse songs pivot between blasting and mid-paced grooving, "Tomb of the Mutilated" leans into sustained double-bass patterns that drive the riffs with oppressive, unyielding momentum. Mazurkiewicz had been refining his approach throughout the band's early albums — Eaten Back to Life (1990) and Butchered at Birth (1991) — and by the time of Tomb of the Mutilated he had arrived at a style that prioritised grinding double-bass consistency over flashy fills. His signature on this track is the way the double bass becomes a rhythmic foundation for everything: the snare accents punctuate the kick with just enough variety to keep the part interesting without cluttering the churning riff below. The tempo shifts and stop-start riff changes are moments where Mazurkiewicz's lock with the guitars is particularly precise — the parts breathe together or stop together, and that tightness with the band is what gives early Cannibal Corpse recordings their dense, punishing feel. For drummers, "Tomb of the Mutilated" is an endurance and coordination study: it builds sustained, even double bass at a pace that demands real stamina, develops the snare accent patterns that sit on top, and teaches the riff-locking coordination that makes death metal grooves feel heavy rather than messy. The approach is to build the double bass slowly and evenly, add the snare accents only when the kick is completely stable, and practise tempo changes and stops with a metronome until they are instant.2. Paul Mazurkiewicz Profile — Sustain even double-bass patterns as the primary rhythmic foundation Place snare accents on top of the kick without cluttering the part Lock the drums tightly to the riff at every tempo change and stop Prioritise consistency and grinding momentum over fills Build the double bass slowly and evenly before adding accent layers
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