Higher Progressive Groove — Ryan Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project) Drum Lick | MetalForge
VIDEO
Learn the Higher Progressive Groove drum lick by Ryan Van Poederooyen of Devin Townsend Project. From Higher (Transcendence (2016)). Ryan Van Poederooyen's groove on 'Higher' from the Devin Townsend Project's 2016 album Transcendence...
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1. Ryan Van Poederooyen's Signature Licks — Ryan Van Poederooyen's groove on 'Higher' from the Devin Townsend Project's 2016 album Transcendence is a study in how progressive metal drumming can serve a song's emotional arc rather than display raw technique for its own sake. Van Poederooyen moves between powerful, tom-heavy fills and restrained ride cymbal grooves with a musicality that perfectly complements Townsend's layered guitar-and-choir arrangements. The pattern demonstrates how dynamic range — knowing when to hit hard and when to hold back — is the defining skill of elite progressive metal drumming.2. Ryan Van Poederooyen Profile — Ride cymbal drives the main groove, shifting to hi-hat during more intimate sections Tom fills move across the kit in flowing patterns rather than linear single-stroke runs Kick drum placement reinforces Townsend's guitar accents rather than following a fixed pattern Dynamic swells — from near-silence to full-kit impact — define the song's emotional peaks
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