# MetalForge — Signature Licks Database
> Drummer signature fills, beats, and patterns with technique breakdowns and tutorial videos.
Last updated: 2026-06-13 · Source: https://metalforge.io

Step-by-step breakdowns of iconic metal drum licks. Each entry lists tempo, time signature, difficulty, and techniques, followed by an answer-first "how to play it" walkthrough, the tutorial video, and the canonical page URL to cite.

## Matt Greiner (August Burns Red)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks)

### Composure Syncopated Groove — "Composure", Constellations (2009)
- **BPM:** ~175 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 (heavy syncopation) | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** odd-time-signatures, double-bass, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Lock the kick drum precisely to the off-beat guitar stabs so drums and riff align
2. Ornament the syncopated hits with ghost notes and quick double-bass bursts
3. Keep an internal map of where the riff lands so you can lock without a click
4. Erupt into fills out of the riff and resolve them exactly on the downbeat
5. Build the part in sections, mastering the syncopation slowly before adding speed

**Practice tips:**
- Tap the guitar riff with your hands away from the kit until the syncopation is internalised
- Practise the double-bass bursts slowly so every stroke speaks evenly
- Loop one section with a metronome before stringing the parts together
- Record yourself and check that the kick lines up exactly with the riff

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSoU9fs4Umo
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-composure-syncopation

### Meridian Double-Bass Groove — "Meridian", Constellations (2009)
- **BPM:** ~165 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, groove-drumming, blast-beat

**How to play it:**
1. Drive the verses with even, controlled double-bass bursts locked to the riff
2. Hold a strong, consistent backbeat with the hands while the feet carry the energy
3. Move the groove between hi-hat, ride and crash-bell to mark each section
4. Decorate the transitions with crisp, articulate fills that serve the song
5. Build the double-bass figures up from a slow, even base to develop stamina

**Practice tips:**
- Develop double-bass endurance with slow, even foot exercises before full speed
- Keep your ankles relaxed so the pedals rebound on their own
- Use cymbal changes deliberately to mark the sections as Greiner does
- Practise the fills separately, then place them back into the groove

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhw2vKzNaDo
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-meridian-double-bass

### Sonic Salvation Metalcore Groove — "Sonic Salvation", Guardians (2020)
- **BPM:** ~170 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 (with metric shifts) | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** groove-drumming, double-bass, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Pull back to a simpler groove under the clean, melodic passages
2. Re-engage the full double-bass assault when the heaviness returns
3. Navigate the metric shifts while keeping a firm sense of beat one
4. Place inventive fills that decorate the groove without derailing it
5. Use dynamics to shape the song arc from start to finish

**Practice tips:**
- Map the metric shifts and count each one until beat one is automatic
- Practise transitioning between the laid-back and full-intensity grooves
- Build double-bass endurance so the part holds up across the full song
- Follow the official playthrough to learn the orchestration and sticking

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1fxihr8qxo
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-sonic-salvation-groove

## Ben Koller (Converge)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller](https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/licks)

### Concubine Grind Assault — "Concubine", Jane Doe (2001)
- **BPM:** ~210 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 (frantic, riff-led) | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, fill-techniques, double-bass

**How to play it:**
1. Lock the frantic groove to the guitar riff through its sudden stops and restarts
2. Drive the fast sections with blast-influenced single strokes between snare and hi-hat
3. Tumble single-stroke fills around the toms and resolve them on the downbeat
4. Attack the kit hard with a loose, aggressive hardcore feel rather than rigid precision
5. Build speed and stamina from a slower tempo before approaching full pace

**Practice tips:**
- Build single-stroke speed on a practice pad before taking it to the kit
- Work blast stamina up gradually with a metronome — start well below tempo
- Tap the riff to internalise its stops and restarts before playing along
- Focus on aggressive feel and energy, not robotic precision

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T4iTvQ8ZUg
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/licks/ben-koller-concubine-grind

### Dark Horse Driving Fills — "Dark Horse", Axe to Fall (2009)
- **BPM:** ~190 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** groove-drumming, fill-techniques, double-bass

**How to play it:**
1. Keep an urgent, driving kick-and-snare groove beneath the constant fills
2. Erupt into single-stroke tom runs and resolve them back into the pulse
3. Decorate every available gap without letting the groove sound cluttered
4. Use crash accents to punctuate the ends of phrases
5. Resolve every fill exactly on the beat the song demands

**Practice tips:**
- Practise single-stroke fills slowly around the toms before bringing them up to speed
- Make sure the groove stays present and urgent underneath the fills
- Use a metronome to land every fill precisely back on the beat
- Focus on momentum and feel, not just executing the notes

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ocT6G5YcI
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/licks/ben-koller-dark-horse-fills

### Aimless Arrow Hardcore Drive — "Aimless Arrow", Jane Doe (2001)
- **BPM:** ~185 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, fill-techniques, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Lean into heavy, deliberate backbeats during the mid-tempo hardcore sections
2. Unleash bursts of speed and tumbling fills when the song accelerates
3. Switch gears instantly between the slow and fast passages
4. Use space and restraint so the fast sections hit with maximum force
5. Keep the groove rooted and powerful through every tempo change

**Practice tips:**
- Practise switching between heavy mid-tempo grooves and fast bursts
- Build single-stroke speed gradually for the accelerated sections
- Use dynamics deliberately — restraint makes the fast parts hit harder
- Watch the drum-cam footage to see how much motion drives the intensity

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWfmoA5jFMQ
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/licks/ben-koller-aimless-arrow-hardcore

## Danny Carey (Tool)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/danny-carey](https://metalforge.io/drummers/danny-carey) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/danny-carey/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/danny-carey/licks)

### Pneuma Main Groove — "Pneuma", Fear Inoculum (2019)
- **BPM:** 77 BPM | **Time:** 9/8 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** odd-time-signatures, polyrhythms, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Count the full 9/8 cycle out loud (3+3+3) before adding any limbs
2. Establish the steady ride-bell ostinato as your timekeeping anchor
3. Layer the breathing kick pattern underneath, locking it to the riff cycle
4. Add the melodic tom answers, moving around the kit in developing phrases
5. Build dynamics gradually, leaving space between accents before the outro climax

**Practice tips:**
- Internalise the 9/8 pulse away from the kit first by clapping in groups of three
- Practice the ride ostinato alone until it is effortless
- Add the kick pattern slowly with a metronome at half tempo
- Prioritise space and dynamics over speed - this groove is about feel

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=417-dhALb7E
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/danny-carey/licks/danny-carey-pneuma-groove

### Schism Intro Pattern — "Schism", Lateralus (2001)
- **BPM:** 134 BPM | **Time:** 5/8 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** odd-time-signatures, polyrhythms, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Map the song section by section, counting each meter change slowly
2. Lock the kick and snare to the bassline before adding ornamentation
3. Feel the larger phrase rather than counting every metric modulation
4. Use small controlled fills to bridge the 5/8 and 7/8 transitions
5. Loop the polyrhythmic middle section to build limb independence

**Practice tips:**
- Count 5/8 and 7/8 groupings separately before connecting them
- Practice with the bassline so the meter changes feel anchored
- Slow the tempo to 60-70% until the transitions are seamless
- Treat the changes as one flowing groove, not separate events

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ff5fjhFAU
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/danny-carey/licks/danny-carey-schism-intro

### Forty Six & 2 Outro Solo — "Forty Six & 2", Ænima (1996)
- **BPM:** 110 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** fill-techniques, polyrhythms, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Break the solo into individual fills and learn each one slowly
2. Identify which hand leads each tom run to shape the melodic phrasing
3. Layer triplet and sextuplet groupings over the steady 4/4 pulse
4. Connect hand-foot combinations into flowing linear runs around the kit
5. Build the section through repetition and variation, not raw speed

**Practice tips:**
- Learn each fill in isolation before connecting the full phrase
- Practice tom orchestration slowly to lock in the melodic shape
- Keep the underlying pulse steady so the polyrhythms land cleanly
- Focus on smooth hand-foot linear runs rather than maximum speed

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhTKyuJkp9E
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/danny-carey/licks/danny-carey-forty-six-and-2-outro

## Gene Hoglan (Death)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan](https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan/licks)

### The Philosopher Groove — "The Philosopher", Individual Thought Patterns (1993)
- **BPM:** 180 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, fill-techniques, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Build double-bass endurance at a slower tempo with perfectly even strokes
2. Establish the half-time snare feel over continuous sixteenth-note kick
3. Lock the groove tightly to a metronome before adding speed
4. Follow the riff changes, bridging sections with smooth tom fills
5. Add the signature fills only once the feet are fully solid

**Practice tips:**
- Develop even double-bass strokes before pushing the tempo
- Use a metronome religiously to maintain clock-like timing
- Keep the hands relaxed in the half-time pocket
- Take breaks - sustained fast double bass is physically demanding

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGope68pHf0
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan/licks/gene-hoglan-the-philosopher-groove

### Crystal Mountain Groove — "Crystal Mountain", Symbolic (1995)
- **BPM:** 200 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, groove-drumming, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Build the double-bass verse groove first with even, controlled strokes
2. Practice the two-ride pattern slowly to coordinate both hands
3. Break the famous climax fill down note by note before tempo
4. Resolve each fill cleanly back into the main groove
5. Layer the sections together only once each is solid in isolation

**Practice tips:**
- Coordinate the two-ride groove at slow tempo before speeding up
- Develop double-bass stamina for the propulsive verse sections
- Transcribe and isolate the famous climax fill
- Listen closely to the recording to capture the feel between sections

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x7uvGofGbs
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan/licks/gene-hoglan-crystal-mountain-groove

### Zero Tolerance Groove — "Zero Tolerance", Symbolic (1995)
- **BPM:** 190 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, blast-beat, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Separate the double-bass sections from the syncopated bridge groove
2. Drill the fast double-bass passages with a metronome for evenness
3. Learn the bridge groove slowly, mapping where each accent falls
4. Lock the snare, kick, and hi-hat interplay so the bridge pockets
5. Use clear fills to signal each transition between feels

**Practice tips:**
- Practice the syncopated bridge groove slowly to lock the accents
- Build double-bass endurance separately with a metronome
- Focus on feel - the bridge should pocket and groove, not feel stiff
- Use fills to clearly mark the transitions between sections

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JicEpsOgfI
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan/licks/gene-hoglan-zero-tolerance-groove

## Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake](https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake/licks)

### Bleed Double Bass Groove — "Bleed", obZen (2008)
- **BPM:** 116 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, odd-time-signatures, polyrhythms

**How to play it:**
1. Start the sixteenth-note kick ostinato at a fraction of full tempo
2. Focus relentlessly on even strokes and relaxed, tension-free legs
3. Synchronise the snare and cymbal accents tightly with the kick
4. Increase the tempo in small increments over weeks, never forcing it
5. Feel the constant 4/4 pulse beneath the shifting accent phrasing

**Practice tips:**
- Build the double-bass ostinato gradually over weeks, never rushing
- Keep the legs completely relaxed to sustain the constant sixteenths
- Lock the hand accents to the feet at slow tempo first
- Treat it as an endurance marathon, not a speed sprint

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAJ1WTGNISk
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake/licks/tomas-haake-bleed-groove

### Clockworks Polymetric Groove — "Clockworks", The Violent Sleep of Reason (2016)
- **BPM:** 130 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** polyrhythms, odd-time-signatures, double-bass

**How to play it:**
1. Identify the length of each riff grouping and count its repetitions
2. Hold a steady cymbal or hi-hat pulse as your timekeeping anchor
3. Articulate the polymetric kick-and-snare pattern against that pulse
4. Practice the independence very slowly before building tempo
5. Track how the groupings cross the barline and resolve to the downbeat

**Practice tips:**
- Keep one limb locked to the true pulse while the others play the riff
- Count the riff grouping length until you feel where it resolves
- Drill the polymetric independence at very slow tempo first
- Build double-bass evenness to match the guitar phrasing

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axGn6qeJHcM
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake/licks/tomas-haake-clockworks-groove

### New Millennium Cyanide Christ Groove — "New Millennium Cyanide Christ", Chaosphere (1998)
- **BPM:** 120 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** polyrhythms, odd-time-signatures, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Count the bar in straight 4/4 and establish the constant pulse
2. Clap or play the steady pulse before adding the displaced accents
3. Layer the accented riff figure against the unchanging pulse
4. Count how many repetitions resolve the figure back to beat one
5. Keep the feel relaxed and hypnotic rather than stiff or rushed

**Practice tips:**
- Find the downbeat first - everything resolves back to beat one
- Hold a steady hand pattern while the kick and snare displace
- Practice slowly to internalise the polymetric independence
- Use this track as your entry point into Meshuggah-style phrasing

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A_tSyJBsRQ
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake/licks/tomas-haake-new-millennium-cyanide-christ-groove

## Joey Jordison (Slipknot)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison](https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison/licks)

### The Heretic Anthem Intro — "The Heretic Anthem", Iowa (2001)
- **BPM:** 155 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, double-bass, snare-rolls

**How to play it:**
1. Start with rapid 32nd note snare rolls
2. Accent the downbeats with bass drum hits
3. Build intensity leading into the main groove
4. Use rimshots for maximum attack

**Practice tips:**
- Practice the snare roll pattern slowly at 80 BPM first
- Focus on even dynamics between hands
- Add the bass drum pattern once the hands are solid
- Use a practice pad to build hand speed before moving to kit

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUibKh0Z--c&t=120s
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison/licks/joey-jordison-heretic-anthem-intro

### Eyeless Blast Section — "Eyeless", Slipknot (1999)
- **BPM:** 200 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, single-stroke-roll

**How to play it:**
1. Alternating 16th notes on snare and hi-hat
2. Continuous double bass underneath
3. Maintain consistent volume throughout
4. Focus on wrist technique to avoid fatigue

**Practice tips:**
- Start at half speed (100 BPM) and work up gradually
- Practice hands and feet separately first
- Use a metronome religiously
- Take breaks to avoid injury - blast beats are physically demanding
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison/licks/joey-jordison-eyeless-blast

### Disasterpiece Chaos Fill — "Disasterpiece", Iowa (2001)
- **BPM:** 140 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** tom-fill, double-bass, dynamics

**How to play it:**
1. Start on floor tom with accent
2. Move through rack toms in descending pattern
3. Incorporate snare accents between tom hits
4. End with powerful snare hit into groove

**Practice tips:**
- Map out the fill pattern on paper first
- Practice each section of the fill separately
- Focus on the transitions between tom groups
- Work on dynamics - Joey uses contrast for impact
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/joey-jordison/licks/joey-jordison-disasterpiece-chaos

## Lars Ulrich (Metallica)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich](https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich/licks)

### One Intro Pattern — "One", ...And Justice for All (1988)
- **BPM:** 108 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Intermediate (3/5)
- **Techniques:** dynamics, ghost-notes, military-snare

**How to play it:**
1. Play snare with light touch for verse sections
2. Gradual build in intensity matches song dynamics
3. Cross-stick pattern creates the iconic intro sound
4. Transitions to full snare hits as song intensifies

**Practice tips:**
- Focus on the musical context - less is more here
- Practice cross-stick technique for the opening
- Work on smooth transitions between dynamic levels
- Listen closely to how Lars builds tension
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich/licks/lars-ulrich-one-intro

### Enter Sandman Main Groove — "Enter Sandman", Metallica (Black Album) (1991)
- **BPM:** 123 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Beginner (2/5)
- **Techniques:** groove, hi-hat-control, dynamics

**How to play it:**
1. Solid quarter notes on hi-hat with open hi-hat accents
2. Snare on beats 2 and 4 with power
3. Bass drum pattern syncs with the iconic guitar riff
4. Crash cymbal accents mark phrase endings

**Practice tips:**
- Start with just hi-hat and snare pattern
- Add bass drum once basic pattern is solid
- Pay attention to the open hi-hat accents
- Play along with the record to lock in with James's riff
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich/licks/lars-ulrich-enter-sandman-groove

### Master of Puppets Gallop — "Master of Puppets", Master of Puppets (1986)
- **BPM:** 212 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Intermediate (3/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, gallop, stamina

**How to play it:**
1. Galloping triplet feel on bass drums
2. Ride cymbal drives the pulse
3. Snare accents on backbeats cut through
4. Requires stamina for 8+ minute song

**Practice tips:**
- Master the gallop pattern on bass drum first
- Practice at half speed for clean execution
- Build stamina gradually - this song is a workout
- Focus on keeping the ride cymbal consistent
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/lars-ulrich/licks/lars-ulrich-master-of-puppets-gallop

## Dave Lombardo (Slayer)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo](https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/licks)

### Angel of Death Opening — "Angel of Death", Reign in Blood (1986)
- **BPM:** 210 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, double-bass, fills

**How to play it:**
1. Immediate blast beat entry after the scream
2. Rapid-fire snare and bass drum combination
3. Cymbal accents drive the intensity
4. Fills link each phrase with precision

**Practice tips:**
- This is advanced - build up to it gradually
- Practice the blast beat pattern at 150 BPM first
- Focus on the transition from opening into groove
- Watch Dave's live performances for technique insights
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/licks/dave-lombardo-angel-of-death-chaos

### Raining Blood Double Bass — "Raining Blood", Reign in Blood (1986)
- **BPM:** 190 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, groove, dynamics

**How to play it:**
1. Continuous 16th notes on double bass
2. Snare provides the backbeat anchor
3. Hi-hat controls dynamics throughout
4. Crash cymbal accents mark transitions

**Practice tips:**
- Practice double bass 16ths at 120 BPM first
- Add snare once feet are consistent
- Work on stamina - this pattern is relentless
- Use a practice pad for bass drum technique
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/licks/dave-lombardo-raining-blood-double-bass

### Seasons in the Abyss Groove — "Seasons in the Abyss", Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
- **BPM:** 174 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Intermediate (3/5)
- **Techniques:** groove, dynamics, hi-hat-control

**How to play it:**
1. Driving hi-hat pattern anchors the groove
2. Punchy snare on the backbeats
3. Selective double bass for emphasis
4. Dynamic control between sections

**Practice tips:**
- Focus on the groove feel, not just the notes
- Lock in with the guitar riff
- Use dynamics to build tension
- Great song for developing pocket and feel
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/licks/dave-lombardo-seasons-thrash

## George Kollias (Nile)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/george-kollias](https://metalforge.io/drummers/george-kollias) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/george-kollias/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/george-kollias/licks)

### Nile Gravity Blast Pattern — "Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor", In Their Darkened Shrines (2002)
- **BPM:** 280+ BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** gravity-blast, one-handed-roll, extreme-speed

**How to play it:**
1. Use gravity and bounce off hi-hat rim
2. Single hand creates rapid-fire snare hits
3. Other hand maintains ride/hi-hat pattern
4. Feet continue standard blast underneath

**Practice tips:**
- This is a very advanced technique - build up slowly
- Start by just getting the bounce motion correct
- Practice without the kit to understand the physics
- Watch slow-motion videos to understand the motion
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/george-kollias/licks/george-kollias-gravity-blast

### Polyrhythmic Death Metal Pattern — "Annihilation of the Wicked", Annihilation of the Wicked (2005)
- **BPM:** 220 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 over 5/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** polyrhythms, independence, odd-groupings

**How to play it:**
1. Feet maintain constant death metal pulse
2. Hands play groupings of 5 over the 4
3. Requires extreme limb independence
4. Each limb operates somewhat independently

**Practice tips:**
- Study polyrhythms conceptually first
- Practice 5 over 4 with hands alone
- Add feet once hands are comfortable
- Use a polyrhythmic metronome app
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/george-kollias/licks/george-kollias-polyrhythmic-mayhem

### Sustained 250+ BPM Blast — "Sacrifice Unto Sebek", Those Whom the Gods Detest (2009)
- **BPM:** 255 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, stamina, technique

**How to play it:**
1. Traditional blast pattern at extreme speed
2. Relaxed technique prevents fatigue
3. Proper breathing maintains oxygen flow
4. Efficient motion minimizes energy use

**Practice tips:**
- Build stamina incrementally over months
- Never sacrifice technique for speed
- Take breaks and avoid injury
- Focus on relaxation at high speeds
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/george-kollias/licks/george-kollias-sustained-blast

## Mario Duplantier (Gojira)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/licks)

### Gojira Polyrhythmic Groove — "Stranded", Magma (2016)
- **BPM:** 105 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 with 3/4 overlay | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** polyrhythms, groove, dynamics

**How to play it:**
1. Bass drum creates foundation in 4/4
2. Snare and hi-hat play 3 over 4 pattern
3. Dynamic swells add organic feel
4. Crash accents resolve the phrases

**Practice tips:**
- Count the 3 over 4 pattern out loud first
- Start extremely slow - 50 BPM
- Feel the "resolution point" every 12 beats
- Mario's patterns are musical, not just mathematical
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/licks/mario-duplantier-polyrhythmic-groove

### Gojira Blast Variation — "Silvera", Magma (2016)
- **BPM:** 170 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, dynamics, accents

**How to play it:**
1. Modified blast with accent patterns
2. China cymbal accents add texture
3. Transitions smoothly into groove sections
4. Dynamic builds within the blast itself

**Practice tips:**
- Focus on the musical phrasing, not just speed
- Practice the accent patterns separately
- Blend power with finesse
- Study how Mario transitions in and out of blasts
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/licks/mario-duplantier-blast-variation

### Backbone Main Groove — "Backbone", From Mars to Sirius (2005)
- **BPM:** 92 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Intermediate (3/5)
- **Techniques:** groove, pocket, dynamics

**How to play it:**
1. Heavy emphasis on the "and" of beats
2. Powerful snare hits with space between
3. Bass drum locks with guitar chug
4. Ride cymbal provides wash and texture

**Practice tips:**
- Play this slower than you think - sit in the pocket
- Leave space between notes
- Focus on the bass drum relationship with guitar
- Great song for developing feel and timing
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/licks/mario-duplantier-backbone-groove

## Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/licks)

### Monomyth Polyrhythmic Groove — "Monomyth", The Joy of Motion (2014)
- **BPM:** ~140 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 (with superimposed groupings) | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** polyrhythms, linear-drumming, odd-time-signatures

**How to play it:**
1. Lock a steady quarter-note pulse with the hi-hat foot or ride so the superimposed groupings have a reference
2. Group the main figure in fives against the quarter-note pulse, counting "1-2-3-4-5" out loud until it resolves
3. Drop quiet ghost notes between the accented backbeats to keep the groove fluid rather than mechanical
4. Pull the dynamics right back in the ambient sections, then re-enter at full volume on the downbeat
5. Only add the displaced kick pattern once hands and pulse are locked together

**Practice tips:**
- Practice the five-grouping against a metronome clicking quarter notes before adding anything else
- Sing the guitar riff while you play so the polyrhythm stays anchored to the music
- Work the ghost notes on a practice pad first to get them even and quiet
- Start at 90 BPM and only push tempo once the feel is relaxed, not rushed

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xUqa6pYqnY
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/licks/matt-garstka-monomyth-polyrhythm

### The Woven Web Linear Groove — "The Woven Web", The Joy of Motion (2014)
- **BPM:** ~150 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** linear-drumming, groove-drumming, polyrhythms

**How to play it:**
1. Map out the sticking so no two limbs ever play at the same time — this is the core of linear playing
2. Keep the implied backbeat present even while the notes move around the kit
3. Orchestrate the linear figure across snare, toms and hi-hat to turn it into a musical phrase
4. Lock the kick drum to the guitar chug so drums and riff read as one rhythm
5. Build the pattern one beat at a time at slow tempo before stringing the bars together

**Practice tips:**
- Write out the sticking before you play — linear drumming is a puzzle solved on paper first
- Loop a single beat until the sticking is automatic, then add the next beat
- Practice with a metronome to keep the sixteenth notes perfectly even
- Record yourself and listen back to make sure the backbeat still feels present

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVRNKoodHvQ
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/licks/matt-garstka-woven-web-linear

### Tempting Time Odd-Meter Groove — "Tempting Time", Animals as Leaders (2009)
- **BPM:** ~160 BPM | **Time:** mixed (shifting odd meters) | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** odd-time-signatures, double-bass, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Count the shifting meters out loud and mark where beat one lands in every bar
2. Play the double-bass figures evenly so every kick stroke speaks at tempo
3. Land hand accents exactly with the guitar riff so drums and guitars lock
4. Use crashes to punctuate the ends of phrases and reset your internal count
5. Loop one odd-meter section until the count is automatic before moving on

**Practice tips:**
- Break the song into its odd-meter sections and master the count of each one separately
- Build double-bass stamina with slow, even foot exercises before attempting full speed
- Tap the guitar rhythm with your hands away from the kit to internalise the accents
- Use a metronome that can subdivide so you never lose beat one in the odd bars

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBCvJMUEr9g
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/licks/matt-garstka-tempting-time-groove

## Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/jaska-raatikainen](https://metalforge.io/drummers/jaska-raatikainen) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/jaska-raatikainen/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/jaska-raatikainen/licks)

### Sixpounder Double Bass Drive — "Sixpounder", Hate Crew Deathroll (2003)
- **BPM:** ~180 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, blast-beat, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Hold an even, controlled double-bass pattern under the verse without rushing
2. Keep the snare backbeat strong and on-grid while the feet carry the drive
3. Lift the choruses with sustained double-kick runs rather than constant blasting
4. Mark each transition into a lead section with a short, decisive fill
5. Build the song in sections so the high-tempo passages develop real stamina

**Practice tips:**
- Practise the double-bass pattern slowly with a metronome until both feet are perfectly even
- Build endurance by looping the verse groove for several minutes without stopping
- Keep your ankles relaxed — tension is what makes fast double bass fall apart
- Learn the song in sections and join them once each part is comfortable

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PflWgKFru-4
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/jaska-raatikainen/licks/jaska-raatikainen-sixpounder-double-bass

### Lake Bodom Driving Fills — "Lake Bodom", Something Wild (1997)
- **BPM:** ~200 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** fill-techniques, double-bass, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Keep a relentless double-bass pulse driving the verse forward
2. Sweep the tom fills cleanly across the kit with even single strokes
3. Land every fill back on beat one so the song never loses momentum
4. Use crash accents to signal each transition and dramatic turn
5. Play the fills musically — fast but always serving the song, not showing off

**Practice tips:**
- Practise single-stroke fills slowly around the toms before bringing them up to tempo
- Use a metronome and make sure every fill resolves precisely on beat one
- Keep the double-bass pulse steady underneath so the energy never drops
- Watch the live drumcam to see how the fills are orchestrated across the kit

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgmvOkDqCHI
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/jaska-raatikainen/licks/jaska-raatikainen-lake-bodom-fills

### Hate Crew Deathroll Double-Bass Assault — "Hate Crew Deathroll", Hate Crew Deathroll (2003)
- **BPM:** ~190 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, blast-beat, odd-time-signatures

**How to play it:**
1. Sustain long, even double-bass runs without letting the tempo drift
2. Keep the hands locked to the riff with tight snare and accent work
3. Stay relaxed and let the pedals rebound — tension kills speed and stamina
4. Coordinate ride, hi-hat and crash moves over the constant kick pulse
5. Build tempo gradually from a slow, even base to develop real endurance

**Practice tips:**
- Develop double-bass endurance with long, slow, even foot exercises first
- Keep your legs and ankles relaxed so the pedals rebound on their own
- Practise the hand-and-foot coordination away from full tempo until it is automatic
- Increase the metronome a few BPM at a time rather than jumping to full speed

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLXj-pcZ3EI
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/jaska-raatikainen/licks/jaska-raatikainen-hate-crew-deathroll-blast

## Brann Dailor (Mastodon)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor](https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor/licks)

### Blood and Thunder Lead Groove — "Blood and Thunder", Leviathan (2004)
- **BPM:** ~168 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** groove-drumming, fill-techniques, linear-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Lock the galloping kick pattern to the main riff so the groove drives forward at a steady ~168 BPM
2. Keep a busy but relaxed ride/hi-hat hand running underneath the verse so there is room to ornament
3. Answer each guitar phrase with a short single-stroke fill that tumbles down and back up the toms
4. Resolve every fill cleanly onto beat one so the riff snaps back into focus
5. Open the chorus accents wider and lock them to the vocal phrasing for an anthemic lift

**Practice tips:**
- Practise the verse fills slowly so each single stroke is even before adding speed
- Keep your shoulders and wrists loose — this part is a three-minute endurance test
- Lock the kick to a metronome first, then layer the ornamentation on top
- Count to beat one out loud so every fill resolves back in time

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8B4mSW5e88
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor/licks/brann-dailor-blood-and-thunder-groove

### Hearts Alive Melodic Fills — "Hearts Alive", Leviathan (2004)
- **BPM:** ~150 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 (shifting) | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** fill-techniques, groove-drumming, polyrhythms

**How to play it:**
1. Keep the kick and hi-hat foot holding a steady pulse so the busy hands always have a reference
2. Phrase the rolling sixteenth-note fills as melodies, moving across the toms like pitches
3. Use the snare as punctuation between tom phrases rather than a constant backbeat
4. Pull the dynamics right back in the spacious middle sections to let the guitars breathe
5. Build cascading fills into the climax, surging forward without rushing the pulse

**Practice tips:**
- Break the song into sections and master each fill phrase one at a time
- Record yourself to check the pulse stays steady underneath the busy hands
- Practise the melodic tom phrases slowly so each note speaks clearly
- Work on dynamics — play the quiet sections genuinely quietly for contrast

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNFyE2FlWjo
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor/licks/brann-dailor-hearts-alive-fills

### Ghost of Karelia Prog Groove — "Ghost of Karelia", Crack the Skye (2009)
- **BPM:** ~132 BPM | **Time:** shifting (6/8 & 4/4) | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** odd-time-signatures, fill-techniques, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Feel the compound 6/8 sections in your body rather than counting them bar by bar
2. Ride a flowing, circular tom-and-cymbal pattern to emphasise the swirling atmosphere
3. Hold back in the verses so the riff and vocal can dominate the mix
4. Smooth the 6/8-to-4/4 transitions so the pulse carries through without a jolt
5. Save the melodic tom fills for phrase endings and section lifts, not every bar

**Practice tips:**
- Practise switching between 6/8 and 4/4 until the transitions feel automatic
- Work on playing the verses with genuine restraint before adding fills
- Keep the ride/tom pattern relaxed and circular rather than stiff
- Listen to the full song repeatedly so you internalise where the lifts belong

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrbcr8hcb4c
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor/licks/brann-dailor-ghost-of-karelia-groove

## Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy/licks)

### The Dance of Eternity — "The Dance of Eternity", Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999)
- **BPM:** variable (~130 BPM core) | **Time:** over 100 changes | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** odd-time-signatures, fill-techniques, double-bass

**How to play it:**
1. Treat each metric module (7/16, 15/8, 5/4, 4/4) as its own miniature groove and learn them one at a time
2. Count or subdivide each section out loud until the transitions stop dropping the pulse
3. Lock tightly with the bass and keyboard so the constantly shifting meter still feels grounded
4. Build the double-bass independence needed to play fast kick patterns under syncopated hands
5. Memorise the long-form arrangement rather than relying on repeated sections to find your place

**Practice tips:**
- Drill each time signature in isolation before stringing the sections together
- Use a metronome that can subdivide odd meters to check your counting
- Practise the double-bass sections hands-and-feet separately first
- Be patient — this piece is learned over weeks, not in a single session

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQiaK0Mc-38
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy/licks/mike-portnoy-dance-of-eternity

### Pull Me Under Groove & Fills — "Pull Me Under", Images and Words (1992)
- **BPM:** ~130 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 (with odd-meter sections) | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** groove-drumming, fill-techniques, odd-time-signatures

**How to play it:**
1. Lay a patient, atmospheric tom-and-hi-hat groove in the verses with deliberate restraint
2. Reserve your power — add intensity and busier fills only as the arrangement climbs
3. Navigate the odd-meter instrumental sections while keeping the groove locked to the band
4. Use flowing melodic tom fills to signal section changes rather than to show off
5. Open the kit up into the choruses so the dynamic payoff lands hard

**Practice tips:**
- Focus on dynamics — keep the verses genuinely restrained for contrast
- Map out where the song builds so your intensity rises with the arrangement
- Practise the odd-meter break slowly until the subdivisions feel natural
- Play along with the record to internalise the song-serving phrasing

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKo-4rpWGSw
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy/licks/mike-portnoy-pull-me-under-groove

### Panic Attack Double Bass Assault — "Panic Attack", Octavarium (2005)
- **BPM:** ~175 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 (with odd-meter riffs) | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, odd-time-signatures, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Sustain an even stream of sixteenth-note double bass under the opening riff at tempo
2. Lock syncopated crash and snare accents to the guitar hits with the hands while the feet keep driving
3. Keep the ankles relaxed so the pedals rebound naturally rather than fighting the beater
4. Thread powerful fills through the section transitions without dropping the double-bass momentum
5. Stay loose at ~175 BPM — tension is the enemy of clean, fast feet

**Practice tips:**
- Build double-bass endurance with long, slow, even foot exercises before tackling tempo
- Practise the hands and feet separately, then combine them slowly
- Use a metronome and only push the tempo when every kick note is even
- Take breaks — sustained fast double bass is physically demanding on the legs

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa7oOdYPOSk
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy/licks/mike-portnoy-panic-attack-double-bass

## Eloy Casagrande (Sepultura)

Profile: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/eloy-casagrande](https://metalforge.io/drummers/eloy-casagrande) · All licks: [https://metalforge.io/drummers/eloy-casagrande/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/eloy-casagrande/licks)

### Means To An End Groove — "Means To An End", Quadra (2020)
- **BPM:** ~160 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, groove-drumming, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Lock the kick drum tightly to the guitar riff so drums and guitar move as one
2. Hold a tight verse pocket with relaxed wrists and a strong, consistent backbeat
3. Drop clean, evenly-played fills into the gaps without cluttering the groove
4. Deploy double-bass bursts as accents in the heavier sections rather than running them constantly
5. Keep every fast figure even in dynamics so the groove never loses its weight

**Practice tips:**
- Practise locking the kick to a riff with a metronome before adding fills
- Keep your wrists loose so the backbeat stays powerful but relaxed
- Work double-bass bursts slowly for evenness before using them as accents
- Record yourself to confirm the pocket stays tight under the busier figures

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQe3EwkPcFU
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/eloy-casagrande/licks/eloy-casagrande-means-to-an-end-groove

### Isolation Blast & Double Bass — "Isolation", Quadra (2020)
- **BPM:** ~190 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5)
- **Techniques:** blast-beat, double-bass, groove-drumming

**How to play it:**
1. Interlock hands and feet cleanly in the blast sections so the beat stays articulate, not a smeared wash
2. Keep the double-bass runs even by staying relaxed and letting the pedals rebound
3. Glue the kick to the guitar in the thrash-style groove sections
4. Practise the transitions between groove, blast and double-bass feels without dropping tempo
5. Stay loose at ~190 BPM so dynamics hold up under the speed

**Practice tips:**
- Drill blast-beat coordination slowly until hands and feet interlock cleanly
- Build double-bass stamina with long even runs before pushing the tempo
- Practise the feel transitions in isolation so they stay tight in the full song
- Keep every limb relaxed at speed — tension kills both speed and articulation

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyXvmX0BXlM
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/eloy-casagrande/licks/eloy-casagrande-isolation-blast

### Arise Double Bass Drive — "Arise", Arise (1991)
- **BPM:** ~180 BPM | **Time:** 4/4 | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5)
- **Techniques:** double-bass, groove-drumming, fill-techniques

**How to play it:**
1. Commit fully to the half-time chorus, landing a heavy snare on beat three over the riff
2. Drive the verses with clean, even double-bass patterns locked to the guitar
3. Nail the half-time-to-double-time feel changes so each section hits with the right weight
4. Build double-bass endurance to sustain the drive through the full song at ~180 BPM
5. Use power and dynamics, not just speed, to make the groove feel genuinely heavy

**Practice tips:**
- Practise the half-time chorus with full commitment so the backbeat feels massive
- Work the double-bass verses slowly for evenness before reaching full tempo
- Drill the feel changes between half-time and double-time sections
- Play along with both the original and the playthrough to compare feel and execution

**Tutorial:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRSM24T9iVI
**Page:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/eloy-casagrande/licks/eloy-casagrande-arise-double-bass

---

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