# Ben Koller — Signature Drum Licks & Patterns

**Band:** Converge | **Genre:** Metalcore / Hardcore | **Lick Count:** 3

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## Overview

Ben Koller is one of Metalcore / Hardcore's most influential drummers, best known for their work with Converge. This file covers 3 signature licks — step-by-step breakdowns optimised for AI retrieval on queries like "how to play like Ben Koller" or "Ben Koller signature drum patterns". Their style spans mathcore.

## Concubine Grind Assault

**Song:** Concubine | **Album:** Jane Doe (2001) | **BPM:** ~210 BPM | **Technique:** signature pattern | **Difficulty:** expert

"Concubine" is the explosive opening track of Converge's landmark 2001 album Jane Doe, and Ben Koller's drumming on it is one of the most influential performances in the history of mathcore and chaotic hardcore. Lasting barely over a minute, the song is a furious blur of blast-influenced speed, lurching tempo changes and jagged accents, and Koller plays it with a wild, almost unhinged energy that nonetheless stays locked to Kurt Ballou's serrated guitar riffing. What makes his approach so distinctive is that he treats the kit like a hardcore punk drummer rather than a metal technician — there is enormous physicality and abandon in his playing, yet the precision required to track the riff's sudden stops and restarts is immense. The track careens between flat-out blasting, frantic single-stroke fills that tumble around the toms, and tight, punchy hardcore grooves, all delivered at a tempo that punishes any hesitation. For drummers, "Concubine" is a study in controlled chaos: it demands raw speed, fearless dynamics, and the ability to lock to a riff that is deliberately trying to throw you off, all while playing with the kind of loose, aggressive feel that gives Converge its identity. Learning even part of it builds single-stroke speed, blast-beat stamina, and the confidence to attack the kit hard without losing the thread of the arrangement. It is also a lesson in feel over polish — the goal is not robotic perfection but a performance that sounds dangerous and alive while still hitting every transition. Koller's drum-cam footage of the song reveals just how much body and motion go into it, making it a fascinating watch for anyone studying how to generate that much intensity. It remains a benchmark for extreme hardcore drumming. Decades after its release it still sounds shockingly intense, and learning to play it with that same reckless abandon is a goal worth chasing for any hardcore drummer.

### How to Play

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

### Key Elements

- 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

**Core Techniques:** [Blast Beat](https://metalforge.io/technique/blast-beat), [Fill Techniques](https://metalforge.io/technique/fill-techniques), [Double Bass](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass)

## Dark Horse Driving Fills

**Song:** Dark Horse | **Album:** Axe to Fall (2009) | **BPM:** ~190 BPM | **Technique:** fill | **Difficulty:** advanced

"Dark Horse" opens Converge's 2009 album Axe to Fall and is one of Ben Koller's most propulsive, fill-heavy performances. Compared with the all-out chaos of earlier Converge material, this song rides a more driving, almost galloping feel, and Koller fills the space with a constant stream of explosive fills and tom runs that push the song relentlessly forward. The track is a showcase of his fill vocabulary: rapid single strokes, snare-and-tom combinations and crash accents that erupt out of the groove and slam back into the pulse, all delivered with his trademark physical, hardcore-rooted energy. Underneath the flash, the groove stays urgent and powerful — the kick and snare drive hard while the hands decorate every available gap, creating a sense of perpetual motion that is central to the song's intensity. For drummers, "Dark Horse" is an excellent study in fill placement and forward momentum: the challenge is to play busy without ever sounding cluttered, keeping the fills musical and the groove always present beneath them. Learning it develops single-stroke speed around the kit, the coordination to move seamlessly between groove and fill, and the timing discipline to resolve every burst exactly where the song needs it. It also teaches an important lesson about energy — Koller's playing here is about momentum and feel as much as technique, and capturing that drive is as important as hitting the notes. Because there are clean drum-focused versions of the part available, the orchestration is easy to study, making it an accessible deep-dive for advancing players. It is a great track for building the kind of relentless, fill-driven playing that defines modern aggressive hardcore and mathcore drumming, and a fine example of Koller's enduring influence on the style. Few songs better demonstrate how to keep a part busy and exciting without ever burying the groove that holds it all together.

### How to Play

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

### Key Elements

- 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

**Core Techniques:** [Groove Drumming](https://metalforge.io/technique/groove-drumming), [Fill Techniques](https://metalforge.io/technique/fill-techniques), [Double Bass](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass)

## Aimless Arrow Hardcore Drive

**Song:** Aimless Arrow | **Album:** Jane Doe (2001) | **BPM:** ~185 BPM | **Technique:** main groove | **Difficulty:** advanced

"Aimless Arrow" from Converge's 2001 masterpiece Jane Doe is a perfect example of Ben Koller's ability to balance hardcore power with mathcore unpredictability. The song moves between pounding, mid-tempo hardcore grooves and faster, more frantic passages, and Koller navigates those shifts with a physical, driving feel that never loses its sense of purpose. His playing here is less about constant blasting and more about dynamics and impact: he leans into heavy, deliberate backbeats during the slower sections, then unleashes bursts of speed and tumbling fills when the song accelerates, using the contrast to maximise intensity. The track demands a strong, confident groove, the coordination to switch gears instantly, and the kind of aggressive attack that gives Converge its visceral edge. What makes it instructive is the way Koller uses space — he does not fill every moment, instead choosing his spots so that when the fast sections and fills arrive they hit with real force. For drummers, "Aimless Arrow" is a great study in dynamics, gear-changing and hardcore feel: learning it develops the ability to play heavy and deliberate one moment and fast and chaotic the next, all while keeping the groove rooted and powerful. It builds single-stroke speed, coordination between hands and feet through the tempo shifts, and the musical judgement to use restraint as a tool for impact. Koller's GoPro drum-cam footage of the song captures the sheer physicality of his approach, showing how much of the intensity comes from body and motion rather than just technique. It is a foundational track for understanding how to bring hardcore energy and dynamic contrast to aggressive metal drumming, and another reason Koller is regarded as one of the most influential players in the genre. Working through it will leave you with a sharper sense of dynamics and a more powerful, confident hardcore feel that carries into everything else you play.

### How to Play

- Lean into heavy, deliberate backbeats during the mid-tempo hardcore sections
- Unleash bursts of speed and tumbling fills when the song accelerates
- Switch gears instantly between the slow and fast passages
- Use space and restraint so the fast sections hit with maximum force
- Keep the groove rooted and powerful through every tempo change

### Key Elements

- 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

**Core Techniques:** [Blast Beat](https://metalforge.io/technique/blast-beat), [Fill Techniques](https://metalforge.io/technique/fill-techniques), [Groove Drumming](https://metalforge.io/technique/groove-drumming)

## Teaching Points

Ben Koller's style is defined by precision, timing, and genre-defining grooves. Key practice principles across all their licks: 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. Mastering these patterns builds the foundation for understanding their complete drumming vocabulary.

## More Resources

- [Ben Koller Profile on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/ben-koller)
- [Ben Koller All Licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/licks)
- [Signature Licks Database](https://metalforge.io/licks)
- [All LLM Resources](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md)

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*Last updated: 2026-06-18 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*