Tiger Bill Reviews

On The Beaten Path: Metal - The Drummer's Guide to the Genre and the Legends Who Defined It

Book/CD

by Rich Lackowski

If you have yet to see my reviews of the first and second volume in this series, check them out in the sidebar to the right. This third volume follows the same format but features drummers from the metal genre. Let's check it out.

Learn from the Best Metals Drummers on the Planet
Regardless of whether you are a drummer specializing  in Jazz, Funk/R&B, Alternative/Punk Rock, Metal, Fusion, Reggae, Jam, Classic Rock, or Progressive Rock drumming, the best drummers on the planet are those who have studied the legends who came before them. Even the legends themselves have stolen or, if you prefer, borrowed techniques and ideas from those who have come before them. The best of the best then modify the licks they pick up and add them to their own bag of tricks. This is what helps you construct a unique style of your own.

The initial volume in this series "On The Beaten Path:The Drummer's Guide to Musical Styles and the Legends Who Defined Them," featured the top three drummers in each of nine popular musical genres. As large as the book, with over 240 pages, it was impossible not to leave out many of the popular drummers in each genre. However, the fact that it was voted the number 1 educational book in Modern Drummer's reader's poll and number 1 in DRUM! Magazine's reader's poll certainly sent a signal to author Lackowski that he was on the right track!

Author Lackowski followed up the first volume with a book called "On The Beaten Path: Progressive Rock - The Drummers' Guide to the Genre and the Legends Who Defined It," which wisely concentrated on a single genre to allow the coverage of a full dozen of the top Progressive Rock drummers in great detail.

This third volume in the series, "On The Beaten Path: Metal - The Drummers' Guide to the Genre and the Legends Who Defined It," continues in the footsteps of volume two by providing detailed information of the top dozen drummer from the Metal genre.

The featured dozen are Chris Adler, Charlie Benante, Jason Bittner, Clive Burr, Tomas Haake, Joey Jordison, Dave Lombardo, Nicko McBrain, Vinnie Paul, Derek Roddy, Lars Ulrich, and Bill Ward.

The book is laid out in twelve main chapters, each of which is dedicated to one drummer. Included are photos, biographical information, text/diagram of gear setups, and transcripts of three trademark grooves or solos by each artist. Author Rick Lackowski ranks each pattern for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level players and breaks them down into easily digestible segments. And, for those who can't read the music notation, an audio CD is included containing a demonstration of each pattern in the book.

In addition to the main chapters there are additional ones covering Music Notation, The Masters of Metal Drumming (brief history of metal drumming including a timeline), a discography of other metal drummers and recordings you should know, and the author's own experience following The Path.

Special Features
An audio CD is included that contains 36 tracks that demonstrate each pattern and solo that appears in the written transcripts throughout the book. All tracks are performed by author Rich Lackowski.

Bottom Line: On the Beaten Path: Metal Book/CD
It seems that author Rich Lackowski has done it again. This book is the ideal tool not just for use by drummers learning on their own, but for use by drum instructors as a valuable tool to help get and keep their students motivated. The dozen top metal drummers featured here will no doubt add tons of inspiration and perspiration to any drummer's workout routine!

Regardless of experience level or musical style, or whether you love or hate metal music, your bag of tricks will benefit greatly from taking a trip "On The Beaten Path: Metal - The Drummer's Guide to the Genre and the Legends Who Defined It."

While $19.95 is a solid value for a 104 page book and audio CD, you can find it online at: