Best Metal Drummers in 2024

There are many famous metal guitarists people know. Still, the drummer’s role usually becomes a critical piece because of the technique and coordination he can have, so much so that he often overshadows the other musicians. You may also check this out if you’re looking for Hip Hop Drum.

Even the best drummers are rarely in the spotlight even with the use of the best drum set for metal. There are no posters (outside of drum magazines), only nerds want their autographs. 

Drummers and bassists work in the Rock’n’Roll engine room. But the skirt doesn’t roll without the machine, that’s why we dedicate the following pages to the most talented sons of Thor.

So, here are the best metal drummers in the world:

Jay Weinberg, Slipknot

Slipknot has had a hectic year since the release of his new album in years, in addition to the start of a new international tour, but it seems that the praise of fans is now dedicated to other members of the less mentioned group.

Jay Weinberg was named this week as the best metal drummer in the world, according to a survey conducted by Music Radar.

The masked percussionist managed to overcome almost twice as many votes as all the participants combined. Therefore he decided to thank his followers in a Twitter post.

Lars Ulrich (METALLICA)

Lars Ulrich is a Danish musician known primarily for being the drummer, composer, founder and co-leader (along with James Hetfield) of the American thrash metal band Metallica.

His way of playing is varied. It ranges from the simple rock rhythms of the album The Black Album to the complex and fast parts on many of the themes of the more massive Metallica albums, such as Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning And Justice for All.

Ulrich uses Tama Drums (where he is one of the few drummers that have their custom drum design), Zildjian Cymbals, and Remo patches. He is known to use a mix of brands to record studio albums: Ludwig drums, Gretsch drums, and Sabian cymbals. Ulrich used Regal Tip drumsticks for a while but switched to Easton Ahead in 1994. 

The Tama drums manufacturer has produced two custom Lars Ulrich drummers, one with a steel casing (with a faux diamond finish) and a brass bell. Today, it is Tama’s most expensive drum in its regular catalog. Both drums are measuring 14×6.5 “.

Dave Lombardo – (Slayer)

Dave Lombardo, He has participated in six of Slayer’s albums, Lombardo’s interest in music began when he began to keep up with Santana’s collection with some bongos, and then became interested in bands like Led Zeppelin and KISS. 

Lombardo is famous for being an aggressive thrash metal drummer, and his way of playing has been defined as “incredibly innovative,” which has made Drummerworld magazine call him “the godfather of the double bass drum.” 

Throughout his career, he has had a significant influence on the metal scene. He has inspired many new drummers.

Dave Grohl (Nirvana and Foo Fighters)

He is an American multi-instrumentalist rock musician. He was a drummer of Nirvana from 1990 until the dissolution of the band in 1994. As a result, of the death of singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain.

Rolling Stone magazine placed him in position 4 of the 10 best drummers in history. He currently resides in Encino, California, USA.

Grohl has publicly acknowledged that his favorite band is Led Zeppelin. It was even offered as a substitute for John Bonham when they played at the O2 Arena in London in 2007. Finally, the chosen one was the son of the late drummer John Bonham. 

John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page played “Rock and Roll” and “Ramble on” by Led Zeppelin with Grohl and Taylor Hawkins at the Foo Fighters concert at Wembley Stadium in 2008.

Nick Menza (Ex Megadeth, Soloist)

Son of jazz composer Don Menza, Nick took his father’s music, directly on drums at the very young age of two. His influences were, above all, Blues. When he became of age, he began his professional career in different bands.

Moving through the Blues, Funk, Rhythm & Blues, Heavy metal styles, he came to Megadeth as a Chuck Behler technician, and, when he left, he took his place as a group drummer, reaching the best era of the band. In 1998 he left the band starting other solo projects.

With Megadeth, he recorded the albums Rust In Peace, Countdown To Extinction, Youthanasia, and Cryptic Writings, in addition to participating in a solo album by Marty Friedman entitled Scenes.

Nick is a virtuous and energetic drummer who contributed great works for thrash metal with songs like rust in peace Polaris, holy wars, she-wolf,

Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, AX7, and More)

He is primarily known for his work in the progressive metal band Dream Theater, working as a composer, drummer, and director of the Dream Theater DVDs. Famous for his drumming talent, Portnoy has won 23 awards from Modern Drummer Magazine. 

He has co-produced with John Petrucci the last six Dream Theater albums, starting with Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. In 2010, he met with Avenged Sevenfold to record with the band his new album, Nightmare, in which he recorded drums.

In September 2010 announced that he was leaving Dream Theater. He currently takes advantage of his time teaching drummers for his fans while working on five projects with different personalities with an extensive musical career.

He is famous for using gigantic drum kits. So much so that they are called monsters: Siamese Monster, on the Train of Thought tour, Albino Monster on the Octavarium tour, Mirage Monster on the Systematic Chaos tour, and the newest Black & Silver Monster of the journey of the album Black Clouds & Silver Linings. 

Finally, you can not leave aside the majestic and legendary Purple Monster (used during the tour of the album “Scenes from a Memory”).

Scott Travis (Judas Priest)

Mainly known for being a member of the British heavy metal band Judas Priest.

Travis debuted in Judas Priest on the Painkiller album, 1990. Considered the best Priest album since the 1984 Defenders of the Faith and the top metalwork, the LP opens with the song of the same name, which begins with a great Travis drum only.

His influence on this album is capital, because it provided the classic style of Judas Priest a new air much more forceful and accelerated. Critics say that with this album a new stage begins in the history of heavy metal

Phil Rudd (AC / DC)

He is an Australian hard rock drummer. Known for being the AC / DC drummer. He is considered the original drummer of the band or stage in AC / DC from 1975 to 1983, and later from 1994 until today,

He used Ludwig drums at the beginning. Then, in 1977, he chose the firm Sonor, with which he continues to work today. In December 2009 Sonor launched the “Sonor Phil Rudd” drum replica, which includes bass drum (with a patch signed by Phil). Be known with the Drum Sets History.


Share Drum Set Lab with your friends: