May 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 5
Articles in May 2018
Paramore’s Zac Farro
Spending your teenage years making records and touring the world on a rocket ship to stardom is every young musician’s fantasy. Choosing to jump off that rocket while it’s still on a steady ascent may seem like madness. For this…
Travis Orbin on Silly String II
Exploring the Session Guru’s Latest Chop-Infused Labyrinth
Smashing Pumpkins’ Jimmy Chamberlin
For the second incarnation of the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, as heard on its new album, The Parable, the mighty drummer, who came to prominence in the ’90s with the Smashing Pumpkins, gathered players from East and West Coasts to create…
What’s Your Favorite 1980s Metal or Hard Rock Drumming Album?
This month we dive into the third installment of our series on great ’80s drumming performances with a focus on metal and hard rock tracks. As usual we asked MD readers and social media followers for their take on the…
Zildjian - K Sweet Series Cymbals
Larger, darker, and thinner cymbals with just enough transparency and brightness to sit comfortably in any mix.
Yamaha - Tour Custom Drumset
An aptly named series designed to bring full, versatile tones to any stage and at an economical price.
Eric Clapton's Jamie Oldaker
After forty years, the famed Eric Clapton cohort’s career is coming full circle.
101 Drums - 5.5x14 Woodfiber Snare
Lightweight and weather-resistant shell with a big, robust sound.
Terri Lyne Carrington with Lewis Porter, Blake Richardson with Between the Buried and Me, Virgil Donati with IceFish, and More!
RECORDINGS Between the Buried and Me Automata Part I The progressive metal veterans release their highly anticipated eighth full-length album. Drummer BLAKE RICHARDSON somehow takes it up a notch. Once again Blake Richardson’s fluent, musical playing is rendered brilliantly by producer…
New Drum Gear from Tama, Remo, Rogers, Etymotic Research, Vic Firth and Ahead!
Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo Drumkit Tama’s new Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo features maple shells with black nickel hardware, die-cast hoops, and the aluminum Star-Cast mounting system. The 10x14 Duo snare drum doubles as a floor tom and an extra-deep snare. The…
Bopworks - Drumsticks and Brushes
Faithful reproductions of classic models as well as contemporary designs with a vintage twist.
Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III on the Sword’s Used Future
Monstrous grooves underlie heavy riffs and Black Sabbath–inspired melodies on the group’s latest release.
Rod Morgenstein with the Dixie Dregs
The prog-rock flag bearers reunite their classic 1970s Free Fall lineup for a spring U.S. tour.
Tune-Bot - Studio Digital Tuner
A more accurate, user-friendly, and feature-laden version of the groundbreaking digital drum tuner.
Finding a Balance
Drummers often grapple with certain questions or problems that could be answered by simply finding the right balance between two choices. For example, a popular debate among drummers is the choice between using traditional or matched grip. Or some players…