Okay I said who my two most 'underrated drummers' were.


Now here's my top 10 FAVORITE drummers of all time. Not all of them are 'underrated' though.

1. Scott Columbus (Manowar)
2. Stian Lindaas Kristoffersen (Pagans Mind)
3. Ken Mary (Chastain, House of Lords, Fifth Angel)
4. Robert Sweet (my favorite member of Stryper)
5. Lars Ulrich (say what you want, he's a great drummer!)
6. Paul Mazurkiewicz (Cannibal Corpse - talk about an underrated drummer)
7. Zack Simmons (Goatwhore - I got to hang out with this guy. he's an incredible drummer!!!)
8. Neil Peart (Rush)
9. Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Grip Inc)
10. Tommy Lee (say what you will)

That's a different thread. Neil Peart isn't even close to what the original intent of this thread was. Everyone in the universe recognizes his drum talent.

Jerry Gaskill, He is one of the best live drummers I've ever seen.
Jimmy Bower
Craig Nunemacher

Perry Strickland from Vio-Lence, definitely.

Phil Rudd - AC/DC

Back to the OP, Kirk is a great choice. I think Ken Mary is overlooked also.

Forgot two of my favorites somehow..

Virgil Donati
David Husvik

Dave Budbill
Reed St. Mark

Kirk Arrington
Charlie Benante
Rob Alaniz (Evil Dead/Anger As Art/Noctuary/Winterthrall)
Rhett Davis (Morgion/Keen Of The Crow/Crimson Relic/Gravehill)
Janne Saarenpää (The Crown)
Nicklas Rudolfsson (Deathwitch/Swordmaster/Sacramentum)
Joe Apocalyptic Warlord (Usurper)
Dennis Gasser (Xentrix)

Gonzo Sandoval

Kelly David Smith
Mike Browning

Jim Chaffin (the crucified)

always liked his style...

Charlie Benante and Greg Hall

I concur on Kirk Arrington. That dude could PLAY. I can't believe he didn't get more recognition. It's quite a shame, actually. It really sucks that he can't play anymore, due to his diabetes complications. I wonder if he's gotten better, though...?

I also concur on Lance Garvin and David Husvik (Living Sacrifice/Soul Embraced and Extol/Absurd2, respectively). Lance has more of a basic style, but man, the guy can play, and he's tight, tight, tight! Saw LS live once, and his focus was intense. Never lost a beat, and that's tough when playing that kind of metal. David Husvik, however, is one drummer that is hard for me to follow, and I'm a drummer. He just has such a unique, diverse style and is always throwing in little things that are unpredictable. Cool stuff.

This thread's question kind of tends to have two kinds of responses, I think. Those from drummers, and those of music lovers who are not necessarily drummers. There's a difference in appreciation between the two views. Those of us who are drummers can appreciate someone's drumming in a certain way because we know what it's like to be able (or not able) to play a certain way, or at a certain level, and understand the tenets behind a song's beats, and stuff like that, whereas a regular music lover just listens to it and likes it, but cannot appreciate it further than listening pleasure.

Don't know if that makes sense, or not, but there you have it.

I think it's the same way with guitar, vocals, or whatever else.

Van Williams (Nevermore) this guy blows my mind with his aggressive style and technique. One of the best drummers I ever heard.