10 Great Hardcore Drumming Records

No review necessary. One of the greatest of all time. Also worth checking out is the Dutch Courage live LP from the same era, as Thee Slayer Hippy [Steven Hanford] truly shines on it—the drums are loud in the mix and really show how powerful and inventive his live playing was. Rest in peace, maniac.

It’s beyond me why this record is rarely, if ever, mentioned when it comes to great punk drumming. At the same time tribal, subtle, groovy, powerful and super creative.

This is a no-brainer, an album that is often mentioned for its drumming, and for good reason. The strange production on this US hardcore classic doesn’t detract from Brian Betzger’s over-the-top, rapid-fire performance. These rolls and fills are unlike anything else. Absolutely insane!

Out of all the d-takt bands that came out of Sweden in the ‘90s, I remember this one making quite an impression because of the sick drumming. It’s extremely fast and brutal with a lot of really tight mini-fills that add to the dynamics. The energy level is off the charts. The guy [Kalle Andersson]  was also in 3-Way Cum, but I feel like this record is his crowning achievement as a d-beater.

“Hardcore” is a bit of a stretch here as we’re stepping into metal territory. I’m not a big fan of grindcore, but Assück is definitely on my podium, and Rob Proctor is one of the reasons why they stand out. The guy even had a short stint in Florida speed metal stalwarts Nasty Savage, which says something about his proficiency.

There is something about John Evicci’s drumming that I find empowering. He’s not particularly technical or demonstrative, but you can tell from the recordings how extremely tight and steady he is, which gives these tunes a lot of dynamics. I could have picked any Out Cold record, but since I have to pick one, this might be my favorite by a small margin.

An early example of the heavy use of double kick drums in hardcore. And the cowbell seals the deal!

I like to think of these two as sister albums. Same scene/city/era, both very inventive, and the drumming has a lot of variation in tempos and dynamics.

Seven minutes of insanity, one of the most intense and memorable hardcore recordings of the ‘90s. Fast and precise as hell. Skin-beater Raul Calzada was no novice, having previously served in FCDN Tormentor, a killer early LA speedcore/thrash/proto-death metal band that was way ahead of its time, sounding like a satanic version of Cryptic Slaughter back in 1986.

Last but not least, I couldn’t NOT mention Why. More than Tezz before him or Garry Maloney after him, Dave “Bambi” Ellesmere defined and refined the d-beat as far as I’m concerned. It’s sloppy and primitive, some of the rolls are a little off, but this savage mutilation of the human ear remains unparalleled. The fact that legions of punk drummers continue to relentlessly replicate it four decades later is quite a statement.

Written by Luc Akerbeltz, originally published in Hardcore Mutation #2, the third issue is out now and available from the Hardcore Mutation Distro.