Review of Various Artists - Drum Nation Volume 3

As the only drummer here at MetalReview – I think – I figured it my duty to review Magna Carta’s latest installment of Drum Nation, a volume that centers on metal rather than prog rock. And as a drummer, albeit an average one, I not only appreciate drum-related releases of any kind, but I can literally watch and listen to drum collaborations, solos, and instructional videos for hours on end. Now, the first two questions that probably enter your mind when an album like this is on the table are: who’s on it and which bands are they in? Behold:

1. Ahhh…the Fade Out – Jordan Mancino (As I Lay Dying)
2. The Near Dominance of 4 Against 5 – Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
3. Fluoxetine – Jeremy Colson (Steve Vai)
4. Up and Atom – Justin Foley (Killswitch Engage)
5. Instr. – Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall)
6. Out of Nowhere – Kenneth Schalk (Candiria)
7. Grounded – Joe Nunez (Soulfly)
8. When the Scales Fell – Tom Taitano (Totalisti)
9. YMCA or TCBY – Chris Pennie (The Dillinger Escape Plan)
10. Swirling Patterns – Derek Roddy (Blotted Science)
11. Impulse – Raanen Bozzio (Stasis)
12. Weak Would – Michael Justice (Unearth)

Even if you don’t like the music of the bands above, said drummers all possess a fair amount of talent, which shines through when providing the backbone for instrumental songs. Most of the material is harmless, however, and wouldn’t be able to stand on its own if not functioning as a showcase for adept drumming, though not bereft of virtuoso-caliber musicianship in every facet. “Fluoxetine” is a Cynic sound-alike with progressive tendencies, “Up and Atom” features world-esque keyboard arrangements, and “Swirling Patterns” employs a thrashy, death metal sound. In short and perhaps unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted due to the other instrumentation.

At any rate, the individual performances all display various levels of prowess, but it’d be incredibly difficult to pinpoint a drummer who stands head and shoulders above the rest, or, conversely, head and shoulders below. While Volume 3’s audio suffices and brief video footage is included, the downfall of Drum Nation is the absence of depth. Whereas DVDs put out by professional drummers usually provide some insight into the number of pieces in their drumkit(s), the brands they use, and overall technique, DN does not. If drumming is one of your passions, then I’d advise checking out a DVD that one of your heroes – Bozzio, Donati, Mounier, Portnoy, whoever – has unleashed. Ultimately, any of those are more rewarding than an audio disc enhanced with a few video clips.

Release Details

Various Artists

Drum Nation Volume 3

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