# Who is the fastest death metal drummer ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243 "2006-08-25T20:10:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/21 "2006-08-25T22:42:36Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] I don’t disagree with any of that, but getting a high BPM from a drum machine just isn’t all that impressive. [/QUOTE] I agree with you. Back in the late 80s when industrial bands first started really messing around with metal, I was all set for Ministry and Front 242 to blow Slayer and Exodus out of the water. After all, the thrash bands seemed to be in a race for the Fastest Drummer In The World[sup]TM[/sup], and anyone with $500 worth of electronic equipment could outdo Dave Lombardo. It never happened, and likewise the death and black metal bands of the past decade have overwhelmingly stuck with human drummers. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/22 "2006-08-25T22:44:46Z")
Tim “The Missile” Yeung holds some records for his foot speed, (Hate Eternal, Vital Remains, Decrepit Birth), I honestly don’t know if he’s Death Metal or not, and someone with a longer attention span could maybe find more at [Worlds Fastest Drummer](http://www.worldsfastestdrummer.com/) I’m too busy taking notes on the CD’s I need to get. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/23 "2006-08-25T22:53:09Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] I’m too busy taking notes on the CD’s I need to get. [/QUOTE] [The Essential Music Library: Metal](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=350583) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/24 "2006-08-26T17:09:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Tim “The Missile” Yeung holds some records for his foot speed, (Hate Eternal, Vital Remains, Decrepit Birth), I honestly don’t know if he’s Death Metal or not, and someone with a longer attention span could maybe find more at [Worlds Fastest Drummer](http://www.worldsfastestdrummer.com/) I’m too busy taking notes on the CD’s I need to get. [/QUOTE] Oh yeah, that’s all death metal for sure. Hate Eternal is a fantastic band. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/25 "2006-08-26T17:46:50Z")
[QUOTE=Usram] If it weren’t for Slipknot (OK, and Napalm Death) I’d swear you were all make these band names up. [/QUOTE] That’s what I was thinking, other then Slipknow, I haven’t heard of any of them. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/26 "2006-08-26T18:27:49Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] Yes, but the question is whether you’re willing to accept fast drummers from other styles of extreme metal. There are at least two other major styles–black metal and grindcore–that are not death metal and feature very fast/technical playing. [/QUOTE] Re-read the post right above yours carefully. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/27 "2006-08-26T18:39:05Z")
> [@Usram](#): > > If it weren’t for Slipknot (OK, and Napalm Death) I’d swear you were all make these band names up. For your reference: [Cryptopsy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oZ3o8yDTQM), [Morbid Angel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Zdhz8LjJA), [Napalm Death](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ0n3khqaFg), [Immortal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nyXYpJkMCM), [Dying Fetus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AzHVQ8_XkM), [Cannibal Corpse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFxDSR3G0S8), [Behemoth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLDZ01M2Yh0), [Emperor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02cTJJgzq9E), [Slipknot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6mBY0L0T1s), [Avenged Sevenfold](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFjDhjzME9s), [Hate Eternal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6kC4CSxx7Q), [Ministry](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc_i4VlstTc), [Front 242](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LUHFA_kRFM) and [Slayer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umgzMiz6oEI). And while you’re at it, check out [Anata](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztCZzGD2EDw), [Brutal Truth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8tjchas2I4), [Aborym](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OABFlW-4ONw) and [Berzerker](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjqmjvLYuhI). I didn’t see anything in any of those videos that’s strictly NSFW (note the absence of a Mayhem video), but there is something to be said for not spending your employer’s time watching death metal on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/28 "2006-08-26T20:07:47Z")
[Former Hate Eternal drummer Tim “The Missile” Yeung, who played on Hate Eternal’s 1999 Earache debut “Conquering The Throne”, took first place honors at this years NAMM fastest drummer contest.](http://www.downroot.com/news_stories/hate_eternal.html) ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/29 "2006-08-26T21:44:09Z")
Moved to CS. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/30 "2006-08-27T00:52:33Z")
There is a factual answer to my question. Why was it moved? ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/31 "2006-08-27T04:40:15Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] There is a factual answer to my question. Why was it moved? [/QUOTE] I don’t think there is… unless you put all the drummers mentioned and had them play for a say a drumometer or something? otherwise its people just speculating on who the fastest is. Not everyone here had heard every death metal drummer in the world. noone has, So theres no factual answer. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/32 "2006-08-27T05:36:20Z")
I’d like to know where Richard Christy from Iced Earth sits on a list of fastest/best metal drummers. He’s been on the Howard Stern show for a few years and just the other day they were saying how he still gets recognized as “the guy from Iced Earth” more often than “the guy from the Stern show.” Apparently he’s like a god among devoted metal fans. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/33 "2006-08-27T05:40:04Z")
[QUOTE=percussion] I don’t think there is… unless you put all the drummers mentioned and had them play for a say a drumometer or something? otherwise its people just speculating on who the fastest is. Not everyone here had heard every death metal drummer in the world. noone has, So theres no factual answer. [/QUOTE] Ok, fine. I’ll do it - This is apparently big business amongst drummers, with prizes and endorsements on the line, so they do have machines able to measure this. WFD results… Mike Mangini is speed metal, so although he’s the current record holder for three different styles, he don’t count. Jotan Afanador “has discovered a new way to express himself musically as a producer/arranger”, in between doing gospel music, so he’s right out. In fact, the only death metal drummer I can find in the running is the previously mentioned Tim “The Missile” Yeung, so unless someone can find a drummer in a competition with a score higher than Yeungs 872/minute, I’m going to stick with him as the fastest _feet_ in DM. Haven’t found anything on stick speed yet, but this is measurable and answerable. However, if death metal drummers aren’t good enough to keep up with the likes of Mike Mangini’s 1,247 singles in 60 seconds, I’m not going to be able to find them anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/34 "2006-08-27T05:46:29Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] I’d like to know where Richard Christy from Iced Earth sits on a list of fastest/best metal drummers. He’s been on the Howard Stern show for a few years and just the other day they were saying how he still gets recognized as “the guy from Iced Earth” more often than “the guy from the Stern show.” Apparently he’s like a god among devoted metal fans. [/QUOTE] He’s a really, really outstanding drummer. However, Iced Earth’s music (post-thrash take on Iron Maiden) doesn’t give him much chance to just flat-out blast. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/35 "2006-08-27T05:58:20Z")
Given the genres that we’re limited to (Not that I know of a genre that goes any damned faster than Black/Grind/Death/Speed/Thrash, or for brevity Extreme Metal) after a while the drummers all start to sound the same. A blast beat is a blast beat. Even if a drummer could throw down some insane BPMs you still have to make it musical and play in a time signature that the rest of the band is able to play in. There really is a great deal of conformity amongst the groove sections of ultra heavy metal bands. It’s kind of like punk bands on Fat Wreck Chords. The beat stays the same all the time, it’s what you can put on top of it that makes you different and better. It’s the melody, lyrics, and the syncopated rhythms that really define who shreds and who just gallops along. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/36 "2006-08-27T10:39:50Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] … In fact, the only death metal drummer I can find in the running is the previously mentioned Tim “The Missile” Yeung, so unless someone can find a drummer in a competition with a score higher than Yeungs 872/minute, I’m going to stick with him as the fastest _feet_ in DM. Haven’t found anything on stick speed yet, but this is measurable and answerable. However, if death metal drummers aren’t good enough to keep up with the likes of Mike Mangini’s 1,247 singles in 60 seconds, I’m not going to be able to find them anytime soon. [/QUOTE] Just to make sure I understand the lingo… 872 bass hits per minute, with a double bass, right? So like 7 beats per foot, per second. 1,247 beats per minute, on a single drum? 21 beats per (single) foot, per second? ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/37 "2006-08-27T17:02:52Z")
[QUOTE=Eleusis] Just to make sure I understand the lingo… 872 bass hits per minute, with a double bass, right? So like 7 beats per foot, per second. 1,247 beats per minute, on a single drum? 21 beats per (single) foot, per second? [/QUOTE] No, sorry. Two different styles… 1247 is hand speed, Tim “Silverfeet” Watson is current #1 foot with 1030 dbl bass hits per minute (if I’m understanding [Worlds Fastest Drummer](http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/) terms correctly) some video [here](http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/wfdtv.htm) IANAD, and have little to no musical ability whatsoever but my company is going out of business regardless of what I do 9-5, so I devoted some google time to helping the cause. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243/38 "2006-08-27T17:09:45Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Tim “Silverfeet” Watson is current #1 foot with 1030 dbl bass hits per minute [/QUOTE] Crap! Wrong again. Tim has 1030 hits per minute not 2060. Double _pedal_, not double hits. (those are called pedals, aren’t they? The thing that drummers step on? No, I don’t get out much, why do you ask?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-fastest-death-metal-drummer-ever/370243.md?page=1)