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SICK DRUMMER MAGAZINE’S TOP 15 METAL DRUMMING ALBUMS OF 2012!
01. Danny Walker: Murder Construct – Results
Grindcore is difficult to understand and really grasp for most people, yet Danny somehow finds a way to convey his patterns in a manner that not only enhances the songs, but makes it a bit easier to understand on a whole. Danny has come a very long way and his drumming continues to progress, impress and evolve. His work on this record is simply outstanding.
METAL SUCKS PRESENTS – THE TOP 25 MODERN METAL DRUMMERS:
#3: DANNY WALKER (INTRONAUT, EXHUMED, PHOBIA, MURDER CONSTRUCT, UPHILL BATTLE, JESU, ETC.)
MetalSucks recently polled its staff to determine The Top 25 Modern Metal Drummers, and after an incredible amount of arguing, name calling, and physical violence, we have finalized that list! The only requirements to be eligible for the list were that the musician in question had to a) play metal (duh), b) play drums (double-duh), and c) have recorded something in the past five years. Today we continue our countdown with Danny Walker of Intronaut, Exhumed, Phobia, Murder Construct, Uphill Battle, Jesu and more… Not to sound like a condescending dick, but are you all familiar with auteur theory? In case you’re not, let us momentarily refer to the single greatest research tool in the history of Man, Wikipedia: “In film criticism, auteur theory holds that a director’s film reflects the director’s personal creative vision, as if they were the primary ‘auteur’ (the French word for ‘author’). In spite of—and sometimes even because of—the production of the film as part of an industrial process, the auteur’s creative voice is distinct enough to shine through all kinds of studio interference and through the collective process.” I don’t know if there’s a specific upscale word that is to drummers as auteur is to filmmakers (and, technically speaking I guess, authors), but whatever that word would conceivably be, one would absolutely have to apply to it Danny Walker. This is a dude who has played with grind bands, stoner metal/so-called “beardo” bands, death metal bands, shoe gaze bands, and whatever the fuck other kinds of metal bands, and always, always, ALWAYS, without fail, manages to sound like himself. His “voice,” if you will, always rises above the din, even if that din is often very cool itself. Of course, it helps that Walker’s voice is so profound. Walker’s drum parts are so much fun to listen to — they’re savage, but they’ve got swing, and they’re never clichéd or quite what you’d expect but you can always feel them hit you right in the solar plexus, but in a way which is oddly pleasing. I’ve never heard Walker play with a straight forward hard rock band like Led Zeppelin or even Muse, but I suspect Walker would absolutely KILL in such a position — he’s got just that right Josh Freese-esque mixture of aggression and groove. In case it isn’t readily apparent, I love Danny Walker’s drum playing, and I’m glad he’s been in a bajillion bands. I hope he’s in a bajillion more. Walker has his own YouTube channel with some really great shit on it (including video lessons), and I suggest you watch ‘em all. But these videos are really stellar, too:
Metal Injection
“What has probably become the most interesting part about Intronaut`s Valley of Smoke has to be the rhythm section. Drummer Danny Walker without a doubt steals the show here, taking almost every section on the album to a much more musically demanding level. Walker’s frequent use of groove and ghost-notes in tracks like “Above” and experimentation with polyrhythmic beats in the album’s most progressive track “Valley of Smoke” have solidified his performance as one of the more interesting and impressive of the year in metal.”
http://www.metalinjection.net
RSJ Magazine issue Jan/Feb 2010 Issue
“Drummer extraordinaire Danny Walker was on form as he showed us exactly why he is one of the most sought out drummers in the American metal underground.”
http://www.rsjonline.com
Sick Drummer Magazine
“Danny is one of the most talented up and coming drummers of our time. Playing with bands like Intronaut, Exhumed, Murder Construct, Phobia and Jesu, he brings another wide variety to the camp!”
http://www.sickdrummermagazine.com
Modern Drummer Magazine – Issue February 2005
“Speaking of musical lunacy, Uphill Battle’s maniacal hardcore and weird prog jazz might have you booking more shrink appointments than you can afford. During their second album “Wreck of Nerves” you’ll have trouble getting Danny Walker’s schizoid tempos”
moderndrummer.com
The Daily Rotation
“Danny Walker has certainly made his mark on the scene in the 10 years he’s been involved in it. He’s played and/or toured with dozens of bands in all different sub-genres of metal, building up a solid and consistent resume within the tightly packed scene.
It’s pretty obvious just from that list he’s got some pretty superlative chops. He’s possesses everything that makes a metal drummer great: Speed, agility, dexterity, creativity and endurance. Of all the bands he’s played with however, I think his true genius shows through the most in Intronaut. It’s this kind of forward-thinking mentality that makes Danny such a joy to listen to. He’s consistently pushing the boundaries of metal and drumming in general and it’s always exhilarating to listen to.”
thedailyrotation.com
dannywalkerdrummer.com 