History of an Unknown Genre

Until now, blast beats have been a musical fable. With virtually no written publication and no educational forum available, blast have been a part of musical expression for the better part of 15 years. Starting as far back as 1984 with the movement of European grind core, bands all across Europe and America where using this form of aggression in the mid to late 80's but it wasn't until napalm death recorded their first effort entitled “scum” in 1987 that blast became a form of musical expression on it's way to becoming genre all it's own.

Meanwhile in the states grind was taking a shape of it's own and one drummer stands out as one that changed blast drumming into what it is today. Pete Sandoval of terrorizer and later morbid angel, made it musical by giving blasting a time signature. Up until this point blasting was just notes for the sake of aggression, with no timing or structure with in the musical text. Pete along with many other death metal drummers refined a style of drumming through out the late 80's early 90's that exist today and is being taken to an even higher level by today's extreme metal players by giving education and clarification about this style of drumming.

Today seems to see extreme drumming and music going to an even higher level of popularity. With more appreciation for the craft from other musicians out side the genre through out the world and the amount of education on the subject through the web. We are pushing for a level of acceptance not yet achieved in this style of music to date. Blast beats are being used by an assortment of metal bands but nothing tops the mayhem and endurance levels of today's extreme metal drummers who's tempos can push 16th notes into the 230bpm and above range for minutes at a time. Bands like Cryptopsy, Nile, Origin, and Hate Eternal are pushing the endurance levels to a new high while retaining musical qualities. (at least to some people.)

Why would a drummer want to go though the trouble of such physical demanding playing? Other than the obvious musical purpose, it's like the drummer vs. the drum kit, an achievement, so to speak. Setting a goal and reaching it. And for those who argue that chops and speed does not matter, this is one style of music that seems to require both to drive the point home. Although, with all styles of music, feel seems to always be the most important element among extreme metal musicians…even if it's playing a million miles per hour.

We, as extreme drummers are at an exciting point in the musical “time-line”. Through understanding, education and knowledge about our drumming, we are slowly showing the rest of the musical world that we are drummers to be heard and taken seriously.