As the present drummer of a reunited Pantera, Charlie Benante has a novel perspective on the kitwork of the late Vinnie Paul.
Benante, greatest referred to as the stickman for Anthrax, clearly needed to be taught Paul’s elements earlier than stepping behind the package in Pantera — a major endeavor that required acute memorization, intuition, and mimicry of Vinnie’s personal signature methods and strategies, a la his double-bass drum work.
“Cowboys from Hell” would have been one of many first songs Benante needed to grasp, and we’re already aware about its expert-level drum elements after Drumeo cruelly thrust EDM artist Zedd behind the package and compelled him to compose a drum half having by no means heard the music earlier than.
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Now, Drumeo is again with a barely extra academic video specializing in “Cowboys from Hell” and that includes Benante himself, with the drummer sitting down for a full-song breakdown of Vinnie Paul’s association.
As Zedd can testify, the intro to the music is an instantaneous hurdle and requires endurance and anticipation on the a part of the drummer, who should look forward to the guitar riff because the cue for that first snare hit.
“Zakk [Wylde] begins that riff that’s so identifiable,” mentioned Benante, “and man, when that music kicks in, I simply let that groove occur. It’s simply so highly effective.”
From there, Charlie runs by the music’s pre-chorus double-kick sample and accompanying tom work, a kind of rhythmic burst that’s bookended by the central riff and verse construction. The half permits Benante so as to add a little bit of variation and inflection relying on his temper.
“Typically I play it with extra pleasure,” laughed Benante, “and typically I simply play it the best way [Vinnie] does it.”
The true problem comes throughout what Benante describes because the music’s “lead part,” which options some spastic shred guitar soloing from Dimebag Darrell. Right here, Vinnie Paul modifications up his beat whereas throwing in some cymbal prospers, and listening to Benante’s remoted drum combine showcases simply how rhythmically intricate this part is.
“He alters the beat on the second and fourth time the place he’ll do what I name a ‘Neal Peart half,’” Charlie mentioned. “I like enjoying that as a result of it jogs my memory of RUSH.”
That takes Benante proper to the music’s outro, a barrage of double-bass and snare that even the longtime Anthrax stickman has bother describing.
“He does fairly a little bit of that all through the profession of Pantera; I don’t even know what you’ll name it… a double-bass tough?” he mentioned.
After breaking down every part, Benante then runs by a full playthrough of the music. Watch the whole clip beneath, and for those who’re trying to choose up the drums or enhance your expertise, Drumeo is providing a 30-day free trial for brand new members.