As the present drummer of a reunited Pantera, Charlie Benante has a singular perspective on the kitwork of the late Vinnie Paul.
Benante, finest often called the stickman for Anthrax, clearly needed to study Paul’s elements earlier than stepping behind the package in Pantera — a major enterprise that required acute memorization, intuition, and mimicry of Vinnie’s personal signature tips 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 of 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 track 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 track is an instantaneous hurdle and requires persistence and anticipation on the a part of the drummer, who should watch for 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 track kicks in, I simply let that groove occur. It’s simply so highly effective.”
From there, Charlie runs by the track’s pre-chorus double-kick sample and accompanying tom work, a type 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.
“Generally I play it with extra pleasure,” laughed Benante, “and generally I simply play it the best way [Vinnie] does it.”
The actual problem comes throughout what Benante describes because the track’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 thrives, and listening to Benante’s remoted drum combine showcases simply how rhythmically intricate this part is.
“He modifies the beat on the second and fourth time the place he’ll do what I name a ‘Neal Peart half,’” Charlie mentioned. “I like taking part in that as a result of it jogs my memory of RUSH.”
That takes Benante proper to the track’s outro, a barrage of double-bass and snare that even the longtime Anthrax stickman has hassle 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 track. Watch all the clip under, and should you’re trying to choose up the drums or enhance your abilities, Drumeo is providing a 30-day free trial for brand spanking new members.
