How To Play Blast Beats With Archspire Drummer Spencer Prewett

[@DemonizedTX]

I love how he explained the gravity blast. "So it's just 1,2, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

[@waveemann8857]

Every video where a metal drummer explains how to do fast double kick or blast is literally "yeah so it's 1 2 1 2 *400bpm*", you almost never hear them explain how they developed it, what they had trouble with etc

[@eliminatetheleader]

@@waveemann8857 "start slow and build up speed"

[@thelastdaybreathinginetern1385]

Imagine if Oli Explained vocals.. Involuntary Doppelganger blegh! Then he says, oh sorry I know it's a tounge twister but you'll get it

[@Lucivras]

Hehe blast beat go brrrrr

[@ashflash4737]

Hahahaha

[@mattsbo]

Its crazy how good AI is nowadays, its saying things like "i used to get pain in my knee" and "after playing a long set i would get so tired" so it can appear human. Amazing stuff!

[@JoshuaSchmalstig]

His laugh sounded human too!

[@sebqstjan]

Im dead😂

[@brandondavis3988]

I find it funny how he explains his playing and techniques like a personal trainer.

[@Centipede_Solaire]

He’s talked in other videos about how seriously he takes cardiovascular health to be able to play like this every night. I think it’s pretty cool

[@jasonconnolly31]

His bass drum technique is prehistoric! Also hip flexors flex your hip, he doesn’t seem to realize!

[@dungeonmasterblaster5600]

@@jasonconnolly31 that's what he's doing tho?

[@jasonconnolly31]

Hip flexors lift your leg from a seated position!

[@dungeonmasterblaster5600]

@@jasonconnolly31 oh so not like pressing down?

[@malonemuert]

So much talking about muscles, pain, blood pumping... you won't fool us, we know you're a cyborg.

[@Ryo7_7]

Lol for real. He's off the charts good.

[@psychaoticdrumma3061]

But cyborgs still bleeding. When it bleeds u can kill it😅. But he is a very hard match. After 315bpm i stopped chasing him🤘

[@OnThaCode]

not a cyborg...just triggered

[@DeathEgg666]

wow this dude has thought of everything, love how he thinks of his heart while drumming, certainly learned a lot from this video, thank you

[@aFutureSelf]

DeathEgg666 I don’t even play drums and I thought that was super insightful and interesting.

[@leonardomattarmonteiro2824]

@@aFutureSelf Second that 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@dewahiweunmoatzn]

So does flo mounier..changing muscle to keep that inhumane style possible for the human body..eloy casagranda..wow that guy..he just uses one myscle called his body..i would like to see them sludge..doom.crossover and some bestial archgoat,demoncy,black witxhzry,..and proto black osdm

[@muenchhausenmusic]

Yeah, this was very insightful!

[@ThorsShadow]

I like how he explains the triggers. Comparing triggers vs acoustic sound to electric guitar vs acoustic guitar is an interesting way to look at it (myself being a guitar player).

[@theopinson3851]

He’s also quite right about triggers being honest. Many times I’ll record something and play the dry tracks and think “ok…that sounds pretty good.” Then I’ll sample replace (basically the in-studio version of triggering) and realize NOPE, gotta do another take lol.

[@worldsgreatestdetective926]

These guys are setting the bar with how fast and technical you can play metal,Tech Death, whatever you wanna call it.

[@Benobot99]

Especially with their newest single "Drone Corpse Aviator". It's insane.

[@tylerbostic2929]

These guys are inhuman. Amazing players

[@ImmaculateEric]

Going to see em Friday!

[@shanedelgado666]

I love that when you see any members of Inferi and Archspire there is a good chance they are wearing the opposite bands t shirts. That is a sick inferi shirt by the way.

[@MrJpm1989]

Jerry Mercer from April Wine was using something like that in his solos back in the late 70 early 80s as I remember. As I remember he was one of the only rock drummers to use something like that. Correct me if I'm wrong please, to keep learning is truly the spice of life.

[@ghostskunk]

Good tips here - loved to hear how he does things and the techniques he uses. First time I hear his voice - sounds like a great guy! Excellent video, thank you for sharing it!

[@gmanthatguy3937]

Was at this show in Oakland. Second time I have seen them there. Really nice guys to speak with. They take turns running their merch table. Saw Oli walking freely through the crowd.If you watch their interviews and videos, what you see is what you get...cool people. I wish them all the success they deserve.

[@coryd4160]

Why, yes! I AM almost 40 and still giggle when I hear someone use the words finger-blast as a drumming technique. And no! I will not grow up.

[@bioburden]

I'm 41 and I came to the comments to giggle when he said "finger-blast" 😂

[@brucelee7274]

Now i saw you again in Bochum 21. december 2019. Thank you for signing my relentles mutation longsleeve and allowing me to take a photo. i called you "master of the gravity blast".i think you have the biggest one in the world. of course it is not the only thing you do great on the drums. the thousant crash, splash, bell and cymbal hits during the butterfly roll, your one handed buzz strokes, the polyrythms, the jazzy parts you play, your special bells and the very musical and percussive way you use them, the incredible short strokes you improved again on relentless mutation and every thing i am not yet able to percieve!

[@brucelee7274]

i saw you three days ago in Karlsruhe. i was one of the two guys shouting "remote tumor seeker". you are god of the drums! you and the rest of Archspire are unique. i wish you all endless power for your tour, cause you play every day! Hope you stay long together and make a lot of albums, pushing further the limits of what is possible in technical death metal!

[@darkdeceptionkillsthelight9653]

To summarize the video in one word: Essentially Love it

[@eamonahern7495]

I couldn't play like him with all the triggers and quantizing in the world. He's top notch, like a machine.

[@zane01235]

I'm guessing you dont understand what triggers are...

[@BoogieWoogieCat]

Funny how you clearly don't understand what triggers are, when all you had to do is hear his explanation about it. Triggers DO NOT make you play better, they DO NOT make playing easier. They just make it EASIER to hear every stroke AND making it HARDER to play, because of how obvious they are. You cannot get away with a single mistake if you use triggers. Everybody will hear it, there's no way of hiding it.

[@dickersnoodle1025]

@@BoogieWoogieCat hes kind of saying that lmao hes saying even if he had all that stuff he wouldnt be nearly as good, proving your point

[@TheWitchOvAgnesi]

Very interesting about his leg posture. I have been trying to play double bass solely heel down and I noticed the same thing, namely that if I extend my legs, it becomes immensely easier. As does playing heel up when I do. Another drummer who plays like this (and flat-footed/heel down) is Namtar from Carach Angren.

[@baldguywithbeard]

That switch blast reminds me a lot of the Dirk blast, Dirk plays it in triplets tho.

[@wesleysmith5483]

It’s a pretty common rudiment actually. I was doing these 17 years ago in a black metal band. I picked it up from marching band/drum corps. Honesty, most metal drummers (beginner/intermediates) could really benefit from rudimentary type drumming.

[@MarxOnMars]

I love drums, drums cam videos etc and this is the first time I heard about blood pumping, endurance and heart

[@jaxxmachine788]

Technician to drum theory. I'm surprised about how much thought he puts in to playing efficiently. Awesome musician 😎

[@imthemetalguy1]

Spencer is the pioneer for extreme death metal drummer health

[@a-dawg8711]

Actually sir, that would be Gene Hogland 😎 . He talks about how his approach was similar to athletes in terms of recovery and training in a drumeo interview that you should check out. He is the true metal god of extreme death metal drumming and his resume will speak for itself based on timeline of the records he played on. (no knock or diss to the canuk Spencer here though, I've played shows with Archspire a few times, once on their first Canadian tour and I can tell you spencer wasn't as recognized then as he is now, but he still dropped jaws, especially to the other guys when he would rehears/warm up in the back of the venue)

[@behindthen0thing525]

​@@a-dawg8711that's why gene looked like Ron Jeremy like 350 lbs what a great athlete

[@a-dawg8711]

@@behindthen0thing525 that description was hilarious, but Ive met Gene in person and he looks heavier than you think. Chubby? maybe, but his endurance is no joke. His approach with his feet alone is enough to make ordinary drummers puss out. Combat boots with ankle weights? fuggin yikes.

[@Algebra2Master]

Pillows and blankets in the bass drum head is #1 drummer nostalgia for me; nothing tops achieving that compressed sound as a beginner.

[@kekkek7888]

that inferi shirt .... respect

[@onebigwolfyboi]

Inferi toured with Archspire! Awesome stuff.

[@robynholley2180]

"any quantizing?" *looks almost annoyed* "no. no quantize." i like that approach. i do the same thing, but i play doom....not much quantizing needed for me, but everyone can tell when i'm off. pushes me to be better constantly

[@patrickholliday4982]

An athletic synopsis of drumming by Spencer Prewitt

[@fartvader84yearsago8]

Spencer: Do you know the rule about having all your drum parts below your heart?? Mike Mangini: The what??

[@michaelcallaghan3070]

😂😂😂 very good! 👍😎🇮🇪

[@MrJpm1989]

Thank you so very much for sharing your style with us. It's not the easiest thing to find someone who will share their skills and techniques with others. After all what is music if it's not shared with others through and through. Thank you.

[@tricialicious1]

You might appreciate Marthyn's Drum Academy podcast here on jütube

[@MrJpm1989]

@@tricialicious1 thank you so much. I will watch them ❤️.

[@6sic666666]

I feel him in a spiritual level on the knee pain. Once you go past 25, playing like this affects your body. Respect!!! (Yes, I’m old lmao 28 if you must know)

[@JesusLordOfLords455]

Lol

[@BurrenSHdrums]

Try when you're 39

[@tofu-warrior7948]

28 ain't old mate. If you think it is, you've got a shock coming later on in life

[@behindthen0thing525]

28 isn't old you're still a boy

[@DrumFFx]

the end of the video might have unexpectedly changed my entire life.. i knew i was missing something.. thank you for the amazing video 🙏🏼

[@beyond_the_tequila_rift3194]

Spencer prewett is like a the mad crazy scientist of drums that creates some of the craziest experiments that are archspire songs!!! He spunds like he's referencing ancient drumming techniques and creating different monstrosities on the kit!!! 🤘🤘

[@ryanscot7445]

This guy is smart! He knows anatomy, physics (gravity), and great grammar.

[@hamiltonbrown1989]

Love his reasoning for the trigger approach

[@Jsbmetal74]

Physiology meets drumming. Brilliant 😮

[@tommaw3204]

The fact that he's using the Vic Firth Metal N drumsticks makes this even more mind blowing! I tried using them once and my arm muscles were wrecked in half an hour. They be Thicc and Hevvy!

[@alexeicauchi9968]

Was about to comment on this! Definitely no mean feat; to pair their weight and thickness to play at such speeds is...mind-blowing.

[@Mop_v21]

I’m a guitarist why am I watching this

[@yentamoon1808]

@@theMelvinShow not true! With enough practice and determination you could be just like those God-tier instrumentalists!

[@craigpaulson3503]

Usually a guitarist watches a video like this for one of two t reasons; 1) you're interested in learning how to drum, or 2) your drummer sucks and you want to know what qualities to look for in your next drummer.

[@DemonstrativePronoun]

It's great to hear professionals talk about their techniques. It really helps me to realize they also struggle with things like pain and learning techniques. For example, he can't swivel his kicks when that's a pretty common technique from my knowledge. As a guitarist I always hate that I'm not the best at every technique. Then I hear people I idolize say things like "fuck why did I write this song so fast" and "I'm not a good alternate picker" and I realize they're all human and run into the same issues as any of us trying to improve. It also helps to analyze other instruments for inspiration. For example, I remember seeing the drum video for Nightbringers and realizing that Alan always had his right foot hitting the eighth notes and would use his left foot when he needed the play sixteenths. I adapted this to using downstrokes for the eighth notes and up strokes for the sixteenths and it helped match that aggressive tone they had there.

[@Dicroiz]

HAHAHAHAHAHA awesome, me also doing this

[@brycemooreguitar]

Same😂

[@cannibal666]

Every time I listen archspire the beats blow my mind💥 the guy Is a machine🤘insane drummer💥👍🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@brianwilson7928]

This guy is a real pro. Whoever they get next will have huge shoes to fill

[@FlipperWolf]

That was super interesting even not being a drummer!

[@DRUM]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@DazsdWTP]

thanks for the help on the gravity blasts, reminds me of the tutorial on how to draw an owl, start with a circle and now draw the rest of the owl

[@oliverwinter8411]

One thing I found interesting about what Spencer Prewett was saying, is that you have to find techniques to conserve energy so that you can play faster for long periods of time. I don’t know if people think about how hard it would be to play the stuff Archspire performs, and let alone for hours in one concert. It blows my mind seeing how fast Steven plays. It’s just unreal.

[@zhdrums3872]

I like to think about it instead of heart height as resting position. Since your elbows main resting place is more by your ribs. I like to make sure everything is relatively "low" while playing on a high throne and close to where i can reach and hit everything without having to fully extend my arms. Making reaching cymbals and everything easier when playing faster bpms and reducing the amount of effort necessary to reach them as well

[@random_me666]

Thanks! Definitely gonna come in handy!

[@malaspuzvicalnakrpa]

Looking forward to see you guys again in december in Ljubljana. Superb band.

[@lars5174]

I keep hitting the side of the snare when I try Gravity Blasts. I get that wood meets metal sound. Guess I'm just a reggae drummer and always will be.

[@injestpowerviolence8519]

How to play blastbeats with the archspire drummer - biggest understatement ever

[@humanlife808]

I'm glad to hear the physical ailments & limitations acknowledged. It's ok to be human. 😎

[@MetalRiderPlasma]

I hope he make some DVD lessons, and I dont even play Drums.

[@dochnee1498]

Yeah and you wouldn't be buying it anyways

[@mellindrums]

There's a more optimal sticking for that switch blast which is basically a paradiddle with a unison stroke (U) on every accent. Like: ULRR URLL etc. It gives your hands more time to move to the cymbals from the snare.

[@bradsmith5136]

Seems like a really cool guy. Thanks Spencer!

[@thelastdaybreathinginetern1385]

Wait... his hands didn't fall off ? Btw I am obsessed with Archspire. Ive been listening to them everyday since 2018

[@danny90323754]

Switch blast is easier to play it like 3 times right then switch it to left so you're able to make the switch easier. So like 123-1234-1234-1234. Right right right - Left left left left - Right right right right. So first you'll play the first hihit on the first right hit and the second hihit you'll play on the second left hit

[@d36williams]

dudes dropping tons of knowledge

[@Disambiguation144]

Dude is amazing, Thanks for this video

[@leonardomattarmonteiro2824]

An absolute MASTERCLASS in DRUM Technique. EXTREME MONSTER 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@marcoabyss]

came here for the blast beats and learned something about triggers. \m/

[@b.s.4478]

Insane drummer! 🤯🤘

[@SmellsLikeEMinor]

Switch blast? Myself and pretty much everyone I know call that "Spencer Prewetting".

[@zekeescra5791]

A total genius.

[@AngelVega-vp8rl]

Mans an inspiration.

[@markwrenn5965]

This was crazy informative. Thanks

[@squirtreynolds2853]

“Finger blast” that’s my favorite 😂

[@Stormgate666]

seems like a cool guy! thanks for sharing

[@donjohnson5653]

Great information ✌👊🏼😎 thank you

[@escapegulag4317]

thats true musicianship right there

[@thehappychildrenFL]

Loved his work in the old MK movies as Raiden

[@tomdewispelaere4727]

If my wish would be to live untill I can play drums like that...I'd be immortal!

[@DRUM]

Sure beats having to become a vampire!

[@drewharrito5705]

Phenomenal drummer. Sick tips maaaan.

[@TheMooseintree14]

Sick inferi shirt!!!

[@MusicMaestro221]

I’ve always been that asshole that thought of triggers as a form of drum cheating, but hearing spencer explaining how he uses it completely changed my perception of them

[@Menoetius.]

Right. Gotta be on point with those things if ur playing fast

[@BoogieWoogieCat]

2:40 I'm a bit confused, isn't the flat foot technique basically using your hip flexors like he's doing? He said that technique didn't work for him, but it doesn't seem like he changed much.

[@Garbagejuicewaterfall]

The classic Fingerblast is still my favorite 😝

[@christophercarson7733]

Spencer is professor blast he was meant to be heard and for us to learn

[@pocketsdsquirrel3207]

Coming back to this after Spencer's departure. Sad :(

[@a-gosselin-drums3993]

The meinl CC dark might be the most popular china these days!

[@MrKveldulv]

What big matches he plays with!😊

[@clamstermcwinkle2514]

Pearl reference and a Sabina pro sonic ride. Now that’s either end of the spectrum right there. But if it works it works.

[@terrapin9ify]

Thank you so much for this ❤!

[@Altuz]

I find that playing with my hip flexors gives me much more power on the kick as well.

[@ianwashington7751]

Watch Emil from Aeon. His double kick endurance with swivel technique is unmatched

[@titus9303]

im so freakin impressed wowie.... 🤯

[@trialbyicecream]

What a cool dude. Hope he’s doing well with whatever he’s f doing now.

[@caliokiegrownoklahoma4119]

I use hip flexor technique for faster stuff and flat for slower tempos.

[@sardaukar2809]

I had the same kind of explanations in high level literature lessons. HD is like.. fusion, not breaking. You know ? It makes sense when you're up to it. And as a drummer, I must say... i love the video, but i'm swimming in an ocean right now.

[@Chill-mm4pn]

I don't play drums but always thought they were badass.

[@felipegiraldo8100]

Drums are the best instrument ever

[@tuomasleinonen9459]

I don't always play drums but when I do, I'll blast 'em

[@leonardomattarmonteiro2824]

SENSEI SPENCER PREWETT = THE Greatest DRUMMER on Earth 2021

[@iamqqqqqqq]

Fingerblast lol

[@Chill-mm4pn]

HORSES' MUSIC-DOGS Gotta keep her happy.😂

[@devinmoran59]

I always use my hip flexors to help me fingerblast

[@theseoldhands532]

Morgan Sansous was doing the switch blast 20 odd years ago

[@theseoldhands532]

and his kicks are still the best

[@DomesticatedDemon]

This just sounds like marching band drums. I've noticed that about a lot of newer metal drumming. The hits are so much softer than they used to be. It's like it's in style to sacrifice power for speed. Unless you're talking about el estepario 😂 That dude has power at any speed. 🤯

[@Cybothron]

Imagine being a drum kit and this guy sits on the throne.

[@taunokekkonen5733]

Fip flexors raise your knee to your chest, so when he says that he uses his hip flexors to push his knees down, it's actually his glutes.

[@MMasterDE]

This is some good stuff.

[@gradybrowning3976]

Intelligent Guy!

[@YeahTheDuckweed]

What a *gamer.*

[@digitaldeathsquid3448]

Would it not be slightly more practical to voice the switch blasts as flam paradiddles?

[@Philipp_Thielen_510]

It is weird that most people play switch blasts, when the Dirk Blast allows for a much more consistent cymbal work

[@c95060]

actually they are quite the same thing despite dirk blasts are triplets instead of being sixteenth notes

[@mckinleyedson1815]

@@c95060 they are also flams so its sorta different

[@catface]

Spencer is true master

[@thinktank8389]

As a child in 60s we called that the slow mans roll. Funny now it's a main thing. A child can do this. Oh, we call it (A RIM shot). That's what it is.

[@rea50]

Yeah, some songs are so fast that's impossible to use traditional techniques

[@nigelgrim]

Most beautiful snare skin in the world!

[@joetobin-drummer5260]

That double bass demonstration though.... nailed it but I only heard one drum. Maybe I'm deaf.