The Genius Drumming Of Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich is one of the OG great drummers. Hios drumming in Metallica's great albums such as And Justice For All, Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets is absolutely iconic BUT his other drumming is just as good, but in a more subtle way. So today here we are diving deep into why alrs Ulrich is a genius drummer.
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[@LeoAtlantideo]

?!?!... so what about Danny Carey from Tool..?... Please Watch "Danny Carey live Pneuma" .... and bow to REAL CLASS ...and, what about Megadeath (already a really stupid name....), they have a real disgrace: Mustaine's voice

[@lionelbasse]

Danny Carey is an awesome drummer Listen to his chocolate chip trip solo

[@kariic3824]

I hope you realize that there can be other genius drummers

[@noahenzoperea]

Hey man I freaking worship Danny Carrey and Tool… but you’re acting conceited ‘n stupid.

[@HD-md9pr]

Triggered much?

[@oblivion3058]

Pin of shame 😂

[@williamcozart8158]

Lars has always been capable of amazing shit, he just doesn't like PRACTICE.

[@fabienlamour3644]

He should have......

[@caronte008]

He gets bored of playing exactly the same notes every night. He's a very emotional player. He likes to lash out however he feels at the moment.

[@fabienlamour3644]

@@caronte008 Ben oui ben oui

[@YOUARESOFT.]

na he good@@fabienlamour3644

[@shallex5744]

@@caronte008 i don't think he's ever played a song just like the record in his entire life, the closest he ever got was in the live performances in the first few years from 1983-1986 that were pretty much almost just like the album, then after that he started deviating heavily more and more as the years goes on. i don't think that he gets bored of playing the same notes, because at this point, he largely does play the same notes every night, in some songs at least. instead of doing all the cool fills and different parts and nuances from the original song, a lot of his performances these days have him just falling into the same loops and playing the same fills over and over again. it would be new and fresh and he would be playing different notes if he chose to actually play the song like it was written, but instead he has fallen into a rut of playing the same fills and the same simplified beats over songs, so it really can't be a boredom thing, because it's boring to do what he does now. it has to be a laziness/negligence/lack of caring thing

[@anthonygillette]

0:55 don’t forget, Lars has basically arranged all of their music. He is such a huge part of the production and composition of Metallica songs. Has been since Ride the Lightning

[@anthonygillette]

Yes, Cliff did a lot of the writing and harmonies for RTL and MoP, but Lars is the one who arranged most of the riffs and has been very involved with the entire production process

[@notofthisgod32]

I agree. He doesn't get enough credit for his songwriting & composition abilities. He & James did everything for a long time

[@nategin9009]

That's like the easiest part of writing songs

[@anthonygillette]

@@nategin9009 okay, you take hundreds of riff ideas that your friends brought over on cassettes and turn them into full blown songs 🤷

[@nategin9009]

@@anthonygillette that's what I did all the time lmao. Guitar players it's easy to write riff after riff after riff. Rhythm players can put it together to make sense and be catchy. That's easy for drums and bass. If you ever played in a band you'd know this

[@tfejulienewmar]

Lars has written some of the most memorable and recognisable beats I've heard in metal. His drums always sound huge and mighty too. He doesn't sound like he's trying to impress anybody, he sounds like he's playing from his heart and it draws me in each time. I think he's criminally underrated

[@endergamer.mp4]

more like criminally overhated but i agree, his drumming in the albums are great. definitely my favorite drummer.

[@GerkoRodriguez]

And what about live? They should hire a tour drummer then, cause lars cant play for sht live 😂 😂

[@Zam1Fear]

He's a great drummer for the band. He's not a great drummer. His beats are easy to follow. It doesn't need to be difficult. It's perfect for the music, but in terms of years he's been playing and his skill level compared to other thrash (or any) metal drummers, he reached a certain level, and never pushed himself further, and he hasn't gotten better with age, he's gotten worse. His live performance is crap for a band of that caliber.

[@AngryLoser9690]

@@Zam1Fear dawg he got tinnitus

[@gogito7448]

I love how lars accents James. It's a beautiful rhythm machine.

[@GerkoRodriguez]

Except he cant keep the rhythm

[@scottsantos]

@@GerkoRodriguez Anymore. He used to do quite fine.

[@tshred666]

⁠@@scottsantoseven on the early records he’s sloppy. Like the intro to motorbreath. Sounds like he’s trying to add swing to a triplet which sounds sloppy imho

[@xvx_k1r1t0_xvx_killme5]

@@GerkoRodriguezi’m not saying you specifically, but i feel like people who say lars can’t keep time don’t know what a tempo change is. yeah they are jarring when done poorly, so i get it, but it’s my pet peeve when it comes to lars at least

[@tshred666]

@@xvx_k1r1t0_xvx_killme5 his tempo shifts are actually smooth and silky most of the time. What he fucks up is keeping count and will try and skip ahead to the end of a passage to the point that you’ll see Rob or Jason (cliff was always just vibin in the free time jams most of the time) conducting and keeping count for him or he’ll have genuinely awful execution and articulation in rolls and fills and accents. Or just a genuinely awful drum tone (basically from garage days on).

[@brettbeard870]

Lars was able to make up for technicality with energy, aggression, and feel. Look at Metallica live in Seattle. 1989, i’d take that Lars any day.

[@maytechmayhem6178]

Great concert

[@BraydonSpivey]

100% agree. The scene in that concert where they’re playing For Whom The Bell Tolls and Lars stands up and just points to the crowd screaming “LOOK AT THAT! LOOK AT THAT!” gives me goosebumps every single time without exaggeration. Also Kirk’s solo when the song is over is iconic. Best sound I’ve ever heard from him

[@brettbeard870]

@@BraydonSpiveylets not forget Newsted being possessed by the the backing vocal demon, lol

[@BraydonSpivey]

@@brettbeard870 Absolutely🤘🏻

[@cbolton81]

So 30 years ago was his peak?! He’s hasn’t gotten better at drums. Hes always been the worst talent of Metallica.

[@caprikorny8480]

The drumming in " until it sleeps" is beautiful. The ghost notes though.

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

Lars don’t use grace notes lol

[@caprikorny8480]

@@PNW_Sportbike_Life then what is that in the song?

[@yoshisaur90]

@@PNW_Sportbike_Life he actually does. You just aren’t going to find them in many songs at all. The first 4 albums don’t really have any need for them since they are just aggressive thrash. But you can find him using them a few times in the 90s

[@underscoreisnotvalid]

The best lars fill is the climax of the frayed ends of sanity. Blows my mind every time

[@VARVIS_]

God damn yeah that one is good

[@MegaTeostyle]

@@VARVIS_ The Shortest Straw drumming is epic.

[@brunoyanez5263]

​@@MegaTeostyle u stole me the comment, The Shortest Straw is the peak of Lars

[@MegaTeostyle]

@@brunoyanez5263 genius drumming there. Once in a lifetime. Can’t be repeated ever again.

[@brunoyanez5263]

​@@MegaTeostylevery veeery underrated song too and it's my favorite from AJFA

[@mysteriousbeaver666]

I think the key that A LOT of people miss is that the best musicians serve the song. That should be anyone’s goal with what they’re playing and he does it literally every time. Part of the reason that Metallica is so famous is because LARS plays to serve the song, not to show off. That’s HUGE. Overplaying doesn’t make you a better musician.

[@stevebeye1585]

Thank you writing that. Word for word what I think.

[@akshayde]

Yeah, I don't think he can overplay 😂

[@Jayteaseepiirturi]

Exactly THIS. I think Lars is actually really meticulous about what he does. Like the dude in the video says (I'm on this channel for the first time), he's not the drummer's drummer, he's the songwriter's drummer.

[@stevebeye1585]

@@akshayde he’s a high profile version, of the fact that sometimes not knowing what you’re doing, or lacking mad chops, sometimes yields great results.

[@akshayde]

@@stevebeye1585 yeah no doubt. Many people are successful in the world and most of them aren't know it all geniuses. You just gotta be in the right time with the right bunch of people and know just about enough but have your own vibe.

[@VolgarR]

I believe AJFA is Lars’ peak as far as his drumming, after countless listens, there are always new little parts and details that I didn’t hear before, it’s eargasmic to me to listen to this record and focus solely on the drums, even if controversial, I LOVE the drum sounds on this album, gives it a cold psychotic relentless feel, as if he was smacking you in the face every snare hit

[@VARVIS_]

100% agree with you!

[@hazardeur]

that's some studio magic mojo for ya

[@bwgti]

@@hazardeur Oh. I have heard all that drumming was created from a lot of cut up audio tape. But I love AJFA. And it sounds greart.I can listen to it straight though anytime. But "what about Jason!?". Well. Their friend died. And they thought it was a good idea to be total dicks to the guy they hired to replace him. So there isn't any bass on an album recorded almost 35 years ago. People should really get the fuck over it.

[@Lasse3]

I'm with you. The drums on 'One' is iconic and I'm referring to the opening and verses. Lars deserves much praise, and I'm also Danish 🎉 Edit. It's a studio recording, it's ok to cut the tape and get clean samples of drumming..... Lars is not very rhythmically gifted, he is not the drummer of Toto, and instead plays very un-tight. What Lars brings to the table instead is something completely different that is an essential part of Metallica.

[@hazardeur]

@@bwgtijup, its cut and paste before that was a thing. anyway, i have a weird attitude with lars' playying, especially on ajfa. he's obviously not a good drummer and i can hear that as a drummer myself if i want to focus on it. on the other hand though....would i want another drummer on that record? probably not. maybe it's because i didnt care for the finer details when i was younger and thats just how i know the record but his weird ass drumming really fits oddly wel in places and also is kinda unique in its own limited way. same goes for the sound.....the bassless but extremely compressed mix is how i like it. is it a good mix? definitely not. would i change it? nope. maybe i'm just accustomed to it but i like unique and unusual things and you can say a lot of things about that mix but nobody ever said that it sounds like your average late 80s metal mix

[@MortuusMachina]

Imagine if AJFA had the production of the Black Album… I think it would be the greatest Metal record of all time

[@yoshisaur90]

AJFA would be their undisputed best album if there was just some damm bass in that mix

[@ehoc42]

Idk if the drum and guitar sound of the black album should work for the faster tempos of AFJA

[@backandtotheleff]

Still a top 3 best metal album of all time

[@BromanderInChief]

⁠@@ehoc42 Not saying the exact production, but rather the production quality of TBA. The tone on AJFA is godly, that’s not being touched. But no way in hell is any producer worth their weight gonna let what happened with the lack of bass and occasional weird snare sounds in AJFA happen. Otherwise it is actually a flawless album including Lars’s best drum work to date but unfortunately it is what it is.

[@zyriuz2]

Bro you want ajfa with clean sounds like the "heavy wet" sound instead of the "distorted dry" sound of actual ajfa you can literally just listen to master of puppets.

[@hechogamermx4812]

Lars inspired a legion of drummers to play double bass; he certainly made me do it. A brilliant drummer and businessman.

[@markusaurelius777]

Hahahahahahaha

[@user-oy6qc5dj9i]

Keith Moon of The Who played Double Bass

[@boethius1812]

Irrelevant comment by a low IQ person.

[@coffeedemon74]

​@user-oy6qc5dj9i they didn't say nobody else inspired people. Reading comprehension?

[@captainjefferies9047]

@@user-oy6qc5dj9i Yeah but he sucked.

[@zacharyseibert4526]

Lars is one of the most influential metal drummers of all time PERIOD

[@danilhaes]

He did a good job on their first albums. Musically, he went uphill as the rest of the band until he decided that drums wasn't his first and only goal in life after the "And Justic for All" / "Black Album" era. And that's ok. But he isn't one of the most influential drummers of all time. That's not true. That's too much.

[@fork9001]

@@danilhaesNo Lars = No Metallica = Heavy and Thrash Metal dies in the 80s/90s Even Pantera only turned heavy because of Metallica and Megadeth exists because Lars found Dave on a ad. His drum parts on most Metallica songs cant possibly be improved because of the groove it brings to the song. Remember, influential ≠ well skilled

[@michaelmorningstar8645]

​@@danilhaesIf you don't know Lars is the most influential drummer working today you don't know drumming.

[@GerkoRodriguez]

@@michaelmorningstar8645if you think lars is the end of the road you are the stoopid one my friend

[@GerkoRodriguez]

@@fork9001so you are saying he is influential in drumming because the band he was in? Its so obvious they let them stay in the band cause he had the contacts

[@DarrynGrills]

A talented musician makes extremely complex and complicated pieces, an even better musician does what fits the song and sounds good.

[@AgentLemmon]

A masterful musician combines the two. Like Brann Dailor from Mastodon.

[@DarrynGrills]

@@AgentLemmon Or Tomas Haake from Meshuggah

[@Toxicband89]

Honestly, I think Lars is a great drummer. People gave him a lot of crap, but he makes the riff sound so much better. For instance, blackened when it kicks back into the roof after the solo when he changes the drum beat halfway through. Makes the riff sound 10 times better with that switch. Genius!.

[@coolcobracommand]

Ever womder why they never play half their songs live? Because lars cant....hes terrible man....great business person made the right money moves but hes drumming is awful

[@Toxicband89]

@@coolcobracommand hes old now... They used to be extreme. I would imagine it's hard for a 60 YEAR OLD drummer to play freaking dyers eve.

[@haamunaama6071]

@@Toxicband89 Dave Lombardo doesn't seem to struggle that much.

[@coolcobracommand]

@@Toxicband89 dude look up songs they never played live...all the songs that have anything approaching Impressive....he cant play live and never has..always been a fake. Metallica would have never got where they did without him....but thats because he a sheister not his drumming skills.

[@Street-shitter]

@@coolcobracommandyour mother is terrible at her job as well. Working on the streets for $10 a time 💦🐷

[@peroxide175]

the ending fill at disposal hero’s is insane

[@KCNYC]

Lars’s drumming on Justice inspired a whole generation (including myself) to start playing drums. It’s still one of my favorite albums for drums.

[@shawnkhodai7665]

A lot of people criticize Lars but I think he is one of the drummers of all time.

[@Chicago_Podcast_Authority]

That bridge fill from Blackened you mentioned is his greatest moment behind the kit ❤

[@csabaolajos7984]

Yes yes, absolutely, Its my one of favorit, this endfill of interlude; how could he figured it out???

[@jessetrewarn7936]

Finally someone sticking up for my boy Lars

[@markusaurelius777]

Keep kissing a$$ fan boi. Phagtallica hasn't been great since AJFA.

[@willwozniak2826]

Damn straight

[@TheHockeyDude27]

Yes! For I have the same first name. I am Danish Also 🇩🇰

[@tieukhavu8832]

Everyone say he always play a bum note. Like we all do sometimes. OK?

[@JupiterKnight]

real

[@5150serg]

As a guitarist, I always loved Lars. I remember being a kid listening to the Lightning tape thinking, “I love the sound of the hats and cymbals” and I’m not even a drummer. I still love hearing the end of Disposable Heroes. The weird feel and fills from Thing are classic and the drum sound on Reload is super underrated.

[@Fiftynobiddies]

The whole song, the shortest straw is just absolutely amazing I love the drumming in that song so much

[@4812megan]

That would have to be my favourite Metallica song. It was song one on side 2 and I wore out that part of the tape from rewinding it all of the time.

[@motoboydohabbibs3153]

Hot take: Lars is the Ringo Of metal?

[@YourRelaxingMusicBuddy]

yes, yes he is

[@henningeide8355]

Ringo is a very competent, creative and steady drummer.

[@Invocado79]

LARS IS "LARS, ONE OF THE LIVING LEGENDS OF TRASH METAL! 💪🏾🙏🏾ENOUGH SAID! LONG LIVE METALLICA🤘🏾!!!(Proove me wrong"I DARE ANYONE/ANYTIME!)

[@Nuttarpillar]

🤮🤮🤢

[@slidvonjunzt7608]

I was abt to comment this!

[@elithompson88]

Would love to see a video on Dave Lombardo. He is so talented and really brings so many elements of music into his playing.

[@shryggur]

One of my favorite Lars moments is a "Take a look to the sky" with that pause. Also love Shoot Me Again, it showcases the peaks and valleys of the intensity in his style really well

[@zankerfeld9596]

Finally someone talks about the crash on 2! I don't know of any other drummer who use this as much and as efficiently!

[@michaelmorningstar8645]

It comes from CCR.

[@adriancole9681]

The ride cymbal breakdown in the middle of disposable heroes is one of my absolute favorite grooves. Super underrated, tasty, and no one talks about it!

[@chriscromelin413]

Right?! And Lars doesn't even use a ride anymore. At least not live anyway. He's said in interviews when asked about why he doesn't use a ride, he's said that he just doesn't like the feel of it. He likes to just crash on shit, and you can't really do that on a ride the same way you can on a crash or China.

[@GlazeonthewickeR]

@@chriscromelin413You absolutely can crash the fuck out of the right ride cymbal

[@mattspence1337]

@@GlazeonthewickeR yeah he pretty much showed this on the St. Anger album.

[@GerkoRodriguez]

@@chriscromelin413so he makes dumb decisión bases on being dumb, it amazes me how a DRUMMER With his budget dont know he Can have a crashable ride Cymbal, absolutely mediocre drumming

[@tylermathis-kx7pu]

That is the best part of MOP…

[@jonathandenny2870]

Lars in the 80s was a MONSTER

[@gansior4744]

I think his work in Dream no More during the main riff is amazing. Its heavy, its groovy and we know he loves it. Also, double bass in All Nightmare Long is thunderous

[@midnight347]

Glad you mention modern Metallica stuff they still make great music I hate when people act like they suck after justice couldn't be further from the truth

[@nonamebrotha]

That fill in Frayed Ends Of Sanity, just... DAMN.

[@keepthemetalflowing]

I have bashed Lars at times for his (in more recent decades) lack of enthusiasm to play unique parts. Having said that, you helped me to see something I kinda always knew, just in a different way: that Lars is THE drummer for Metallica. Period. He and James (used to) do all the arranging and writing -assembling songs into a cohesive form. Lars is not any kind of technical drummer by any stretch BUT you are so right when you stated he plays FOR the songs. Much as I admire a lot of extreme metal drummers, there are a lot of times the dynamics get lost along with subtleties. Lars, as another commenter stated: Lars is the Ringo of metal and it's a very accurate description. I saw Metallica live waaaaaaaay back on December 4th, 1988 (Phoenix/Damaged Justice tour, Queensryche opened for them) and the band were on fire! And Lars was on point. Thanks for your take and putting this video out.

[@stevebeye1585]

He absolutely plays FOR the song. He isn’t caught up in being a technician while playing. He really is the Ringo of metal

[@VARVIS_]

No thank YOU for watching my man!

[@michaelmorningstar8645]

Lars is super technical when he wants to be. His snare fills are particularly dynamic.

[@danielwildeboer1382]

@@michaelmorningstar8645 For sure!

[@alfredoleroux9492]

@@VARVIS_what is the software to aisle the drumtrack sound from the album? Can you share please?! Thanx for this amazing job!

[@BuLLeT2431]

Blackened, imo, is Lars best song as a drummer. It’s intricate, it’s fast, it’s groovy. It’s got so many elements of drumming and not to mention that the riff break after the solo changes time after the second time it’s played and his fills to transition each time were so tasty. It’s got every element of metallica and arguably could be their best song. ARGUABLY.

[@thedeadkeepitmetalcovers]

Thank you for a mature, critical take on this topic. Well done Sir! Justice for Lars indeed. Lars is the ultimate "less is more" drummer. Yeah, he's not the most talented in terms of skills, but he only ever plays what the song needs. Nothing more, nothing less. His legacy is immense. Extremely validating video 👏

[@matsnilson7727]

This video does a great job explaining Lars' strengths. No, he's not - nor has he ever been - the most technical drummer in metal, but if anything he's a fantastic example of the fact that not everyone has to be. There's definitely room for more approaches than playing super complex beats with atomic clock precision at the speed of light. I'd pick MoP/AJFA Lars over those super technical guys every time. Back then he was on fire, and came up with pretty creative stuff. Just like you say in the video, Lars plays for the song, and he does it well. Yes, I definitely have my opinions about his sloppy live approach from the 90s going forward, but I feel in the last couple of years he's actually started to care a little about being more accurate again. Maybe too late and maybe not quite enough, but I do at least notice some change. Anyway, I think Lars deserves a lot of praise for things he's done over the years, without being da technicalest drummer everest.

[@RodrigoVegaHurtado]

Songs like "To Live is to Die" or "The Thing That Should Not Be", are a masterpieces in composition terms. The way Ulrich combines drum fills with guitar is truly and exactly poetry.

[@GreenBeanBoi]

I personally think that most of his drumming on death magnetic is really well done, specifically in The End of the line, such a great groove on that one

[@rozallica]

i would like to add 2 more things: 1. lars’ drumming & songwriting patterns perfectly fit with james’ conception of riff writing (james thinks of himself as a drummer on a guitar), that’s why i think metallica is so catchy and enjoyable - it’s excellent rhythmically! 2. we should give some appreciation for lars’ drumming on load and reload, his drumming and drum sound overall is just delishious, it massages my ears all the time and gives a feeling i cannot describe

[@tricky48]

I was so turned off by those albums when they came out, that I never gave them a chance. As a teenager back then, AJFA was so influential to my musical and metal journey, that to have such a different approach on the Loads, it just didn't sit well with me. The common joke was "did you hear the Alternallica song?" I was a bit of a musical snob, as most young idiots are, and just pretended they didn't exist. As a drummer, your second point reminded me that I haven't given them a chance, since then. I think I am able to listen to it now, with an open mind, and maybe come to appreciate them. I can definitely appreciate well produced (not OVER produced) music even if I don't like the track, itself, so maybe it's time to ignore my preconceptions and listen to them for what they are, and not what I wanted them to be. Thank you for typing out the catalyst to do so \m/

[@TheRealCeeJai]

17:00 I mean, if you don't think Lars' drum sounds past the black album were good, you need to listen to the absolutely thunderous sounds of his kit on 'The Outlaw Torn', 'Fixxxer', and 'King Nothing' and the bone-crushing snap of his snare and thump of his kick on songs like 'Fuel' and 'Until It Sleeps' again. The Load/ReLoad drum sounds were so tight and satisfying. Frankly, Death Magnetic (properly *re*mastered) and Hardwired also have great drum sounds as well. Only St. Anger and 72 Seasons have been weak in that department.

[@Jayteaseepiirturi]

I agree. His playing evolved with the music and you can tell from all of it that, whatever the spot in time, Lars' aim was always... not to play the simple thing, not to play the flashy thing... but to play exactly the RIGHT thing. Not for himself, but for the song.

[@alexefors1068]

Outlaw thorn… symphonic version ❤

[@alexefors1068]

Thanks for this video! Well deserved for Lars ❤. You got the personality to stop the never ending parrots repeating blabla with arguments

[@TheRealCeeJai]

@@alexefors1068 LOL, I agree with you, but I didn't make the video! XD

[@herrroy4963]

Without Lars no Metallica. That tension between him and James has driven them to where they are today and Lars ears for creating music is certainly essential for the band. I love him.

[@davedalgarno1590]

About time someone gave lars his props,lars is a genius,his drum parts and beats ALWAYS complement the song,I’ve always been a massive fan of lars,I even ordered a tama kit as it’s what lars plays,great sounding drums too.

[@midnight347]

He's also the main song arranger and is responsible for why Metallica songs turn out like they do. He's as important as het and that's really saying something

[@davedalgarno1590]

@@midnight347 yeah that’s true,he definitely doesn’t get as much credit as he does,most people think he’s a terrible drummer but he’s inspired a lot of drummer who are famous now,i genuinely don’t understand the hate for the guy,he doesn’t deserve it,I genuinely think it’s just jealousy.

[@Stefanoski88]

I have always said, and will continue to say that Metallica will never be a Metallica without Lars drum parts. I started to play drums because of igor Cavalera and Lars. And I have to respect your effort and the time you put into these videos. Keep them coming, cheers!

[@midnight347]

I laugh when someone says imagine Metallica with a "real" drummer. I say the LAST thing Metallica needs is a different drummer. ridiculous

[@bob-ov4iq]

Lars was doing things that had never been done , he’s influenced just about every metal drummer after him and even other genres

[@ytuser54321]

Most people who hate on Lars’ drumming aren’t drummers.

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Oh we definitely are. Lars does infact suck.

[@yooutubb]

@@dcmastermindfirst9418 real

[@stevebeye1585]

That’s not a fact. Think about it. You’ll wind up smarter.

[@sahelanthropus4422]

You may be on to something. I’m definitely a guitarist and Megadeth fan, totally biased.

[@hazardeur]

you got that wrong dude. anybody that's even half serious about drums knows lars is was and always will be a crap drummer that cant even hold time. in my experience, he gets the most praise from shitty hobby drummers past their prime that listened to talllica back in the 80s and 90s. they grew up with tallicas music and dont really know what a real drummer can do, which is why lars usually gets a pass from them. true, he played on legendary albums but lets face it though, he barely made it through these records, not even talking about the concerts. he does have a unique style though, i'll give him that. made the most out of what he got, thats for sure. his lack of drumming somehow made him find unique beats which is cool. problem is that he completely stopped practicing around 20 years ago and that's when his lack of skill really got obvious. seen em in the mid 00's.... man....i couldnt believe they let this guy on the stage, that's how shitty it was. and it wasn't a hit or a forgot part or something like that. he was playing but you could hear the struggle. nowadays, they sound like a god damn high school band, and not a good one.

[@argon-18x]

My favorite Lars Ulrich groove comes from the verses of All Within My Hands, of all places. I feel like it conveys strain, uneasiness, and pent-up anger that matches perfectly with the album’s themes

[@Jayteaseepiirturi]

You know, I also love how haunting his crash ride sounds before the verse begins. I was never sure about the verse groove, but then, you know, maybe you're right. Maybe that sudden dakadaka there in the verse... maybe that's like... you're fuming. You know, how you can't quite let out what you're thinking, but you're subtly snapping at people.

[@DTM-Books]

St Anger has some of his best percussion work, lots of varied rhythms and sounds. That haphazard stitched-together style of those songs really allows for some wonderful chaos, and Lars really outdid himself here.

[@Jayteaseepiirturi]

@@DTM-Books I respect this opinion. There's a lot of rhythmically bizarre stuff in there in addition to some signaturely Metallica arrangement decisions. Funny how the mannerisms push through even if the whole thing sounds decidedly chaotic. But it can't work unless everybody is right on track.

[@DTM-Books]

@@Jayteaseepiirturi And let us not forget that "chaos" is the goal of St. Anger. It's the sound of a man clawing his way out of an early grave. It's supposed to be raw, rough, ugly, detuned, noisy. This album really dives into Metallica's punk side, and that's an idea ("thrash" being the child of UK heavy metal and punk) that has never really been examined or understood. Indeed, the way this album is arranged, with numerous jam sessions cut up and arranged into larger, epic songs, St. Anger achieves something that seems scientifically impossible: a prog-punk album. I'm reminded a lot of the 1970s Miles Davis and Teo Macero albums like Bitches Brew, Live/Evil and On the Corner. Metallica is an infinitely smarter band than most people credit them for. There is a lot going under the hood than listeners may realize, if only from all the various life experiences and musical inspirations gathered along the way. Heck, these guys snuck Skynyrd onto the first album. They know what they're doing.

[@Jayteaseepiirturi]

@@DTM-Books Sweet Home Alabama... Dave Mustaine had to point it out for me. What you said about Metallica applies to all musical artists. The life experiences and all that. But on the technical side, I agree. It's odd how Metallica can sound so simplistic and yet boundlessly complex. For guitarists it's very accessible, but that's only a scratch because you really, REALLY have to know what you're doing when getting into the structure. I like your assessment on St Anger. Progressive punk. Seems accurate.

[@FPdesignfab]

After listening to 'em 10's of thousands of times since I was 14, this video makes me realize I need to listen to them more! More!!

[@max1664]

Finally a KZbinr showing Lars some love. I was tired of these clowns talking trash about Lars. I mean he’s only the drummer for one of the biggest metal bands in the world.

[@Eyeovultrasoul]

Thank you for covering this. It always bugs be when people fuck with Lars. He is masterclass at his craft.

[@macleod1592]

Dude I totally agree. And Justice for all was a masterpiece of metal drumming. He brought the drums up to the front and made them as much a part of the guitar and vocals. I consider it the pinnacle of metal drumming. I know he's not been that great lately but I'll always love the guy for what he gave us in the 80's and how much he taught me

[@tacituskilgore3246]

Lars hits that set with power everytime and looks awesome while doing it

[@cheezy8492]

If the saying “a great drummer can make a bad band sound good, and a bad drummer can make a good band sound bad” then Lars is an enigma

[@lightningmonky7674]

Thanks for covering the drummer of my favorite old school band of all time! 🤘🏻

[@dmitryowens]

Lars plays with passion, power, attitude and energy and he creates really cool memorable beats and fills.

[@burcolclone8322]

I understand why people say Lars is a bad drummer, but I never felt that way myself about him. His drumming really works for the songs to the point where they’re iconic and they’re also really fun to play. I certainly think he’s a great drummer, even if he does struggle when playing live, I think the creativity and the good ear for what sounds good overcome his deficiency in technicality. PS: my favorite Lars drum part is that one in Frayed Ends of Sanity just right before that guitar riff everyone likes (you know the one). It’s a very brief but effective fill that sets up perfectly the next part of the song. The one in Blackened is also one of my favorites, and the drumming in Battery is just all around great and memorable

[@christabor8662]

Wait how do you understand other people saying Lars is a bad drummer ? Just dumb stuff. Like him or hate him. Lars is one of the best of all time. If you don’t know that you don’t know enough about Metallica.

[@Big_Sierra]

If you’ve ever seen them play live.. Doesn’t look like he’s struggling to me. He’s still one of the hardest hitters out there and he always brings it.

[@midnight347]

​@@Big_Sierrathat's what I'm saying hell they sound better live usually lol...I seen them in November in st louis they shook that place to its foundation. Tons of energy even at 60 I was impressed.

[@D1ofAquavibe]

Really appreciate your analysis/presentation dude - great work👍

[@timothythomas5814]

I love the fills he does in Fuel...pure gold!

[@magg93]

Finally someone who gives Lars the praise he deserves. The kind of people who hate on him are the same that fall for flashy drummers with speed and technical fills, but who lack the ability to drive a song and compliment it. This is where Lars is great, because he plays TO the music. And he is also an outstanding songwriter

[@zzzz-sf5lr]

And justice for all is the top for me. The whole album is amazing

[@jkewish10]

Hell yeah! I thought I was the only one who loved ‘Dyers Eve’! This song is nuts! His drumming on Ride the Lightning album got me started playing drums 25 years ago!

[@Beezie23]

Best fill performance overall: One -Those grooves during the verse are so subdued but so powerful Best song: to live is to die -the drums are played with the same feel and dynamics as a toned instrument. No wasted hit, every beat has a purpose Wow moment: Blackened -the whole song but specifically coming out of the solo when he shifts the beat by one everytime the main riff comes back around. Incredible stuff.

[@MrIliasboufidis]

you've shown tremendous respect to the educational aspect of this material. if i ever have another drum student, i'm saving this vid as a very good reading of drum details that arent often properly covered in drumschool, at least the one i went through...

[@nosteponsnake6855]

The fill in "Don't Tread On Me" in the intro and just prior to the chorus is one for the books.

[@lukepurse9042]

The genius of the dude editing all that tape..

[@RideEventually]

FINALLY !!! Finally someone actually sees Lars for what he really is. He never was and never will be the best metal drummer but he was, is and always be the best drummer for Metallica. You explained it all so very well that i can't add anything on the subject. Thank you for this video.

[@Jangopenguin]

The drums immediately after the solo on Blackened, the accent switch hits so good

[@rogercastilho19]

Nice vid. I really enjoy these analysis of metal music, hope there's more coming.

[@VARVIS_]

Lots more coming my man! Cheers 👍😂

[@MrStopsrust]

Thank you for this ... he doesn't deserve the hate he gets FOR HIS DRUMMING ... his life outside of that, yes... every current drummer is only improving what the og's created ...

[@NatiPerPerdereNPP]

Great video, Lars is indeed a genius. Should've mentioned the fills in The Frayed Ends of Sanity

[@lifeblood06]

Great chanel, bro! This is the first video I'm watching, but the titles alone, I'm excited to watch more

[@expectador]

Mate this was thoroughly interesting and enjoyable and pretty much spot on. thank you for this.

[@iseeyou3352]

Ngl my man. You don't get enough credit for your musical analysis and knowledge of theory. Its very nice

[@VARVIS_]

Thanks broski! I appreciate that a lot!

[@BARAKSHIMONY]

lars is one of the greatest musicians of the 20's century. but you got to have taste for feel and groove to comprehend that.

[@CYON4D]

I agree, some of his drum sound and writing are really iconic and serves the songs.

[@myrosgaming2690]

The intro to 'Motorbreath' is one of my favourite bits of drumming for Lars. It's insanely cool

[@derduuude4695]

And Justice for Lars is the most ironic phrase I‘ve ever heared

[@woutervanwijk4369]

Lars Ulrich is the drummer of all times!

[@hayden_martinn]

He also uses those double bass busts in shortest straw, sounds awesome

[@alfca]

You hit the nail on the head with this video. Iv learned perfect timing by practicing to Lars’s drumming. I wish you would have mentioned the groove during “die, die, die” on Creeping Death. You’ve got a subscriber here!

[@johndef5075]

Master of Puppets was the first time I heard Metallica. Lars drumming definitely stood out. Aggressive and lots of well timed crash cymbals. The whole band was unlike anything I had ever heard.

[@PaulSmith-pe1kh]

I honestly and blown away that anyone claims he’s not amazing. He structures every single song they do, is a genius producer and despite him perhaps not being the most technical and fastest but who the hell wants technicality and speed over the absolute insane depth and angst that Lars is somehow able to put into every single song. Esteperio is a perfect example of why Lars is the greatest metal drummer of all time (however you spell his name, you know the best drummer ever who is blowing up tiktok lately). Esteperio plays Battery, Puppets and Fuel and while it’s fun to see and of course is amazing, it doesn’t at all convey the angst Lars does. Low Man’s Lyric snare coming in at “the trash fire is warm” is an example of his genius in addition to those great examples you point out. The sound of hard skin slapping against the pavement, the heart being hit again and again by heartache and mistake laden regret. I just absolutely love his work. He’s the best drummer in my book. I’d far rather have his tempered angst and rage with such thoughtful emotion and production over the speed and precision of the others his haters are always propping up. Lars is king!!

[@BrokenStrings231]

Some of my fav Lars' grooves are Sad but true, Orion, Disposable Heroes, For whom the bell tolls, Inamorata and Too far gone, Spit out the bone, Trapped under ice, Blackened, Memory remains, King nothing and so on.

[@jackenglish1979]

Love hearing someone else acknowledge the fill in the pre-verse of Harvester of Sorrow (mentioned at 15:56); always been one of my favourites.

[@gandalfgrey91]

The fill that you mentioned from Blackened, but also the one from to Live is to Die. I don’t even have to mention what fill, you already know, thats how great he is.

[@DaltonSean-rv1do]

Finally!!!!! Always been one of my fav drummers, sure it's not flashy but who cares???? It's literally perfect!

[@Dwendele]

There's a reason nearly every modern, "amazing" drummer people use to say he sucks, call him a HUGE INFLUENCE

[@Jessie-xx7ir]

Im a metalhead and I've never really paid attention on the drum parts but after hearing Lars' drumming I was hooked into it. He's drumming is weird and unpredictable but suits the song well. The Sound is massive and sounds like a heartbeat. You can feel the adrenaline and energy of the song.its as if the song has a life of it's own.

[@cristiant.45]

"He's not the drummers drummer, he's the song writers drummer" Perfect quote, couldn't have said it any better.

[@555kl789]

Bro I've never heard anyone say anything bad about his songwriting or style or whatever, it's literally just him getting lazy with the years. Based to be honest

[@VARVIS_]

True get the bag 😂

[@marthastubbs8321]

Prime Lars not double bassing all the way through every song and using it in certain places is why i like him

[@VARVIS_]

exactly. Makes more of an impact when used sparingly

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

The double bass “break” in FFWF! I love that! And Lords Of Summer also have some great and never talked about drumming. Thanks for the video.

[@Bhaadi]

People shit on Lars so much, it's nice to see him given the respect he deserves. I agree with 100% of the stuff you said here, and as a guy who grew up on Metallica and then got to playing drums afterwards, it took me years to even realise how much I've picked up from him subconsciously (I'm looking at you, crash accents on the two). Truly a songwriter and someone who plays to serve the song, which is most important.

[@midnight347]

Alot of people do it just following others. At this point they been brainwashed to think they have to hate on lars to be in the "cool" crowd.

[@DTM-Books]

I'll have to chime in and defend St Anger, which is a fantastic album. Those loose snare drums add all these terrific harmonic resonances that especially sound great on vinyl LP (bonus points if your system has vacuum tubes). I think the most remarkable thing about Lars is that when he first met James, he had never really played drums before. He had little, if any, experience at the moment of that first rehearsal. And, yet, in a very short time, his skill as a percussionist grew by quantum leaps, brought by a combination of endless practice and taking music lessons along the way. Lately, I've heard that he has been playing and practicing harder than any time in ages, and that's a remarkable thing to say about a rock drummer at age 60. Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@markusaurelius777]

St. Crapolla is a poo record.

[@ripmyriff3286]

The change of the 2 and 4 in blackened and Orion makes it sound like the whole guitar phrasing has changed confusing at first but so good!!!

[@ericballi4701]

Great video and opinions. And you nailed it; Lars has an expert level understanding of dynamics--drum dynamics and song dynamics. This makes all of the difference. On another note, hearing these isolated drum tracks, it makes me realize just how amazing the drum tones and sound engineering are on 'Justice.' Simply amazing.

[@GrayD_Fox]

I never bought the bs that “lars can’t drum” like are we not hearing the same band.

[@knifetothebass1642]

Lars sucks! Metallica too!

[@nmlss]

People tend to forget Lars is one of the two main guys that wrote one of the most influential albums of all times when he was 21-22. Hetfield always said that he comes with all the riffs, but Lars is the one that has the vision to arrange everything, to fill it until it's a whole song and make it make sense.

[@vitodigiovanni4020]

My first influence for drumming 🤘🤘

[@SuperBab21]

only the fact you see the musical perspective of any one you choose ..you won me ..great job dude !!!

[@Paolo8772]

Yup. Lars is an excellent arranger and knows how to make drums sound good in a way nobody else did before him. Thanks for posting this fantastic video!

[@BruhChickenTho]

The video is phenomenal and how you did it with suuuuch a straight face is diabolical lol

[@VARVIS_]

hahahahahahha