MM might be the more skilled drummer but can't put together pieces with fluidity like this or musicality.. boring in comparison to portnoy.... OPIONION
Okay they're both great and they both have very distinct styles, but we're talking about the top tier of drummers here, you can't distinguish who's better
Portnoy is not In the Top tier. He's as overrated as The Rev or Lars Ulrich. Not saying he's bad, but he's not the God people make him out to be. Unless one of you can prove me wrong
Blake Warrens Now, firstly, you're pretty much not going to believe me even if I provided sufficient proof. To my actual point: Portnoy is indeed in the top tier. He has a distinctive style, and consequently his influence can profoundly be heard. In my limited music listening, I've heard no fewer than 3 prominent drummers taking cues from him, including Martin Axenrot of Opeth, progwire's "prog drummer of the year" from last year. The Rev, no less, took numerous cues from him. Comparing him to The Rev or Ulrich is unjust-- Both are quite capable drummers, neither had much of an influence on their instrument. As a percussionist myself and a student of music, having traced, in brief, the progression of drumming styles, Portnoy was one of the most prominent rock/metal drummers of his generation, I've heard even the likes of Gavin Harrison using his forms. Maybe he's not comparable to the likes of John Bonham and Neil Peart, but he is one of the more important drummers of his generation.
I've seen Mike a couple of times with Dream Theater and again last night with The Winery Dogs and even on a small, single bass kit and basic cymbal set up, was amazing!
