Tony Royster Jr.and AwolNation working on a song in Redbull Studios back in 2010 or 2009. This song was originally called "Fist Pumping to the Grave".... which later turned into "SOUL WARS"
Tony kills this track, the song is pretty solid too. The fills Tony plays are just soooo outrageous, mega chops with awesome syncopation you can't get any better!
Thankfully indeed...it's still interesting to see how a song evolved into something a lot more meaningful. It's one of my favorites because of the chorus 'can I get an amen/I had to struggle to be gracious' and I can relate to that.
Oh heck ya I'll play on gour for ya. Sounds like a good song. I git something for it....ahhhhhh we have the tabs for you to learn, here ya go............ hmmm wth... ah ah ah how many drummers had to play these parts... lol lol lol
+Dallin Stagg I don't doubt he nailed it on the first take, but even then, it's always good to get a few takes for experimentation and last minute changes to the song.
+Nick Murphy the crash cymbal won't last long either with the bad habit of striking its edge. I don't get how he does that even being so good/precise technique-wise.
It's definitely not a bad habit. Tony knows what he's doing. He had no lug nut on the cymbal stand to get the most sound out of it. I get what you're saying, though about hitting on the edge. He can just replace it: he is a Sabian artist, as you probably know.
It honestly Feels like this version was an intentional red herring put out as to not give away the whole song. “Fist pumping to the grave” is surrounded by so much empty space, it’s basically the same recorded line on repeat and a lot of the Adlibs that don’t line up in this version align perfectly in soul wars as if soul wars was already written but maybe not mastered or finalized but the hook was replaced for this video. The fact that the rest of the song stayed exactly the same as we hear it here only makes me believe it more.
what's not to like about this, the man killed it. With any sort of performance to music he has to follow guidelines I think this shows how broad a spectrum he can play as well it shows how versatile he is as a drummer. I enjoyed seeing this.
He's doing short groups of single stroke rolls (groups of 4, then 2) separated by double strokes on the kick. S-HT-FT-FT-K-K-S-HT-K-K-S-S-K-K-S-S-Crash (S=snare, HT=high tom, FT-floor tom, K=kick). It's just basic rudiments thrown around the kit really fast and smooth.
This is only the demo for Soul Wars. Demos aren't suppose to sound good at first, they are just the skeleton of a song. But honestly I think this is one of their best songs. It has a lot a variety and its not too consistent and straightforward. This is just my personal opinion.
Wouldn't consider it wasting. He's making music for millions. Millions are enjoying. He's doing what HE wants to do. Doing what HE loves. And making bank. And also, it's wasting.* There ya go, Pal.
Some people are out working, writing, recording, hiring professional players and taking chances; and others are sitting at home on their computer, hating and judging.
what?! song was nice, didn't expect it for it to pump me up after the first few seconds, then that chorus hit and then I was like hell yeah, live life til its over and do it big and don't let nobody hold you back! well that was my thoughts anyway
almost all songs are recorded in multiple takes. thats not surprising at all. no one gets everything perfectly the first time, especially on fills and such.
if it has to be mastered to be good, it isnt good. people have millions of hits on songs recorded live with a VGA camera phone and we still like it. know what i mean?
Dont know why people are complaining about the song. It sounds fine to me. Yeah the lyrics kinda stop at half way but that cuz its incomplete. but honestly i wish they kept this drum track instead of the new one XD
Although he is endorsed by DW, all drum companies know gear in the studio is a mix bag. Often times it’s what the studio has or the producer has in mind for sound. Tony likely popped in for a couple hours nailed the tune and left. Not worth hauling a whole rig. Paid by the song.
Super later replying, but yes. Great bang for buck kit. I've been playing them for about 8 years now, they have held up very well, and the maple sounds good.
Watch the cymbal topper on his right crash (The Sabian HHX) - this clip has clearly been edited as the topper disappears and reappears throughout the video. This is in addition to the one that files off on his left crash around 3:50.
Losing his cymbals cushion at 3:51 - while in different cuts throughout the video it is there and gone and back again magically :P Anyways, great drummer, great performance!
