Drummer analyses The Summoning offering from II 

I felt that "fuck you" in my soul also 😂

6:40 onwards just made me audibly yell "OH FUCK OFF". That is just filthy. And the transition to the funky end is just *chef's kiss*

He played the entire ending differently just to show off. I love it. Favorite band, favorite drummer; Sleep Token is peak music for me

II is an ABSOLUTELY GOD ON THE STICKS!!! I sit here in awe of the things he's capable of. He may be one of...if not THE most talented drummer in the game right now.

the sense of relief he must feel when he hits "oh, and my love" right on time 😅

i think with the summoning, its one of the best song to convey how talented II is on the drums. The technicality and musicality in the song is insane!! His drum parts hits so hard, but never too hard that it covers the rest of the song. Just enough to separate him from the rest of the instruments. His drum solo has both WOW factor for both amateurs (like me!) and for seasoned players (like you!). there are some drum solo that are amazing for non-drummers but not seasoned drummers or the other way around. But II just nails it, the transition between the song, the drum solo, and after it finished is sooo SMOOTH. Man is a total beast, god he's so fucking cool

I can't stop thinking about the energy requirements to do this all in timing with different precise power controls, II is a beast!

I'm speechless. jesus christ. there's really nothing to comment about, it's too perfect. now imagine a piano and dance lesson from Vessel.

Easily in the top three current drummers playing around the world right now.

II & Mario Duplantier. What a great time to be alive to witness their greatness.

The last 20 seconds of the solo his hands look like a video speed up x2 times 🤯 the greatest

II is not human, I'm convinced lol. Also, WORSHIP!

the funk part of the summoning is actually how he plays it live- when he said in the first video that touring and time adjusts stickings and how he plays parts, the summoning is one of those for sure. he plays that much busier and swingier variation pretty consistently now, and I like it quite a bit more even than the album version!

II is my favorite drummer of all time, I just love the band since finding them.

Watching him play is absolutely mesmerizing. So busy, but so effortless and nothing sounds overplayed.

Sleep Token scares me… I cannot, for the life of me, wrap my head around these brilliant individuals’ otherworldly knowledge of how music can (and should) sound. These musicians understand something we don’t. I realize this sounds like I’m putting them on a pedestal. However, watching II’s performance on the drums just confirms how « alien » their abilities are. I had no idea this is what he’s been playing on this particular track. I could watch this all day. 🥹🫶

Wow 😮 I’m floored by his performance. The feel he has for timing while improvising is phenomenal. Great video!

His drumming is always an absolute treat to watch.

ii..with your sh*t hot drumming skills!! When that solo kicked in, my eyes were all over the place!! 🔥🔥🔥

He did say at the start that this is what he would consider to be a 'live' version with a bit of extra improvisation. Amazing anyway. I have to wait to the end of November to see them at the Birmingham Utilita Arena, but at least I got a ticket and I can't wait! 🙂

Absolute masterpiece this one eh Steve! 😀👍🏻👍🏻 So much flavour he's playing. Quickly became my fave drummer last year this guy. Best of both worlds! The looseness of jazz and prog with the precision of modern metal and pop. Brilliant! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

II is probably the reason I latched onto Sleep Token so hard. The drumming is fucking INSANE and meshes so well with the entire piece, never being too much or too little. I know my dad would have been yelling "FUCK YOU" over that solo too if he was still around. 😂

So Steve, will you do a play through for us?!!! Obviously not all of it just the bits he explained in detail? Excellent commentary as always.

Treat! I love this. I have been Summoned. II is beauty and fury. Great reaction, Steve. 🧬

I gotta say... that ambient section, where he's going cymbals and kick drum, that impressed me. I can't remember if there's actually drums in that part in the studio recording, I don't think there is. What really got me was the kick drum -- there's a lot of space between each kick, and still, I was able to feel when the next kick would come. So he's counting, or keeping time, somehow, and the kicks are spaced out, but evenly so, while he's tinkering away on the cymbals. So he starts off the ambient section with a lot of cymbals, then after a while a kick, X counts, second kick, X counts, third kick, X counts, solo starts with a kick, he takes to the skies. Idk, not being a drummer myself, that bit there really floored me. Mostly because once I'd heard the first and the second kick, my internal clock knew when it was time for the third, and then it hit just as expected. That was nice. (Someone please explain to me how to say these things in proper "music speech"!)

OOOOOOOH YESSSSS! Amazing II, Amazing reaction, Steve!!

I love this so much because II is such a fantastic drummer and I love when in his first drumeo he said he stays true for the most part on the drums for the song but he does like to add some parts for live I believe he said :). I have seen some reactions where he was playing some songs and some reactors were like ohh did he mess up? And I was thinking back to what he said he likes to do for live play and I was saying he didnt mess up he just added some parts to make it sound a little different :). Great reaction and yes Sleep Token is awesome and I wish they would do a medium concert in my town here in Texas lol. Cheers :).

I swear, II's playing is as recognizable as a singer's voice. Some musicians just hit different. I'm going to really date myself here but, it used to be the same way with Eddie Van Halen. You could hear a brand new VH song and know exactly who it was within a few notes. There are a lot of truly amazing drummers out there right now, but, for me at least, II just stands apart. I'm so glad that I've developed this new appreciation for drumming after a half century of loving music. This was incredible. Great insights as well Steve, always fun. Cheers!

What a nice surprise! I could watch that dude play all day

It’s just amazing. What a beast!

6:18 your reaction in that moment is a whole meme 😂 I giggled. He is absolutely wild and so talented.

ii is never gonna be confused with the most technicality, speed, or poly rhythmic prowess of the likes of Matt Gartska, el Estepario or Chris Turner. But the feel he puts into his parts, and the cohesiveness they have with the rest of ST's music (particularly vocals) is really what sets him off. Sure he can blow you away when he wants to, but it's his unmatched ability to come up with the perfect drum piece for every piece of music it's meant to accompany is what earned him all those awards. So stoked to see what's next for this drumming titan.

He is such a smart musician. So creative and well thought out writing. Definitely a top drummer for me! What a treat indeed.

2:42 sneaky cymbal choke left unnoticed :(

I watched his interview on drumeo it was awesome.

7:15 yeah, he just chokes those from hitting them a measure or so earlier! glad you pointed that out, he has become the groove.

Hahah the end of the solo as it slows... "Eeeehhhhhya fuck you!" 😂

I watched this live on premier!! It really was an offering

I get to see them in April and I am SOOOOO excited

That snare tone is just beautiful

ofcourse, when i saw this and thought of letting you know, you already have a react vid up for it, who am i kidding 😅 nice one!

He knows what he is doing doesn't he!!!

It's so fucking clean man. Pros are so fascinating to watch as a very average drummer myself.

Another. Level. Technical mastery. Love his creative choices and orchestration. I'm wondering how much time he's spent "practicing."

I'm glad ii is bringing all this attention to drumming. Especially from non drummers. ii is probably your favorite drummers favorite drummer

The "Fuck You" around the 6:55 marks is the best part lol. I said it too.

What a time to be alive :) Sometimes I well up as to how sexy these parts are ...

Sweet! 🙂

His playing is just so freaking TASTY!

I’ve seen a lot of hate (not here) about ii scooping 3 Drumeo awards. The typical adolescent immature game of ‘My drummer’s better than your drummer” shines through 🙄. It’s not about tiresome blast beats or playing as many notes in a bar as possible. The thing about ii’s drumming and composition is that it leaves enough space for Vessel’s vocals to shine. His style is just refreshing too. His 8th note crash combinations, the way he uses his ride cymbal almost like an effects cymbal (side hits on the edge, hitting a single bell in the middle of a fill) his manual playing of drum and bass patterns on the Roland SPD-SX pads, his mixing pot of D&B, gospel and metal genres, the choice of dark dry cymbal tones - that China cymbal and of course that sublime 13” snare 🥹, I can go on and on. The pair in the studio represent a 1-2 punch any boxer would be proud of. I’m sure Drumeo is going to get a lot more subscriptions following this Offering. Just dropped a couple hundred notes for an annual subscription myself. I’m a Gen-X drummer and I’venot heard a band or drummer grab my attention so quickly since seeing II on Drumeo just before Christmas.

Youc an tell he's a great teacher as well as a brilliant player. Mad respect for II.

Simply god-tier drummer. What else can you say?

Aside from the crazy technicality, II just has such groove in his playing. I'm not a drummer but I absolutely love listening to his playing. Jay Postones from TesseracT is another monster player that I enjoy in the same vein.

Ridiculous... 😮🤯🔥

So much flavor, man. Tasty

I was out of breath watching him lmao he’s so incredible 🥹🔥

🐐

The only thing I'm afraid of is not to get a normal ticket for a show in Germany anymore bc they're so fast selling out. I have to see this live🖤

Worship.

II is HIM!! OMG

II is fucking awesome!

Remember in the original video, he did say that he does take more creative liberties with this song, so some of the parts are true where others he adds his own twist, and that drum solo was GOD TIER. We are not worthy of such a man and drummer oh my goodness let me go change my shorts and boxers now…. #WORSHIP #IMNOTWORTHY

he just loves to jam, this 2 fella. lol

You should watch DCI drumlines 😊

11 is the dude.

Those crossovers..... Man I'm like 40% sure, that's actually Royster Jr. Mentioning it was a swerve.

The F bomb during his solo… from everyone who watched this video. Same…. Same. haha

Even us drummers have no clue what he’s doing.

Beyond heartbreaking that my musician buddies who, like me, grew up on NIN, Tool, Sepultura, Deftones, (APC), GnR etc etc absolutely do not or cannot get behind this band. Ah well, their loss.

What II plays here is the live variation of The Summoning I am pretty sure. Which is, as you’ve noticed, a bit different from the studio version

This drum kit ....

Man, the people who have said or continue to say there is nothing "special" or whatever about this group, have not seen this video... Insane...

I hate how effortless II makes it look. Like, he's just shooting the shit with the guys at Drumeo, and he's got a high society function to attend right after. Bro doesn't even break a sweat

Promo sm