Mike Smith is sick. And he has something that most of drummers today don't have. His own style, character and technique. That's greater than anything else in music. And what is even more stunning is that he sticks to it. Endless creds!
Check out his recent interview with Hessian Firm. He really goes into detail as to why he thinks this is the case: an original and organic sound versus a copied and synthetic one.
I truly miss seeing Mike Smith live. The man is and always be a friggin wizard. Easily still one of the most influential and best drummers in the genre, by far. His style just can’t be touched.
Best word I could use to describe this would be some SOLID ass drum smackin'. Take this over sloppy speed freaks any day. Great drummer, extremely underrated.
I saw almost this exact camera angle in person back when suffocation was playing a small club back in the early 90s. At that moment I knew I didn’t have enough talent for death metal drumming and quit a year later. His stamina control and power still is impressive today.
@Slashbag69 It may have something to do with him having his own sound. You have to remember that Suffocation have, and continue to set benchmarks for brutality; Mike Smith is simply leaving his mark with his extremely powerful sound.
@TheMonkeyBloke I can see what you mean. I was just wondering because Derek Roddy does a lot of blasting, but he only uses one foot, which frees up his other foot to do different things at the same time.
@Slashbag69 Why would he use just one? To be "pure"? Gene Hoglan once said he saw no good reason to use just one foot when it takes less energy and you get more power out of two.
+jangleballer Doug Bohn went to great lengths to put a style similar to Mike's on the album, and I think I read somewhere that Mike Demoed the original parts but left before they recorded the album.
+jangleballer No, Prob, I love Suffo and the details behind members leaving can be scant at best. I didn't know Guy wasn't touring with them until yesterday
Mike was great because he punchs the drums. Not like the new superfast bleastbeat triggered drummers of today. Every drumsound looks equal in every new record too...analogical tape recording is da true death shit.
LOL, Morotti wipes his ass with Smith (with all of the band's prior members for that matter). I love all these old comments below, long before the True Master came on board.
@thors blot Why thank you! I will pass your compliment along to Eric later today when he comes over for dinner. I baked him some of his favorite cookies too, so he will really be happy!
@TheWitchOvAgnesi Morotti is good but in suffocation I really don’t think he’s that great. Culross, smith and Kevin Talley are all better for suffocation
