Recently I was inspired by Rick Beato's video of top drum intros in music. His list while great was focused on Hard Rock and Pop Music. My favorite and most iconic drum intros in metal were absent. So I decided to create my own list. The full top 50 can be found on Spotfy here.
For the purpose of this list a drum intro is a drum 'riff' or rhythm figure that starts a song with no other instruments played together. The criteria for narrowing down to 20 was a mix of musically and technically brilliance and memorable or iconic intros. All of that through my own lenses and simply represents my favorites and not an absolute truth. I actually may have forgotten some, if that's the case, please let me know. Spoiler alert, the first three songs are not only my favorite drum intros, but those are some of my all time favorite songs. The full list with all honorable mentions can be found on Spotify here. I'll be regularly updating it. Without further due...
1. Rainbow - Stargazer (Cozy Powell)
This song is perfect. It may be my favorite song of all times. Even with that aside, the drum intro by itself is ten seconds of pure brilliance.
2. Judas Priest - Painkiller (Scott Travis)
Eighteen seconds of smashing the kit. That's only the opening of this massive song from one of the best albums in metal.
3. Iron Maiden - Where Eagles Dare (Nicko McBrain)
This is a short one, but those three seconds give me goose bumps every time. The drumming during the whole song is great and it is one of my top Maiden songs. 'Nuff said!
4. Iron Maiden - Run To The Hills (Clive Burr)
My favorite band's both drummers made the top five. This one is relatively simple but so iconic. Any metalhead will know the guitar riff that comes next.
5. Slayer - Epidemic (Dave Lombardo)
One of the greatest drummers in extreme metal playing a killer song from one of the best albums ever. When listening to the full album when you get to this drum intro, you know "Raining Blood" is coming next. Priceless.
6. Led Zeppelin - Rock And Roll (John Bonham)
Proto-metal, but such an important drummer for music in general and also for influencing metal. Arguably his most iconic intro, but certainly not the only one.
7. Motörhead - Overkill (Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor)
Arguably the first ever thrash song or at the very least the proto-thrash. The intro is notable due to then unusual double bass drums. After the intro you get nothing less than one of Motörhead's best songs.
8. Anthrax - Indians (Charlie Benante)
Another relatively simple one but so iconic. Out of one of the best thrash albums ever. The marching sound from Benante's toms is only the beginning of a live favorite.
9. Skin O' My Teeth - Megadeth (Nick Menza)
Nick has some many intros to choose from, but the 92's Countdown To Extinction opener is my favorite. Short but technically impressive while opening the road to a great song and album.
10. The Hurt That Finds You First - Meshuggah (Tomas Haake)
One of the best drummers in metal today. This was an important album for me and I listened to this song countless times. Please note that "Bleed" does not pass my criteria for this list.
11. Dream Theater - Honor Thy Father (Mike Portnoy)
From one of the best albums of a favorite band. A technically brilliant intro.
12. Deep Purple - Pictures Of Home (Ian Paice)
Another proto-metal song, but you can't go wrong with Mr. Paice. Technically one of the most impressive intros on this list, but also from one of the best rock albums ever.
13. Rush - Lakeside Park (Neil Peart)
All the way from 1975 from one of the greatest drummers in rock history. The groove in this intro and song are so cool. Neil and Geddy are in perfect harmony during the whole song.
14. Sepultura - Territory (Igor Cavalera)
I love the tone of Igor's kit in this song, so tribal and low. This happens to be one of my favorite Sepultura's songs.
15. Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr - Trivium (Travis Smith)
17. Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It (A. J. Pero)
Straight from the middle of the Glam Metal age, it's impossible not to hear those beats and not get ready to sing along.
18. Mastodon - The Wolf Is Loose (Brann Dailor)
An impressive drummer from a great modern prog band. The speed and groove that opens this song and album is just a sample of what Brann can do behind the kit.
19. Hammerfall - Heeding the Call (Patrik Räfling)
This is a personal favorite that I haven't seen in other lists. But as a power metal fan it is an iconic intro of one of the best PM albums of the 90's.
20. Manowar - Fighting the World (Scott Columbus)
Bring on the cheese! While simple, this intro is such an integral part of this iconic power metal hymn.
Honorable Mentions:
For the purpose of this list a drum intro is a drum 'riff' or rhythm figure that starts a song with no other instruments played together. The criteria for narrowing down to 20 was a mix of musically and technically brilliance and memorable or iconic intros. All of that through my own lenses and simply represents my favorites and not an absolute truth. I actually may have forgotten some, if that's the case, please let me know. Spoiler alert, the first three songs are not only my favorite drum intros, but those are some of my all time favorite songs. The full list with all honorable mentions can be found on Spotify here. I'll be regularly updating it. Without further due...
1. Rainbow - Stargazer (Cozy Powell)
This song is perfect. It may be my favorite song of all times. Even with that aside, the drum intro by itself is ten seconds of pure brilliance.
2. Judas Priest - Painkiller (Scott Travis)
Eighteen seconds of smashing the kit. That's only the opening of this massive song from one of the best albums in metal.
3. Iron Maiden - Where Eagles Dare (Nicko McBrain)
This is a short one, but those three seconds give me goose bumps every time. The drumming during the whole song is great and it is one of my top Maiden songs. 'Nuff said!
4. Iron Maiden - Run To The Hills (Clive Burr)
My favorite band's both drummers made the top five. This one is relatively simple but so iconic. Any metalhead will know the guitar riff that comes next.
5. Slayer - Epidemic (Dave Lombardo)
One of the greatest drummers in extreme metal playing a killer song from one of the best albums ever. When listening to the full album when you get to this drum intro, you know "Raining Blood" is coming next. Priceless.
6. Led Zeppelin - Rock And Roll (John Bonham)
Proto-metal, but such an important drummer for music in general and also for influencing metal. Arguably his most iconic intro, but certainly not the only one.
7. Motörhead - Overkill (Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor)
Arguably the first ever thrash song or at the very least the proto-thrash. The intro is notable due to then unusual double bass drums. After the intro you get nothing less than one of Motörhead's best songs.
8. Anthrax - Indians (Charlie Benante)
Another relatively simple one but so iconic. Out of one of the best thrash albums ever. The marching sound from Benante's toms is only the beginning of a live favorite.
9. Skin O' My Teeth - Megadeth (Nick Menza)
Nick has some many intros to choose from, but the 92's Countdown To Extinction opener is my favorite. Short but technically impressive while opening the road to a great song and album.
10. The Hurt That Finds You First - Meshuggah (Tomas Haake)
One of the best drummers in metal today. This was an important album for me and I listened to this song countless times. Please note that "Bleed" does not pass my criteria for this list.
11. Dream Theater - Honor Thy Father (Mike Portnoy)
From one of the best albums of a favorite band. A technically brilliant intro.
12. Deep Purple - Pictures Of Home (Ian Paice)
Another proto-metal song, but you can't go wrong with Mr. Paice. Technically one of the most impressive intros on this list, but also from one of the best rock albums ever.
13. Rush - Lakeside Park (Neil Peart)
All the way from 1975 from one of the greatest drummers in rock history. The groove in this intro and song are so cool. Neil and Geddy are in perfect harmony during the whole song.
14. Sepultura - Territory (Igor Cavalera)
I love the tone of Igor's kit in this song, so tribal and low. This happens to be one of my favorite Sepultura's songs.
15. Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr - Trivium (Travis Smith)
A more modern band and not particularly famous drummer, but it's such a cool intro from a fantastic song.
16. Disturbed - Down with the Sickness (Mike Wengren)
An iconic tom based intro that goes for quite some seconds as it becomes the basis for the beginning of one of their most recognizable songs.17. Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It (A. J. Pero)
Straight from the middle of the Glam Metal age, it's impossible not to hear those beats and not get ready to sing along.
18. Mastodon - The Wolf Is Loose (Brann Dailor)
An impressive drummer from a great modern prog band. The speed and groove that opens this song and album is just a sample of what Brann can do behind the kit.
19. Hammerfall - Heeding the Call (Patrik Räfling)
This is a personal favorite that I haven't seen in other lists. But as a power metal fan it is an iconic intro of one of the best PM albums of the 90's.
20. Manowar - Fighting the World (Scott Columbus)
Bring on the cheese! While simple, this intro is such an integral part of this iconic power metal hymn.
Honorable Mentions:
- Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noize (Frankie Banali)
- Van Halen - Hot For Teacher (Alex Van Halen)
- Gojira - The Of All Flesh (Mario Duplantier)
- Tool - Tickets & Leeches (Danny Carey)
- Death - Scavengers of Human Sorrow (Richard Christy)
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