Aaron Comess, the drummer for Spin Doctors, recently faced an intriguing challenge. He was invited to play Avenged Sevenfold's 'Afterlife' as he heard it for the first time, as part of Drumeo's popular series. This series pits drummers against drumless tracks they've never heard, asking them to come up with an arrangement on the spot.
Comess stunned Drumeo host Brandon Toews by nailing his performance in one take. His success can be attributed to meticulous charting of the song, which he approached with a backbeat-driven rock playing style. This approach contrasts with the bells and whistles common in heavy metal drumming, especially in bands that draw from progressive music.
The song, originally played by the late A7X drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan, features heavy double bass at various points. Comess replaced these with more pocket-driven grooves, and his instincts resulted in a performance that felt much like the original. This demonstrates the shared sensibilities of seemingly quite different players.
Spin Doctors are currently on a US tour, supporting Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms. Avenged Sevenfold, meanwhile, are set to kick off their co-headlining North American tour with Good Charlotte on July 25th. The video of Comess taking on 'Afterlife' is available for viewers to watch.
This challenge highlights the adaptability and skill of drummers like Comess, who can quickly learn and perform complex songs. It also showcases the versatility of drumming styles, as Comess's approach to 'Afterlife' blended elements of backbeat-driven rock and pocket-driven grooves, creating a unique and impressive performance.
