Inspired by the likes of Judas Priest, Manowar, Iron Maiden, Saxon and the wealth of other bands that rose in the wake of the tidal wave that heavy metal stirred up in the early ’80s, this collection of MIDI is a pure homage to the greats.
Expect a hard-hitting and forcefully pounding collection of grooves that draws from a time when heavy metal wasn’t just a style of music – it was a way of life and a religion. You’ll find a plethora of anything from basic bulldozer-heavy grooves to galloping madness, double bass drum frenzies and all the fills to match.
Times may change. Great grooves simply don’t. Welcome to a mauler of a MIDI pack that will hit you and your songs like a proper ram.
Name: Efraim Juntunen
Location: Umeå, Sweden
What did you try to cover in this collection of grooves and fills?
I basically went back and listened through a bunch of albums that got me into metal back in the day. I tried to capture those beats and fills that made me clench my fist and shake my head as a teenager. Then I expanded on those songs and added a bit of my own variations for good measure.
Like you said, you grew up listening to some of these classic metal bands. What is your relation to them today?
It’s those bands that you always go back to from time to time, that shaped your music taste in some way. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest…That classic stuff just never gets old.
Name some of the greatest heavy metal drummers of all time…and why (according to you)!
There are many… But I will always name guys like Sean Reinert and Gene Hoglan, people that pushed the envelope and forced us mortals to step up our game. I also really appreciate drummers like Scott Travis that are consistent, play for the song and deliver year after year.
Handling drumming duties with anything from black metal legends like Naglfar to a frenetic thrash/power hybrid with his longtime band Persuader, Efraim is the definition of a broad metal drummer. Check out some of his work in the below packs!
Uriah Heep – “Demons and Wizards”
My first music-related memory. Hearing this album became the soundtrack to the movie I would make up in my head reading (or more like looking at) old comic books.
U.D.O. – “Faceless World”
A friend’s older brother gave me a tape with this one on the A-side and Judas Priest’s “Ram it Down” on the B-side. Not a bad tape. It stuck with me, it sounded like nothing else. I remember being really impressed by the overall sound, especially the layered backing vocals.
Entombed – “Left Hand Path”
Total death. Not only a genre-defining classic, but there’s also some really cool innovative drumming on here. This one spun endlessly on my Walkman to the point where the tape broke.
Dissection – “The Somberlain”
For me, death/black metal doesn’t get much better than this. It is the perfect blend of aggression and melody, wrapped in an ice-cold draping. It’s technically not perfect by any means but the feeling is there, and that’s what matters. As with many outcomes of this era.
Strapping Young Lad – “City”
My introduction to Devin Townsend. And wow, this was one pissed off lad. Everything about this album knocked me off my feet – the vocals, the drumming, the production… It just builds and builds and leaves you in a wet pile of “what the hell was that?”.
Our very own Rikk Currence gives you three reasons why your songs will thank you for using Toontrack drum MIDI.
