10 Great Songs with Double Bass Drumming

Are you looking for some songs with fantastic double bass drumming? This is the list for you! It includes old songs that majorly influenced double bass drumming and modern metal songs with blazing-fast double kicks.

The standard of double bass drumming has gotten very high among modern drummers. A whole generation of drummers has focused heavily on improving their speed and technique on the pedals (both with and without using drum triggers, which is a topic I won’t get into in this article!).

That said, let’s not forget about the drummers that made them popular, which is why I have included some classic songs that used two bass drums or a double pedal.

1. Slayer – Angel of Death (Dave Lombardo)

The song “Angel of Death” was the opening track of the album “Reign in Blood”, which came out in 1986. The record had a major influence on metal music. This is an iconic song with singer Tom Araya screaming during the intro.

Dave Lombardo’s drumming took this album to another level. Lombardo is one of the fathers of double bass drumming in metal music. His skill and energy level have always been appreciated by his audience.

Fast riffs and double bass drumming in the song certainly altered the thrash metal landscape. The chaotic music is a treat for listeners of metal. The record also includes a very famous double bass drumming solo.

2. Trivium – Sever the Hand (Alex Bent)

This song is the eighth track from Trivium’s album “The Sin and The Sentence”, released in 2017.

“Sever the Hand” definitely grows on you and is one of the top favorites because of the applauded double bass drumming by Alex Bent, who is why he is widely considered as one of the best drummers in the business.

The fills and cymbal accents in the track show his control, while the heavy grooves give the song a strong base. Beginners can take inspiration from this playthrough without trying to match its speed straight away. Pick one short kick pattern, slow it down and keep the snare and cymbal accents in place before joining it to the next phrase.

3. Motorhead – Overkill (Phil Taylor)

The album “Overkill” was released in 1979 by the iconic band Motorhead. Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor played drums on this track, rather than the band’s original drummer Lucas Fox. Taylor’s repeating double-kick pattern is less rhythmically crowded than some modern metal parts, but keeping it even for a whole song takes control and stamina.

The album’s title song, “Overkill,” helped establish Motorhead’s sound. The exceptional energy of the song is partly due to the double-kick drumming of Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor. Listen for how the feet keep driving underneath the snare accents, then practice a short stretch with both feet at an even volume.

This old record still leaves a mark on the audience as well as aspiring drummers.

4. Oceans Ate Alaska – High Horse (Chris Turner)

This one is not as famous as the previous ones, but you can clearly see that the drummer, Chris Turner, has some amazing abilities.

The drumming in this song is fast and intricate. The control and speed required to execute these rhythms should not be underestimated!

5. Metallica – Dyers Eve (Lars Ulrich)

It’s the closing track of the album “… And Justice for All”, released by Metallica in 1988. The song is a favorite of many Metallica fans.

The lyrics and tone of the song were influenced by the trauma experienced in James Hetfield’s upbringing. It’s a fast song, bursting with energy.

Lars Ulrich gives a very solid performance on this song. The fast double-bass passages are demanding, particularly when the feet need to follow the guitar figures and stop cleanly for an accent. Work on the starts and stops at a manageable tempo before attempting a whole verse at recording speed.

When comparing a live performance with the recording, listen to that particular version rather than assuming the kick pattern will always be identical. For practice, use the studio part as your reference, isolate a short phrase and add the hands only when the feet stay even. Live arrangements can differ, so a concert clip is not automatically an exact transcription of the album.

6. Slipknot – Disasterpiece (Joey Jordison)

“Disasterpiece” is the third track from Slipknot’s second studio album, entitled “Iowa”, which was released in 2001.

“Iowa” is a studio album, not a compilation of Slipknot’s earlier hits. “Disasterpiece” deals with anger and bullying, and the aggressive arrangement gives Jordison room for forceful kick runs and sharp changes of texture. Listen for the spaces between those runs as well as the fast notes themselves.

This song is often referred to as one of Joey Jordison’s best throughout the many songs released during his time at Slipknot.

His presence is strong, with lots of energy on the stage, as well as with his double bass drums working non-stop and ferociously.

Want to get an electronic drum set that works great with double kick pedals? Check out our guide on Double Bass Electronic Drum Sets

7. As I Lay Dying – 94 Hours (Jordan Mancino)

Released in 2003, the second album by the band As I Lay Dying had some great tracks, and “94 Hours” was one of the best among the lot. Jordan Mancino has some heavy use of the double bass in this one, and it’s definitely worth a listen!

8. Miss May I – Forgive and Forget (Jerod Boyd)

“Apologies Are for the Weak” by Miss May I was released in 2009. “Forgive and Forget” is the last track on the original ten-track album. Listen for the way the kick patterns lock to the guitar accents rather than treating the whole song as one continuous run of notes.

Jerod Boyd is a skilled metal drummer. This track has some sure-footed double bass drum work, as well as some great-sounding blast beats. The drums will give you an adrenaline rush that will certainly make you want to rock out!

9. Dream Theater – The Dark Eternal Night (Mike Portnoy)

If you’re looking for some highly technical double bass drum playing, then Mike Portnoy is certainly one to listen to.

“The Dark Eternal Night” is a heavy prog song by the band Dream Theater. It is the fourth track on their ninth studio album, “Systematic Chaos”, released in 2007. The song is a combination of groovy and brutal riffs blending with jazzy keyboards.

Mike Portnoy on drums delivers complex and impressive rhythms that are still great on the ear. This is something we have certainly come to expect from him! This lengthy track comprises epic riffs, soulful vocals, and fantastic drumming!

10. Mötley Crüe – Red Hot (Tommy Lee)

A classic track released in 1983 by Mötley Crüe, the double bass song named “Red Hot” is an amazing classic song.

The album that had this number is entitled “Shout at the Devil”, which hit the shelves in 1983. This record was certified quadruple platinum in the United States and helped the band gain their breakthrough success.

The song contains some impressive drumming by Tommy Lee, who is well known for his double-bass playing. Lee brings energy to the drums while keeping the band’s riffs clear. Try keeping the backbeat steady as you add the kick part; the accents matter as much as the speed.

Notable Mentions

Metallica – One

“One” is a timeless Metallica classic with a striking double-bass figure in its heavier second half. The exact timestamp depends on whether you are listening to the album or the longer music video linked here. Its rapid six-note kick groups fit against the larger pulse. Learn one group and its following gap slowly before connecting the groups to the guitar riff.

Dream Theater – Under A Glass Moon

“Under A Glass Moon” is one of the best Dream Theater songs if you want to see tasty Mike Portnoy drumming. The part features an impressive double bass beat that spans a 2-bar pattern. Notably contributing to the groove is the presence of quarter notes on the hi-hats and the off-beat snare hits in the first bar, creating a compelling rhythmic dynamic.

Marcus Miller – Rampage

While “Rampage” predominantly exudes a distinct jazz-funk ambiance, it notably incorporates a double bass drum performance in its breakdown section, expertly executed by the Grammy Award-winning drummer Will Calhoun from Living Colour.

This creative application of double bass drumming is particularly striking due to its sparse usage, yet it delivers an exceptionally captivating and innovative drumming groove.

Van Halen – Hot For Teacher

“Hot For Teacher” is a classic example of Alex Van Halen’s double-bass shuffle. For a basic shuffle exercise, divide each beat into three equal parts and play the first and third parts, leaving the middle subdivision silent. Keep that long-short spacing consistent before trying the song’s busier introduction and fills.

Learn the cymbal pattern separately, then combine it with the feet at a slow tempo. A shuffle’s first and third triplet subdivisions are not the same as playing the first two notes of every triplet. Count all three subdivisions while you practice, and use the recording to check the placement of the actual cymbal and snare accents.

Meshuggah – Bleed

“Bleed” is a complex and popular groove that is nothing short of extraordinary and epic, particularly considering its progression throughout the song. It’s a common challenge among metal drummers to dare their peers to master the intricate herta bass drum pattern showcased here.

A herta is a four-note rhythmic figure with two faster notes followed by two slower notes; it is not a three-note RRL pattern. For a starting foot exercise, alternate R L R L, placing the first two strokes twice as close together as the next two. Repeat it slowly against a steady hand pulse. The difficult part in “Bleed” is maintaining that spacing as the foot figure and its accents move against the underlying beat.

Summary

If you want to rock out to some great songs with double kicks or get some inspiration when drumming with your own double bass drum pedals, then I hope this can become your go-to list.

Do you have any other great double bass drumming tracks that you would like to share? Write a comment below!

Featured Image of Dave Lombardo by Krousky Peutebatre / CC BY-SA