Mastodon - Chimes at Midnight - Johnkew Drums

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There are just so many songs from Mastodon's latest album (Once More 'Round the Sun) that I have been wanting to play and record. I've played through a few of them on the drums while getting my chops back after a hiatus last year. But Chimes at Midnight was the song that I wanted to record after listening to the album the first time. I also got the idea to do the slow motion intro and outtro, for a fun effect.

This song is SUCH a blast to play. You can tell I got caught up in the raw energy of the song. Brann's playing is so crazy and frenetic, it was like a workout. I hope this video showcases his drum mastery, as the drums in the original mix are a bit low in the mix at times (a necessary result of having so much going on in the song with all the other instruments).

I tried to keep the drumming pretty close to Brann's playing, while also leaving room for a little improvisation. To me, that captures Brann's spirit more than sticking to a script. I've never seen him play a song exactly the same twice. And that is one of the things that makes his style so interesting.

By the end of this one, I was definitely feeling it in my hands and arms. I can't imagine the stamina and steel grip that Brann must have, playing these types of songs all night at gigs.

Good times, I hope you enjoy. Thanks for watching, and please comment and share.

Recorded on Sonor Select Force maple drums, DW Steel Performance Series 14 x 8 Snare, Evans G2 batter drum heads and G1 resonant drum heads, Sabian HHX Evolution 14-inch hi-hat; Sabian AAX-plosion 14-inch hi-hat auxiliary; Sabian Paragon cymbals (20-inch crash; 19 China; 22 ride), Sabian AAX stage 18-inch crash, custom stacker with 14 inch Sabian AAX Xplosion crash on bottom and 12 inch Sabian AAX china on top; AAX 10-inch splash; Sabian 21-inch Holy China, DW 9000 double bass pedal, DW 3000 hi hat stand, Tama drum throne, Pro Mark 747 sticks, Audix Fusion overhead microphones, Apex 435 room mics, Audix D-series mics on toms and kick, Audix i5 and Shure SM57 mic on snare, M-Audio Profire 2626 interface, Logic Express 9, Sony Alpha 6000, Canon T2i, Canon Vixia HF M40, and GoPro HD Hero 2 cameras, Shure in-ear monitors.