A quick search for “extreme metal drumming” on Youtube is guaranteed to return three things: George Kollias making his kick drums wish they were never born, some nerd explaining gravity blasts for 30 minutes and Ben Shapiro DESTROYING feminists with logic. The life of cymbals is far from glamorous, as more often than not, they’re relegated to keeping steady rhythm and building up to breakdowns. They’re conspicuously absent from the tropes of metal as well—few people discuss the BPM of the hi-hat or the disgusting tone of the trashcan china. But hold on, what’s that bright sound piercing up through … Continue reading The Secret Life of Cymbals (Or, How I Learned to Love the Clink)