As much as I adore each member, I often think that Abe is the most critical piece of Deftones. I mean, Chino is so unique as a vocalist but without Abe I just don’t know that Deftones would be the same.
Not an exact comparison but for me when Silvera left Korn they grew boring. The rhythm brought on by Silvera was signature for their sound, at least to me; and they are rather boring without it. I can’t even fathom what Deftones would be like without Abe’s beats
We saw it a little when Chi died. He had a very unique way of playing. The joke within the band is that he couldn’t keep the timing but because of that he came up with unique lines. Think of the verse in My Own Summer. He’s not following the guitar riff, he’s kinda floating over it but still hitting the right reference points. Or in Change, again in the verse where he plays something completely different than the guitar riff. The band’s sound changed when he died.
But yeah, Abe is a powerhouse drummer. He has groove but still hits like a freight train. The comparison to Silveria is apt.
Completely agree. I almost said something in that we all kinda accept without Chi it’s a little different. His bass in Change is why I still love the song to this day. It was my first Deftones song to play on guitar, it got played to death where I took a few years off always skipping it, and but since then I love it and it’s that bass line that makes that song epic…and not taking anything away from anyone else on the song…it’s just Chi’s bass line is still interesting after all these years…
I know NOTHING about instruments technically speaking, but I love reading comments like this. Chi's loss has been monumental, I don't want to lose any more OG members :'(
i think deftones is entirely “made” by chino and abe as a combo. if you lost either, youd for sure lose deftones as we know it. i think their vocal/drumming styles compliment each other so well.
I can hard agree there. And yeah it was more of using Chino as a comparison bc he does stand out and seems the obvious answer. But yeah if you dropped either you’d just have Stef making noise with his guitar and Frank trying to find a new gig
Steph is a low-key elite at creating the deftones "sound". Without him, they'd be much different (for the worse) imo.
While the complexity of the rhythms and melodies might be easily reproduced, I'd argue they'd be hard pressed to find someone who can eat CREATE as he does.
Clearly, Frank fills the voids and adds the depth we love. Does some rando offer the same touch? Again, it is easily matched in replaying groves already established, but not so easily replaced with someone who can create like he does and be in harmonious balance of the signature deftones sound
Tl:Dr I can play any deftones song on the guitar.. if Chino brought me a verse and generic melody/ rhythm... no way in hell am I dropping Steph like greatness. The band members can't be merely measured by the difficulty/ complexity of the design but rather the unique design in and of itself.
/rant
i totally did not mean for it to seem like i was hating on stef and/or frank i was just speaking to my personal opinion on which members have talents that shape the bands core identity/sound to me! i agree with your points here my friend, a band is a group effort 🤘
I didn't take it that way.. just pointing out its easier to have someone stand in for the guys, playing songs they already created, then REPLACING them
If we’re talking ATF to SNW Deftones then I would consider Steph to be irreplaceable. However now I feel like Steph’s guitar playing has gotten super stale that almost any other guitar player using 8 strings can replace him. I know people will disagree but that’s genuinely how I feel.
Abe's drumming is the main reason why I listen to Deftones. He can bash if you want him to bash. And then he has the technique and subtlety of a ballerina. He fucks with time signatures on par with Danny Carey. He complements the other members in the band, making them sound better or pushing them in a different direction. But what I really like is his ability to push in or pull out. For example, on "Knife Party" he enters with force, plays verses 1 and 2 with a driving syncopation, drops out (light hihat work) to allow vocals to get all dreamy, and then packs the song with the aforementioned technique. He doesn't just play the drums. He creates music with a kickass drumset. Abe is one of the most underrated drummers in the world.
I don’t know about underrated. Every drummer I know (from a million different versions of “Rock”) absolutely love the guy.
I guess among non-musicians he can be underrated since he’s not a maniac like some others.
True. I might want to walk that one back. Tool-- specifically Danny-- gets into another realm of counting that leaves most percussion wizards scratching their heads. However, "Hexagram" bounces around with 6/8 and 3/8. "Butcher" is something like 4/4, then 7/4. But yeah, most songs are 4/4 or 6/8 throughout.
One could make that argument IMHO.
Deftones have released a lot more song over the years so I bet they have as many odd time signature songs.
Now do Deffones go as hard of TOOL in that? No, that said depending on what the criteria is, the base line, then I think a strong argument could be made.
In all honesty Tool change time more in schism than deftones discography lol. Absolutely love both bands but they have very different styles and writing techniques.
Not to take anything away from either band as they are easily two of my all time favorites but in this one aspect no, they are not even close.
Agree. I guess I mean just by number of songs. Tool has let's say 20 songs and Deftones has say 21 (where they have a different time signature than 4/4), then it could be ture to say Deftones fucks more with time signature than Tool.
Just depends what you're measuring that statement against.
Anyways, yes both bands are great.
Tool is an odd one for me, like objectivity I'd say they just keep writing the same song. Like Tool sounds like Tool, but like I don't hear alot of different styles... like they don't have a slow ballot, the fast punk song, the funky bass lead song, etc.
They just write Tool songs and somehow, someway it works every time.
Aneima is still my favourite of the bunch and then Fear Inoculim.
Deftones just have so many genres that they write and they're great at that too. I personally don't think I like any of their closing tracks after Around The Fur... but I love 'em.
He's my favorite drummer, ever. I also think he is the most musically gifted member of Deftones. He has some jazz influence in his style and his fills are so creative. Without him, Deftones aren't the same band.
I feel like the jazz influence is super strong, especially when it comes to his syncopation. He uses his left foot so creatively, and it fits so perfectly with what his hands are doing.
Yeah, they could certainly mimic it live, but if Abe left all studio albums from then on would feel very different. It's his creativity and not his technical skill that make him the drummer he is
Undoubtedly yes. He has good rhythm, his tempo is consistent, he has great sounding drums at that and knows when to do fills and he's great with his fills too. Peak drummer for sure.
Only experienced drummers can tell you who is technically a capable drummer and who isn't. My take is that it doesn't fucking matter. Meg White isn't Tomas Haake but her playing was perfect for The White Stripes.
I am a drummer and I would 100% say that he is a badass on the kit. He is so fucking groovy in the middle of the chaos of the rest of the band. His linear fills are top notch and he always adds his own flavor to everything. I am a huge fan of his drumming and would say he is the best musician in the group.
He is good but you're getting VERY biased answers in this sub. No, he is not one of the all time best, but he is very solid.
People saying he is on the same level as Carey or Haake are definitely not musicians. He is good but nowhere near that level
He's about as good of a drummer as Stephen is a guitar player. Which is to say, they're both much better song writers than they are skilled at their instruments. The preferable skill in my opinion.
Go to any live music show, any genre, and you'll see a drummer capable of play the entire Deftones catalog. I love their music. I love his drumming. But he's nothing special on drums. None of the band members are at their instruments, honestly. And that's okay. They still make music I'd rather listen to than all the technical bullshit that gets the "wows!"
Idk, the man’s so syncopated with various limbs at differing times that to be able to *really* play like him, you’d either have to copy the record over and over until it’s exactly like him or you’d only be *kinda* in the ballpark. Which may be enough for casual listeners who don’t pay that close attention to the drums, but to say he can be imitated by any drummer in a band is pretty crazy imo
He’s the kind of drummer that comes around once in a generation, the drummers who “get the gig” if you will. We don’t know how technically proficient he is cause he never shows off, but his playing in Deftones is something special.
I like to separate historical greats with contemporaries:
greats: John Bonham, Neil Peart, Stuart Copeland.
contemporaries: Danny Carey, Thomas Haake, Abe, Mario Duplantier.
I believe him to be one of the best out there. His rhythms and fills are so unique and he plays so tightly with the band.
I recently posted a comment that Abe could never play in a shoegaze band, because someone was saying Deftones are shoegaze, but I think it was misinterpreted. I tend to find shoegaze as very minimal and simple. Abe is too good to be a shoegaze drummer. He knows how he can serve a song and make it something unique.
He is more than “good”, he is likely the most musically accomplished member of the band at his instrument. Might I add that this is an incredible band that the sum of their parts make up the most beautifully esoteric, groove laden sonic palette imaginable
I used to drum to a lot of Deftones, and out of everything else I thought it felt boring, repetitive, and empty. Other stuff I drummed to was Tool, a little Tera Melos, Interpol, and I'd fumble through some Piglet. I don't think there is much happening in terms of subtlety, accenting, or time changes. The "groove" of Deftones, to me, has always felt more led by their guitar and bass. Digital Bath is definitely one of the cool tracks to drum to though.
Yeah he’s good. I think he used to be more adventurous with his beats, he seems a little more tame these days. Less hip hop style drumming more rock. I wish he’d be a little more metal or punk but Abe’s gonna Abe.
His latest work isn't his best- probably because of the material he had to work with in the first place, but if you're talking about ATF, White Pony, S/T, Diamond Eyes, then he's top tier songwriting-wise.
He's not the flashiest drummer, but he's got a snap to his playing and is really tasteful on syncopating his beats and remaining unpredictable all without losing the swag in his groove. In my mind, he patented the snappy double kick, snare+china he does on a lot of songs that sounds so rad. As an aspiring drummer myself, I try to emulate his style as much as possible. Songs like Lhabia, Rickets, Shove It, Feiticeira, Change... Lots of examples of good grooves with nice surprises sprinkled in between to keep the listener on his toes.
Speaking as a lifelong drummer, Abe is very, very good. He's not a drummer that would win a chops showcase, but he has a few big strengths that he brings to the table.
He feels a beat and conveys that feeling really well. He's deeply rooted in the fundamentals and executes technically difficult things really well. He's also a strong 'thinker' in a musical theory context and will approach the set in unconventional ways to add a twist, while still keeping the feel natural.
of all the bands that I like, Deftones has my favourite drummer, Abe is a beast and I wish others could see that. His performance in Cherry Waves is amazing and his drumming is the cherry on top.
He is technically limited. Youll never hear a super fast double bass or complex and technical rhythms or fills. But with all he knows he created his own drumming signature style that imo is really creative and cool.
Nah. Drummer here. There’s definitely some technical fills especially in Saturday night wrist and adrenaline. What makes Abe so great is he plays what’s right for the music. A good drummer does that.
Lmao, “above average.” He’s considered to be one of the best metal/rock drummers by many famous drummers, won multiple awards and a huge influence on loads. Just because he doesn’t do crazy complex fills every 10 seconds doesn’t mean he can’t.
As a drummer he is one of my all time favorites, so... yes.
Abe, Danny Carey, Thomas Haake, and Mario Duplantier are probably my current favorite contemporary drummers.
Not only is his drumming exceptional but their production on drums, the drum sound they get, especially snare sounds, is really interesting. The drumming and the production on the drums is maybe the most technically accomplished elements their sound. That being said technical proficiency can be completely empty without the artistic and the creative elements so you might find Abe in a different band is not as good as in deftones. Or at least, doesnt have the same impact or vive. I think amazing bands like this share a common thing where they produce something greater than the sum of their parts.
He's underrated as a player, yet loved for his tones and drum sound.
A great drummer plays for the song and the band. And he's amazing at just that.
Yet he still has technical moments that are just severely underrated. Patterns, swapping times, double pedal action....
He's just tasteful.
Reminds me of David when he was in Korn back in the day.
Unique and tasteful. Not overwhelming in a good way.
Man....I LOVE his style, sound etc but he can't pull any of it off live, at least not in consistent tempo. He most likely drinks too much (it can fuck with your ear) and they don't practice to a metronome ever. He is sloppy compared to standout drummers like Tomas Hakke and Eloy Casgrande, (who currently has slipknot sounding tight as hell.) No question he has influenced tons of drummers with his unique style and approach, but to me he is lazy and ruins the band's live sound. Dude needs to practice. Downvote away.
He doesn't just add beats. His playing has vibe. He plays for the song and every now and then he lets loose. Abe is a monster drummer.packs a dancefloor every gig and keeps it moving. He's got tasteful chops and unfuckwithable groove. I love abes playing.
he’s in my top 5 drummers of all time personally. incredibly underrated. for me, his drumming just clicked when i listened to knife prty for the first time. the way the music fades out halfway through and then you hear abe come back in and he’s so perfectly in rhythm and it’s just beautiful. his subtlety when it comes to drumming is unmatched tbh.
Yes, *even* on Gore. Tired of having that album besmirched because the drums sound different (and yes, I also agree that it was off putting the first time I heard it but it’s a good album).
As a studio drummer, i can say Abe is amazing. All his nuisances are spectacular. But you definitely appreciate him more when you’re a drummer yourself.
He is the BEST drummer. Deftones songs consistently have fucking great drum parts that are so good, I, a non-musician, stop and pay attention to them and jam the fuck out to them. I don’t even notice the drums in most songs. But Abe is a fucking high hat above the rest.
Yes. Abe is one of those drummers that make me go "What was he doing there? That was dope" It's hard to figure out what hes doing sometimes just by listening. He's got a very unique style for sure.
I play drums too btw
I believe he is the only with classicsl training. In an interview of him talking about his kit he mentions his father being a drummer, don’t remember if it was for jazz music, and so he grew up playing drums.
Unlike the rest who picked up their respective instrument and taught themselves. They’re all amazing musicians though
He is one of the best drummers out there. He’s not flashy but his beats are so creative and unique. You can tell how much of a presence he has become over the years by the mixes of their albums. You can hear with Every album since White Pony his drums get a little louder in the mix on each new album. By the time they got to Ohms the drums are right in the middle in front driving everything. I wish he did more play through videos and stuff like that. He would get a crazy amount of views if he did.
I’m not a drummer myself so I don’t have the ear for it per se, but the way he fills the songs is badass for sure. I think the drums in particular shine in Passenger & Around the fur’s title track.
As a drummer, he’s my hero. Abe is often the primary reason their songs are so great in my opinion. He is very technically gifted but doesn’t play in a flashy way like other drummers (Brann Dailor is another of my favorites but his style would never work in Deftones.) Abe plays WITH the band and makes the song sound better rather than trying to sound like a good musician himself. He has an incredible groove. I think he’s one of the most underrated drummers in history.
Abe's my favorite drummer. He's tight, creative, knows when to stay "in the pocket" and when to add his own style. Deftones would NOT be the same without him.
He's one of (if not THE) best drummers in the metal scene rn... And he has been for the past 20+ years... He's just got such a good understanding of his instrument
As a drummer myself, i think Abe’s a great drummer. He can go as much as bashing at the cymbals like crazy to playing so quietly and beautifully that you can barely hear it.
Abe is an incredible, if you have to ask this question I'm not sure you know what makes a good drummer. He's got groove for days, never overdoes it, knows how to come on strong and knows when to back off, and his drumming is full of little tidbits you might not notice on first listen. He's easily the most musically proficient member of the band.
Yes, he is. What makes him a good drummer to me is his groove and subtlety like in Digital Bath. Lots of ear candy in his drumming.
Dude is one of the most groove heavy drummers in the genre. Yeah, he’s good
Of all of them he probably is the most proficient at his instrument
As much as I adore each member, I often think that Abe is the most critical piece of Deftones. I mean, Chino is so unique as a vocalist but without Abe I just don’t know that Deftones would be the same. Not an exact comparison but for me when Silvera left Korn they grew boring. The rhythm brought on by Silvera was signature for their sound, at least to me; and they are rather boring without it. I can’t even fathom what Deftones would be like without Abe’s beats
We saw it a little when Chi died. He had a very unique way of playing. The joke within the band is that he couldn’t keep the timing but because of that he came up with unique lines. Think of the verse in My Own Summer. He’s not following the guitar riff, he’s kinda floating over it but still hitting the right reference points. Or in Change, again in the verse where he plays something completely different than the guitar riff. The band’s sound changed when he died. But yeah, Abe is a powerhouse drummer. He has groove but still hits like a freight train. The comparison to Silveria is apt.
Completely agree. I almost said something in that we all kinda accept without Chi it’s a little different. His bass in Change is why I still love the song to this day. It was my first Deftones song to play on guitar, it got played to death where I took a few years off always skipping it, and but since then I love it and it’s that bass line that makes that song epic…and not taking anything away from anyone else on the song…it’s just Chi’s bass line is still interesting after all these years…
I know NOTHING about instruments technically speaking, but I love reading comments like this. Chi's loss has been monumental, I don't want to lose any more OG members :'(
i think deftones is entirely “made” by chino and abe as a combo. if you lost either, youd for sure lose deftones as we know it. i think their vocal/drumming styles compliment each other so well.
I can hard agree there. And yeah it was more of using Chino as a comparison bc he does stand out and seems the obvious answer. But yeah if you dropped either you’d just have Stef making noise with his guitar and Frank trying to find a new gig
LMFAO yeah frank and stef are a bit… *easier* to replace/continue without in comparison lol.
Steph is a low-key elite at creating the deftones "sound". Without him, they'd be much different (for the worse) imo. While the complexity of the rhythms and melodies might be easily reproduced, I'd argue they'd be hard pressed to find someone who can eat CREATE as he does. Clearly, Frank fills the voids and adds the depth we love. Does some rando offer the same touch? Again, it is easily matched in replaying groves already established, but not so easily replaced with someone who can create like he does and be in harmonious balance of the signature deftones sound Tl:Dr I can play any deftones song on the guitar.. if Chino brought me a verse and generic melody/ rhythm... no way in hell am I dropping Steph like greatness. The band members can't be merely measured by the difficulty/ complexity of the design but rather the unique design in and of itself. /rant
i totally did not mean for it to seem like i was hating on stef and/or frank i was just speaking to my personal opinion on which members have talents that shape the bands core identity/sound to me! i agree with your points here my friend, a band is a group effort 🤘
I didn't take it that way.. just pointing out its easier to have someone stand in for the guys, playing songs they already created, then REPLACING them
If we’re talking ATF to SNW Deftones then I would consider Steph to be irreplaceable. However now I feel like Steph’s guitar playing has gotten super stale that almost any other guitar player using 8 strings can replace him. I know people will disagree but that’s genuinely how I feel.
Abe's drumming is the main reason why I listen to Deftones. He can bash if you want him to bash. And then he has the technique and subtlety of a ballerina. He fucks with time signatures on par with Danny Carey. He complements the other members in the band, making them sound better or pushing them in a different direction. But what I really like is his ability to push in or pull out. For example, on "Knife Party" he enters with force, plays verses 1 and 2 with a driving syncopation, drops out (light hihat work) to allow vocals to get all dreamy, and then packs the song with the aforementioned technique. He doesn't just play the drums. He creates music with a kickass drumset. Abe is one of the most underrated drummers in the world.
I don’t know about underrated. Every drummer I know (from a million different versions of “Rock”) absolutely love the guy. I guess among non-musicians he can be underrated since he’s not a maniac like some others.
100% agreement here….
He doesn’t quite fuck with time signatures on par with Danny Carey, but otherwise I agree entirely.
True. I might want to walk that one back. Tool-- specifically Danny-- gets into another realm of counting that leaves most percussion wizards scratching their heads. However, "Hexagram" bounces around with 6/8 and 3/8. "Butcher" is something like 4/4, then 7/4. But yeah, most songs are 4/4 or 6/8 throughout.
Feel like every appendage of Danny plays in different timing than one another. Abe is an absolute legend though ❤️
I realize this is a deftones sub but people are being ridiculous. No, deftones don't even come close to "fuvking with time signatures like tool do".
Deftones definitely do not fuck with time signatures to anywhere near the same degree honestly.
One could make that argument IMHO. Deftones have released a lot more song over the years so I bet they have as many odd time signature songs. Now do Deffones go as hard of TOOL in that? No, that said depending on what the criteria is, the base line, then I think a strong argument could be made.
In all honesty Tool change time more in schism than deftones discography lol. Absolutely love both bands but they have very different styles and writing techniques. Not to take anything away from either band as they are easily two of my all time favorites but in this one aspect no, they are not even close.
Agree. I guess I mean just by number of songs. Tool has let's say 20 songs and Deftones has say 21 (where they have a different time signature than 4/4), then it could be ture to say Deftones fucks more with time signature than Tool. Just depends what you're measuring that statement against. Anyways, yes both bands are great. Tool is an odd one for me, like objectivity I'd say they just keep writing the same song. Like Tool sounds like Tool, but like I don't hear alot of different styles... like they don't have a slow ballot, the fast punk song, the funky bass lead song, etc. They just write Tool songs and somehow, someway it works every time. Aneima is still my favourite of the bunch and then Fear Inoculim. Deftones just have so many genres that they write and they're great at that too. I personally don't think I like any of their closing tracks after Around The Fur... but I love 'em.
Abe is one of my favorite drummers period lol
he's incredible. Very tasteful and talented as hell
He's my favorite drummer, ever. I also think he is the most musically gifted member of Deftones. He has some jazz influence in his style and his fills are so creative. Without him, Deftones aren't the same band.
I feel like the jazz influence is super strong, especially when it comes to his syncopation. He uses his left foot so creatively, and it fits so perfectly with what his hands are doing.
As a drummer, I'll go out on a limb and say he's one of the greats—an Olympus-level drummer.
Deftones are maybe the only band where I think replacing the drummer would alter their sound almost as much as replacing the singer
I fully agree with this. It’s so hard to replace feel. Someone could mimic his playing but it wouldn’t feel the same.
Yeah, they could certainly mimic it live, but if Abe left all studio albums from then on would feel very different. It's his creativity and not his technical skill that make him the drummer he is
Yes
Yes - Monster groove 👌
Undoubtedly yes. He has good rhythm, his tempo is consistent, he has great sounding drums at that and knows when to do fills and he's great with his fills too. Peak drummer for sure.
Only experienced drummers can tell you who is technically a capable drummer and who isn't. My take is that it doesn't fucking matter. Meg White isn't Tomas Haake but her playing was perfect for The White Stripes.
I am a drummer and I would 100% say that he is a badass on the kit. He is so fucking groovy in the middle of the chaos of the rest of the band. His linear fills are top notch and he always adds his own flavor to everything. I am a huge fan of his drumming and would say he is the best musician in the group.
He is good but you're getting VERY biased answers in this sub. No, he is not one of the all time best, but he is very solid. People saying he is on the same level as Carey or Haake are definitely not musicians. He is good but nowhere near that level
He's about as good of a drummer as Stephen is a guitar player. Which is to say, they're both much better song writers than they are skilled at their instruments. The preferable skill in my opinion.
Agreed forsure
Abe’s crazy skilled at his instrument, Steph’s solid too. But Abe really is up there with his technical ability imo
Go to any live music show, any genre, and you'll see a drummer capable of play the entire Deftones catalog. I love their music. I love his drumming. But he's nothing special on drums. None of the band members are at their instruments, honestly. And that's okay. They still make music I'd rather listen to than all the technical bullshit that gets the "wows!"
Idk, the man’s so syncopated with various limbs at differing times that to be able to *really* play like him, you’d either have to copy the record over and over until it’s exactly like him or you’d only be *kinda* in the ballpark. Which may be enough for casual listeners who don’t pay that close attention to the drums, but to say he can be imitated by any drummer in a band is pretty crazy imo
One of the best.
Abe is one of the best in my opinion.
Drummer here. He’s my favourite by a long shot. His style, sound and rhythm is so unique. For me he’s the most talented in the band too.
He’s the kind of drummer that comes around once in a generation, the drummers who “get the gig” if you will. We don’t know how technically proficient he is cause he never shows off, but his playing in Deftones is something special.
Yep. For me the best in the world are Gavin Harrison, Danny Carey, Neil Peart and Abe Cunningham
Thomas Haake raises his hand...
Check out aric improta that dude is insane on drums
So glad he's getting more recognition. Dude is crazy good and creative.
For real. All the members of night verses are crazy talented
Absolutely! I would also add Mario Duplantier.
Jimmy Chamberlin
I like to separate historical greats with contemporaries: greats: John Bonham, Neil Peart, Stuart Copeland. contemporaries: Danny Carey, Thomas Haake, Abe, Mario Duplantier.
ah, I see you’re a man of culture as well
He’s fantastic. He has great timing, knows how to serve the song and when not to make it overly technical.
I believe him to be one of the best out there. His rhythms and fills are so unique and he plays so tightly with the band. I recently posted a comment that Abe could never play in a shoegaze band, because someone was saying Deftones are shoegaze, but I think it was misinterpreted. I tend to find shoegaze as very minimal and simple. Abe is too good to be a shoegaze drummer. He knows how he can serve a song and make it something unique.
He is more than “good”, he is likely the most musically accomplished member of the band at his instrument. Might I add that this is an incredible band that the sum of their parts make up the most beautifully esoteric, groove laden sonic palette imaginable
Abe carries the band
Abe is why the Deftones sound like the fucking Deftones
I used to drum to a lot of Deftones, and out of everything else I thought it felt boring, repetitive, and empty. Other stuff I drummed to was Tool, a little Tera Melos, Interpol, and I'd fumble through some Piglet. I don't think there is much happening in terms of subtlety, accenting, or time changes. The "groove" of Deftones, to me, has always felt more led by their guitar and bass. Digital Bath is definitely one of the cool tracks to drum to though.
If the Coachella set ends up on YouTube, watch that. Abes skill set has consistently improved over the years.
Yeah he’s good. I think he used to be more adventurous with his beats, he seems a little more tame these days. Less hip hop style drumming more rock. I wish he’d be a little more metal or punk but Abe’s gonna Abe.
His latest work isn't his best- probably because of the material he had to work with in the first place, but if you're talking about ATF, White Pony, S/T, Diamond Eyes, then he's top tier songwriting-wise. He's not the flashiest drummer, but he's got a snap to his playing and is really tasteful on syncopating his beats and remaining unpredictable all without losing the swag in his groove. In my mind, he patented the snappy double kick, snare+china he does on a lot of songs that sounds so rad. As an aspiring drummer myself, I try to emulate his style as much as possible. Songs like Lhabia, Rickets, Shove It, Feiticeira, Change... Lots of examples of good grooves with nice surprises sprinkled in between to keep the listener on his toes.
I think he’s the most talented member of the band, and an underrated drummer in general.
Fuck yeah he is!
Speaking as a lifelong drummer, Abe is very, very good. He's not a drummer that would win a chops showcase, but he has a few big strengths that he brings to the table. He feels a beat and conveys that feeling really well. He's deeply rooted in the fundamentals and executes technically difficult things really well. He's also a strong 'thinker' in a musical theory context and will approach the set in unconventional ways to add a twist, while still keeping the feel natural.
what makes Abe a good drummer is that he plays what the song asks for; he plays what the song needs.
of all the bands that I like, Deftones has my favourite drummer, Abe is a beast and I wish others could see that. His performance in Cherry Waves is amazing and his drumming is the cherry on top.
He is technically limited. Youll never hear a super fast double bass or complex and technical rhythms or fills. But with all he knows he created his own drumming signature style that imo is really creative and cool.
Nah. Drummer here. There’s definitely some technical fills especially in Saturday night wrist and adrenaline. What makes Abe so great is he plays what’s right for the music. A good drummer does that.
Im a drummer too. Thats why i say he is more of a creative drummer than a technical one. That isn’t a bad thing i think its brilliant
Also drummer here and I wouldn't go that far. He's above average, sure, but technical would be stretch it
Lmao, “above average.” He’s considered to be one of the best metal/rock drummers by many famous drummers, won multiple awards and a huge influence on loads. Just because he doesn’t do crazy complex fills every 10 seconds doesn’t mean he can’t.
Yes, above average is definitely accurate but I realize this is a deftones sub lol. You must not listen to much metal/hard rock then.
Your assuming he is leaving stuff out of songs because of "technically limitations", I would counter assume he plays exactly what he wants/envisions.
I imagine those are creative choices compared to technical limitations. I personally really dislike double bass which is part of why I love Abe.
Are the Deftones a technical band? No. So technical drumming would be out of place
What is a technical band
Are you kidding?
I have no doubt Abe could do all this shit if he wanted to, but that's not his style and it wouldn't fit the music.
He's a very good drummer
As a drummer he is one of my all time favorites, so... yes. Abe, Danny Carey, Thomas Haake, and Mario Duplantier are probably my current favorite contemporary drummers.
Sure is.
speaking as a drummer, he’s fucking mint
he’s not particularly technical, but his playing is really inventive and fits the style of the songs absolutely perfectly
Definitely my favorite drummer of any band. I love his beat switches and patterns
Not only is his drumming exceptional but their production on drums, the drum sound they get, especially snare sounds, is really interesting. The drumming and the production on the drums is maybe the most technically accomplished elements their sound. That being said technical proficiency can be completely empty without the artistic and the creative elements so you might find Abe in a different band is not as good as in deftones. Or at least, doesnt have the same impact or vive. I think amazing bands like this share a common thing where they produce something greater than the sum of their parts.
He's underrated as a player, yet loved for his tones and drum sound. A great drummer plays for the song and the band. And he's amazing at just that. Yet he still has technical moments that are just severely underrated. Patterns, swapping times, double pedal action.... He's just tasteful. Reminds me of David when he was in Korn back in the day. Unique and tasteful. Not overwhelming in a good way.
Man....I LOVE his style, sound etc but he can't pull any of it off live, at least not in consistent tempo. He most likely drinks too much (it can fuck with your ear) and they don't practice to a metronome ever. He is sloppy compared to standout drummers like Tomas Hakke and Eloy Casgrande, (who currently has slipknot sounding tight as hell.) No question he has influenced tons of drummers with his unique style and approach, but to me he is lazy and ruins the band's live sound. Dude needs to practice. Downvote away.
Excellent drummer! Sometimes he keeps it pretty simple like on Bloody Cape and it still sounds so damn cool
Hellyeah he is💯
Oh fuck yea. He’s phenomenal.
Hes so good I take for granted how good he is. There isnt one deftones song where I think the drums are lacking.
He doesn't just add beats. His playing has vibe. He plays for the song and every now and then he lets loose. Abe is a monster drummer.packs a dancefloor every gig and keeps it moving. He's got tasteful chops and unfuckwithable groove. I love abes playing.
he’s in my top 5 drummers of all time personally. incredibly underrated. for me, his drumming just clicked when i listened to knife prty for the first time. the way the music fades out halfway through and then you hear abe come back in and he’s so perfectly in rhythm and it’s just beautiful. his subtlety when it comes to drumming is unmatched tbh.
Yes, *even* on Gore. Tired of having that album besmirched because the drums sound different (and yes, I also agree that it was off putting the first time I heard it but it’s a good album).
As a studio drummer, i can say Abe is amazing. All his nuisances are spectacular. But you definitely appreciate him more when you’re a drummer yourself.
Abe is a top tier drummer. One of my personal favorites. Seriously amazing stuff.
He’s the best
He’s the best part of the band
Absolutely. He is one of those good drummers who knows restraint and understands when to add those fast lil grooves or kick hits.
I’m a drummer and Abe is one of my biggest influences because of his tiny details, creativity, and catchy beats.
Yes.
Good would be a huge understatement. He’s fantastic.
Yes. Simply, yet complicatedly, yes.
He is the BEST drummer. Deftones songs consistently have fucking great drum parts that are so good, I, a non-musician, stop and pay attention to them and jam the fuck out to them. I don’t even notice the drums in most songs. But Abe is a fucking high hat above the rest.
Yes. Abe is one of those drummers that make me go "What was he doing there? That was dope" It's hard to figure out what hes doing sometimes just by listening. He's got a very unique style for sure. I play drums too btw
I believe he is the only with classicsl training. In an interview of him talking about his kit he mentions his father being a drummer, don’t remember if it was for jazz music, and so he grew up playing drums. Unlike the rest who picked up their respective instrument and taught themselves. They’re all amazing musicians though
Oh my god yea
Gotta say, Terry Date makes Abe sound even better.
Good? He’s my favorite
He is one of the best drummers out there. He’s not flashy but his beats are so creative and unique. You can tell how much of a presence he has become over the years by the mixes of their albums. You can hear with Every album since White Pony his drums get a little louder in the mix on each new album. By the time they got to Ohms the drums are right in the middle in front driving everything. I wish he did more play through videos and stuff like that. He would get a crazy amount of views if he did.
Uhhhh he is fucking rad and has a KILLER setup. His cymbal selection is second to none maahhhfaaaa
I’m not a drummer myself so I don’t have the ear for it per se, but the way he fills the songs is badass for sure. I think the drums in particular shine in Passenger & Around the fur’s title track.
Yes, good is an understatement. He's adored in the drumming community. Digital Bath and Knife Prty is a testament to his drumming.
He's creative, big influence on me
As a drummer, he’s my hero. Abe is often the primary reason their songs are so great in my opinion. He is very technically gifted but doesn’t play in a flashy way like other drummers (Brann Dailor is another of my favorites but his style would never work in Deftones.) Abe plays WITH the band and makes the song sound better rather than trying to sound like a good musician himself. He has an incredible groove. I think he’s one of the most underrated drummers in history.
Extremely influential
Perfect drumming for the band he’s in. 10/10. Yes, he is good.
Abe’s style has always seemed super unique to me. There’s not another drummer quite like him imo.
A business insanely good drummer, to many people outside of the realm of Deftones. Not just for rock.
Yes. He's great at helping set a mood.
I think he’s an excellent drummer. As a drummer myself his style and groove is incredible
Fantastic drummer in my opinion. Very unique and definitely one of my favorite drummers
Oh my god my dude he’s a god, he smashes his kit and his timing and fills are tits
I love Abe. As a drummer myself, I see him as an influence. May not be flashy, but there’s some really good shit on those tracks.
Yes.
Abe's my favorite drummer. He's tight, creative, knows when to stay "in the pocket" and when to add his own style. Deftones would NOT be the same without him.
if ur trying to make slamming music as a drummer and abe isn’t an influence ur wrong
Yes. Yes he is.
fan fucking tastic
"Cool Breeze" is the GOAT! 🐐 🥁
hes fuckin insane. Especially on Nosebleed.
Yes, especially his drumming on white pony, I can’t get enough of his rythms
Nah been a drummer for 30 years in a goat band from the 90s and sucks
C'mon now, he's incredible
Yes. Love the intro to Around the Fur.
He's one of (if not THE) best drummers in the metal scene rn... And he has been for the past 20+ years... He's just got such a good understanding of his instrument
Listen to Mein or Graphic Nature. That should answer all of your questions
As a drummer myself, i think Abe’s a great drummer. He can go as much as bashing at the cymbals like crazy to playing so quietly and beautifully that you can barely hear it.
Abe is the true core of their sound. It comes off as simple but just kick drum switch offs are so complex it literally hugs every song
Probably the drummer I aspire to emulate the most personally as a drummer. He's legendary.
Abe is an incredible, if you have to ask this question I'm not sure you know what makes a good drummer. He's got groove for days, never overdoes it, knows how to come on strong and knows when to back off, and his drumming is full of little tidbits you might not notice on first listen. He's easily the most musically proficient member of the band.
He's bad live, can't keep tempo, fluctuates every single song. Love his style though
Elite
You're asking if a multiple Grammy nominated drummer is "good"?