Review by Rachel Jablonski
I beat my skin for a living too, the legendary Ron Jeremy wrote on the Dog Fashion Disco drumhead with his signature. I will never forget seeing the comment on the snare drum when Dog Fashion Disco played in Lincoln, NE a few years back. Unlike Jeremy in his profession, many drummers are rarely allowed the chance to be up close and personal in the public eye. But some drummers have now been relieved of behind the scenes status with the release of Volume 3 from Magna Carta’s Drum Nation series. Featuring new solo tracks created strictly for this compilation, drummers from bands in the current music spotlight, such as Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Killswitch Engage, sport their rhythmic pounding and smashing talents.
The stringent instrumental album is accompanied by a supplemented video which begins with the phrase Drummers are people too. Viewers are able to take a look at each drummer in a more personal light. You see Joe Nunez (Soulfly) at the dentist, Jeremy Colson (Steve Vai, Marty Friedman) give his take on drumming, a montage of the day in the life of Jordan Mancino (As I Lay Dying), Kenneth Schalk (Candiria) comparing golf to drumming, and more.
Though each song on the album has its own unique flavor and highlights the value of each drummer well, having seen many of these drummers live with their respective bands, the live experience is really needed to illustrate the amazing and complete drumming package. A talent-filled package even Ron Jeremy could be jealous of.