V/A – Drum Nation Volume 3 / 2006 Magna Carta / 12 Tracks / http://www.magnacarta.net / Reviewed 13 August 2006

There is a drummer culture present in the United States that I just do not understand. It took me a decent amount of time, but I learned that there was a drummer’s festival and everything. I guess all the drummer jokes are pretty passé now. There are a number of different styles that are present on “Drum Nation Volume 3”, and none of these are any more weird than the jazzy, bluesy sound of Kenneth Schalk’s “Out of Nowhere”. This track is interesting for the fact that it goes back and forth between being very drum heavy and then being very guitar heavy.

There is a lot of drumming going on in the background even during these “guitar heavy” moments, and while the track is not quite as hard as a lot of the other tracks on the disc, it shares the same blazing intensity as the other songs on the disc. I would like to see this volume of Drum Nation include a DVD with it that shows hints and tips for those that are trying to get into drumming. While some of the tracks are interesting on their own right, they just seem (and this is intentional, of course) to be vehicles for the drummers to show their work. Thus, Jeremy Colson (Steve Vai) puts to disc a track that pushes on eighties metal and middle Eastern genres but the track does not feel that finished. When one is just trying to hear the style and way that each drummer plays, the tracks work perfectly. I guess what I am saying is that individuals should not try to go into this disc and assume that there will be new Soulfly, Killswitch Engage, and Lamb of God tracks.

The drummers never half-ass their compositions, and practically each of the tracks here on this disc contain some of the most compelling drumming that one has ever heard. There is a blend of hard rock, metal, classic rock, and thrash styles that are all present throughout Drum Nation. This is a pretty wide array, and having twelve different drummers showcase their own styles should give newer drummers proper inspiration to set out on their own path. If you are into drumming, pick this and the prior two volumes of Drum Nation up. Chances are that one will rightfully be floored by each drummer on these discs.

Top Tracks: Fluoxetine, Up And Atom

Rating: 6.1/10

[JMcQ]