Vote for the Best Drummer – 2017 Loudwire Music Awards

Let's make some noise for the noisiest members of the band: the drummers! They're the anchor of any band, providing the foundation for those fiery riffs you love so much and set the tone for every song. Every drummer possesses their own distinctive style whether its certain stroke patterns, athletic fills, the ability to lock into grooves, sudden time changes... you name it, they've done. Let's see the nominees for Best Drummer in the 2017 Loudwire Music Awards.

In standard human form, Mastodon's Brann Dailor has four limbs, but put him behind a drum kit and the rapid-motion blur of his assaulting stick and footwork put him more in line with an octopus. He's anything but contemporary and put his master class showmanship on display once again on Emperor of Sand.

Both Meshuggah's Tomas Haake and Gojira's Mario Duplantier take non conventional approaches to their craft. Haake's cerebral drumming finds him using his limbs independently, which takes a sharpened focus that often requires month of practice before being able to master challenging songs like those on The Violent Sleep of Reason. You can start over in the studio, but not live. Duplantier's style is somewhat similar, dancing around the riffs, leaving plenty of empty space to create a lurching feel to Gojira's elephantine riffs.

Also displaying a high degree of technical flair is August Burns Red's Matt Greiner. His bursts of flashy cymbal work and driving kicks help give the band their depth-finding sound, especially on "Invisible Enemy" off their forthcoming record, Phantom Anthem.

Two of metal's tightest players, Anthrax's Charlie Benante and Hellyeah's Vinnie Paul, continue to own their style. Benante falls in perfectly with the aggressive down-picking of Scott Ian's right hand, giving the New York thrashers that rigid, stomping attack with a bed of steady kicks underneath to propel it all. Vinnie Paul's thunderous approach is a whirlwind of tom fills, kicks and popping snare hits that transcend his studio work onstage, taking fans on a groove-laden tour-de-force.

Vote up to once per hour for your favorite nominee in the poll below. The voting period ends Oct. 2 at 11:59PM ET. Winners will be announced at the Loudwire Music Awards ceremony taking place Oct. 24 at The Novo in Los Angeles. In addition to revealing the winners, the ceremony will feature performances by Anthrax, Halestorm, Body Count, Starset, Nothing More, Power Trip and more, while honoring Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford.

Get full details on the Loudwire Music Awards concert and ceremony here and purchase your tickets for the show at this location.

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