After seeing the Lamentations DVD, Martin Lopez is the drummer that made me want to be better at what I do, and I'm proud to say he's easily the most influential drummer in my life.
Martin Lopez, if by any chance you ever read this: I love watching you play man. Hope you are well, and I wish you luck in whatever you turn your talented hand to next.
even though i think martin lopez had some technical flaws and problems with consistency (which might be all due to his illnesses) i think he really had a great groove and rhythmical ideas that improved the band highly
Martin Lopez makes me want to play drums... and I'm a guitar player! Real talent always looks effortless. I've watched this video nearly 10 times now. I'd love to be in a band with this guy.
I always thought he was the perfect fit for Opeth, but I guess the migraines and the complex with large crowds was just too much after a while. He is such an awesome, creative drummer.
being a fan of the old dt, ı can say portnoy is the best shownman ı've ever seen (as a drummer) but ı think he's much less repetitive and sometimes ruins songs for the sake of showing himself. lopez on the other hand is fabulous, picking up the best possible rhythms and ornamenting them with a fabulous usage of the cymbals and his unique latin/jazz vibe. Especially the passages from powerful death metal beats to softer swing grooves are admirable imho
I'm fucking tired of people comparing Lopez and Axe. They're both competent enough to play in Opeth, and I'm pretty fucking sure Mikael is qualified to choose the right man for the job.
Your here saying all this but forgetting that comparing is the lowest thing you can do to a drummer, they should not be compared, they show be respected. Adler is respected and got hype for it, but is still a great drummer.
Heritage was great, I don't see why everyone is bitching about it. I'd rather they not run the same style they were doing into the ground like a lot of bands do. Obviously there are more metal-heads into Opeth then there are Prog-heads.
I don't know if you heard, but he's back in the death metal scene. He is working on a new album with Fifth to Infinity I believe and it's due to come out this year. I still like their new stuff but I prefer their older material of course as I am more of a straight forwards death metal fan. Deliverance was a great album and had the perfect balance between death metal and progressive elements. Now, there's more progressive in their music than death metal and that's what I don't like.
theres just somethin about the way he plays that makes me feel like thats the way i would play if i was his place... and yet im pretty sure if i actually was in his place i wouldnt come up with something even half as good. i guess his style really appeals to me
Martin Lopez and Mike Portnoy come from different backrounds and different playing styles. Some things Mike will have while Martin won't, but some things Martin will have and Mike will won't. I don't think Mike can be as creative as Martin when talking about drum fills and such, but i don't think that Martin can recreate the time signatures that Mike does.
@illinairr you shouldn't call martin the best drummer in the world. there are way too many drummers in this world to determine that. but i do agree that martin is a truly amazing drummer and it is rare for many to be as diverse as he is.
Its impossible to say skill-wise which is better because their styles of music are so different. Martin COULD play in odd time signatures, like Mike does, but at least in Opeth he hasn't done much of it. Technique-wise I think Lopez is better.
It's too bad there are not other videos of him out there. Full songs on youtube. If anything their Lamentations DVD is a good example of what you'll get from him.
Martin is a superb drummer. But it takes a good drummer to write the stuff, and a better drummer to replicate it, and I do think that Axenrot is wasily as good/probably better than Martin. Just look at his work with Bloodbath, his blastbeats mixed with Jazz are incredible. Its like Opeth + Flo Mounier.
@CrackeTheSkull Actually he said it was his least favorite song he'd written and to listen to, though he enjoyed playing it. He said he always felt that the song never flowed very well and especially the last minute and a half of it was just too jumpy and ADD.
He's in a death metal band called Fifth to Infinity; I believe he was one of the founders. I dunno why he left but I would have left as well if I was him. This guy is an insane death metal drummer and not some mellow progressive ballad crap. He played in Amon Amarth before and now back in a real death metal band. Don't get me wrong, I still like Opeth but prefer their death metal days.
He got blood poisoning as well as having a panic attack on their last tour together... he aint playin for now... I personally think he is better then portnoy
The time with lopez was definitely opeth's prime. He brought something unique to the band.
After seeing the Lamentations DVD, Martin Lopez is the drummer that made me want to be better at what I do, and I'm proud to say he's easily the most influential drummer in my life.
Yeah dude! Lopez defines Opeth for me. So tasty on the snare, with incredibly creative beats and superior footwork.
same
Martin Lopez, if by any chance you ever read this: I love watching you play man. Hope you are well, and I wish you luck in whatever you turn your talented hand to next.
Beautiful, such a great drummer, very creative beats, never got to see him play with Opeth unfortunately.
even though i think martin lopez had some technical flaws and problems with consistency (which might be all due to his illnesses) i think he really had a great groove and rhythmical ideas that improved the band highly
Martin Lopez makes me want to play drums... and I'm a guitar player! Real talent always looks effortless. I've watched this video nearly 10 times now. I'd love to be in a band with this guy.
Axe is amazing, no doubt there, but the Opeth we had with Martin is just something else!
this man is incredible. he was originally a jazz drummer, and you can see it in his drumming.
He is a natural. like fish in the sea...
sabor latino carajo!
What a talent.
Just sooooooooooooooooooooooo overlooked and underappreciated.
My favourite drummer of all time!
I always thought he was the perfect fit for Opeth, but I guess the migraines and the complex with large crowds was just too much after a while. He is such an awesome, creative drummer.
martin lopez has awesome grooves
His family is from Uruguay, he was born in Sweden then moved to Uruguay at a young age, then back to Sweden.
his drumming for opeth is so great i cant even compare it to any other metal drummer or progressive
It's awesome how he can bring so much groove to it!
Not to mention his excellent use of dynamics =)
this drummer is not human! I love his drumming! *u*
I love him...
Very great drummer..
great drummer...I agree
Agreed, hes a great drummer, Top 10 in the world almost.
ghost reveries is by far the best album of opeth. lopez's compositional skill in the album has no comparison.
youtube please save this gems, it's priceless.
Martin you're the best!
Opeth is not Opeth without you.
Oh man I miss this guy
yep. as a drummer i love them both. they are both unequivocally awesome.
his rhythmics are like hell yeah
ill miss his work with opeth
simpley the legend
perfect! Best drummer ever!
Still the grooves, the feel of his drumming leaves me inspired. Here's to some new fucking recordings!
definitely. anxiety caused me to quit my band, i just couldn't handle it at all. I really relate to Martin Lopez for that reason.
being a fan of the old dt, ı can say portnoy is the best shownman ı've ever seen (as a drummer) but ı think he's much less repetitive and sometimes ruins songs for the sake of showing himself. lopez on the other hand is fabulous, picking up the best possible rhythms and ornamenting them with a fabulous usage of the cymbals and his unique latin/jazz vibe. Especially the passages from powerful death metal beats to softer swing grooves are admirable imho
Beautiful drumming!!
Best. Drummer. Ever.
Danny Carry...
Still Martin fuckin ruled. I hope his mental health gets better so that he can return to Opeth!
I'm fucking tired of people comparing Lopez and Axe. They're both competent enough to play in Opeth, and I'm pretty fucking sure Mikael is qualified to choose the right man for the job.
Well said.
I totally agree with you. They are the same technically-wise. It just depends which ones style you prefer.
Your here saying all this but forgetting that comparing is the lowest thing you can do to a drummer, they should not be compared, they show be respected. Adler is respected and got hype for it, but is still a great drummer.
flawless
Soooo tight.
cdrumzi WHY NO DYNAMIUCS , it's a pro , look the flow , rythmme , easy drums ! deliverance drums for me the best riffle !
You can join the others and eagerly wait for Fifth to Infinity's upcoming album; which is much anticipated as a raw and real death metal album.
i loved heritage and i think lopez's style would fit in heritage a lot better than axe.
@illinairr
My friend, i agree with you... this guy is a monster drummer....
Heritage was great, I don't see why everyone is bitching about it. I'd rather they not run the same style they were doing into the ground like a lot of bands do. Obviously there are more metal-heads into Opeth then there are Prog-heads.
I don't know if you heard, but he's back in the death metal scene. He is working on a new album with Fifth to Infinity I believe and it's due to come out this year.
I still like their new stuff but I prefer their older material of course as I am more of a straight forwards death metal fan. Deliverance was a great album and had the perfect balance between death metal and progressive elements. Now, there's more progressive in their music than death metal and that's what I don't like.
crazy shit that's amazing
theres just somethin about the way he plays that makes me feel like thats the way i would play if i was his place... and yet im pretty sure if i actually was in his place i wouldnt come up with something even half as good. i guess his style really appeals to me
Exceptional technique
@illinairr i agree with you, but dave lombardo is an absolutely amazing drummer :)
Martin Lopez and Mike Portnoy come from different backrounds and different playing styles.
Some things Mike will have while Martin won't, but some things Martin will have and Mike will won't.
I don't think Mike can be as creative as Martin when talking about drum fills and such, but i don't think that Martin can recreate the time signatures that Mike does.
Progressive Death Metal ²
Look at his eyes at the end of videos , show who's a real drummer.. who's the best..
I'm pretty sure this clip is from the Lamentations DVD
the best!
And by the way its not in an odd time signature. its 4/4.
@KarateMastR57 He's got a band right now, their looking for a label, you should definitely check them out. their called Soen.
or the outro to deliverance.. its a hell of a lot more complicated than it looks. try it.
@illinairr you shouldn't call martin the best drummer in the world. there are way too many drummers in this world to determine that. but i do agree that martin is a truly amazing drummer and it is rare for many to be as diverse as he is.
@metalmuhlisha yeah good advise! thanks again.
Its impossible to say skill-wise which is better because their styles of music are so different. Martin COULD play in odd time signatures, like Mike does, but at least in Opeth he hasn't done much of it. Technique-wise I think Lopez is better.
I agree with you
It's too bad there are not other videos of him out there. Full songs on youtube. If anything their Lamentations DVD is a good example of what you'll get from him.
@illinairr "Needless speed"? Lombardo doesn't play Opeth, he plays Slayer, for which he's excellent. Different standards, two very different drummers.
Martin is a superb drummer.
But it takes a good drummer to write the stuff, and a better drummer to replicate it, and I do think that Axenrot is wasily as good/probably better than Martin. Just look at his work with Bloodbath, his blastbeats mixed with Jazz are incredible. Its like Opeth + Flo Mounier.
Hi.. thanks. And do you know what snare and size he used in Blackwater Park? it's the snare's sound that I am looking for.
@CrackeTheSkull Actually he said it was his least favorite song he'd written and to listen to, though he enjoyed playing it.
He said he always felt that the song never flowed very well and especially the last minute and a half of it was just too jumpy and ADD.
Awesome!! Now keep going. LOL Theres some wicked double kicks coming!!
@illinairr martin is pheonomal but dont diss lombardo that man is a pioneer.
@CrackeTheSkull I believe just off this album.
Dylan Elise the greatest living drummer today no doubt
From what i've heard, he had that blood disease.
But i also heard that he had panic attacks as fast as they came up to the stage.
The new drummer AND guitarist to opeth don't do akerfeldt justice. tsk tsk what a shame. Watershed is coming out to be what i thought it would so far.
you have the interview? any chance you would translate it and send it to me? :)
@alteragnostik Agree.
Your version of Still Life must be pirated, because this is from Deliverance.
epic
@phsyco78 tbh axe is the best thing thats happened to opeth
wtf the bass drum is totally muted..
And that song rocks
what size is the snare? I want to buy Premier Modern Classic, same like him, but confused between 13"x7" or 14"x7". Please help!
His band SOEN with fucking Steve Digiorgio!!! waiting to listen them
I'm surprised that noone stated something like "Jo man, hes good but Joey Jordison ist 2 bazillion times better!!!111oneone" yet.
I remember Mikael mentioning that this is his least favorite song. I never understood why.
probably because of the straight forward and monotonous vocal lines
I need to know what hi hat he uses
Did he used '12 and '13 toms back then?
@illinairr i beg to differ. he may be great but hes not really THE BEST, thats a really big title. hes certainly up there though
Anybody know what snare that is ?
POTAQUEOPAREO³
In spanish?
Do you have the interview in spanish?
He's in a death metal band called Fifth to Infinity; I believe he was one of the founders.
I dunno why he left but I would have left as well if I was him. This guy is an insane death metal drummer and not some mellow progressive ballad crap. He played in Amon Amarth before and now back in a real death metal band.
Don't get me wrong, I still like Opeth but prefer their death metal days.
is it just me or does he have really long arms?
you didn't get it.
I'd say Axe is the better drummer from a technical standpoint, just listen to his time signatures on the song era for example.
He got blood poisoning as well as having a panic attack on their last tour together... he aint playin for now... I personally think he is better then portnoy
I think it was blood poisoning and panic attacks
rofl, trollziest comment ever.
He just shit all over Axe.
yes, there may be technically better drummers out there, but none have the feel that Lopez does