He warned everyone before hand before this was not going to be his typical stuff. He said dont expect me to play crazy stuff. This band was stuff he wanted to play
Absolutely. This entire reaction to the song is coming from folks who didn't see his video previous to releasing the single. Wanting blast beats and quadruplets on the double bass during a dark, moody song is just... lame. It doesn't fit. Enjoy the song for how it is crafted... yeesh.
That’s cool! But it also doesn’t mean we need to like it.. 😂 he sets a precedent with his talent so naturally people will expect something good… not whatever this is… cause it’s terribly boring.
Chill. This is only the 1st song of the band. Also, its not about the drummer and show off unnecessary. This isn't a cover anymore. Its a BAND.@@TarmacSkin
That was what I was thinking too, I like the chill factor. But, I get respecting your band-mates and not just playing for one member's audience, if you listen to a lot of his covers he tends to compliment a song and not simply play over it.
I have been a fan of Estepario for years and I will be 100% honest with you. I like the project and I understand where he’s coming from. He said when he announced the band that it wouldn’t be what you would expect from him. But to be honest, his vibe and his precision is something to admire always. Cool band, cool concept. I’d like to see more of it.
I mean he kinda did that on purpose. He does not wanna be the focus of the band, he wants to be part of the 3 pieces. Its so wierd to me that people all wanna bitch about how he couldnt just play for the music and when he does it, they bitch it was boring.
@@codyscards6698 It's not him necessarily doing that on purpose, the singer wrote the song. It's a slow tempo/bpm song so as a drummer you have to adjust. your not just blast beating through this song it wouldn't make sense. So sure Technically he's not playing fast intentionally because it wouldn't make sense lol
@@jamesde4428 i mean, usually drummers write their parts to a song. you don't have to write the main melody to write drum parts. you write them to fit into the existing song structure. or you write the drum parts and then create the melody with guitars on top of it.
@@codyscards6698 it was boring. if his name wasn't associated with this band no one would care. so far the criticism is valid. when you listen to the greats you know it's them regardless of what they're playing. he is a very good drummer and he has the chops of a great drummer but musically it's not there.
I was a session drummer in the 90s. I auditioned for a bunch of bands on the verge of stuff who had deals in place. I was giving them tapes ( yep that was still a thing 🥹 ) with tons of epic technical stuff. I only got 3 auditions. Out of about 20. It was funny cause a guy who was a drum student of mine go one of the gigs. I went to see the band at a decent sized venue in the U.K. went backstage. We are shooting the shit i mentioned I had sent in my tape but didn’t get through to live. We were laughing & one of the band members comes over and asks what’s up. We tell him. He’s like - oh man I remember that tape with all the crazy virtuoso stuff. We just wanted a guy to keep it solid. Bands have a serious lack of imagination for what you CAN do. If it’s not what you DO, DO! - our boy here is doing the right thing showing his versatility. Because some people think if you play the hard stuff that you can’t play the easy stuff. 🤷🏻♂️
I loved it and want more! Moody and intense with great dynamics, smooth vocals with an edge, technically clean and a gutsy bass and rock solid drumming. The video production was relatively simple, but effective and showcased the music and the guys. As far as expectations, EES has played with many bands and covered about every musical genre while he's built up a massive audience on social media. He's said he's doing this for himself and obviously wants to do his own thing and not be put in a category box. I applaud it!
I read in the comments that these song has vibes from: Deftones, Linkin Park, Incubus, Korn, Royal Blood, QOTSA, Vola, The Ocean, Karnivool, Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, Quicksand, Fighstar, Tool .. OMG, no wonder why this song is so fucking good! For the record: Both the bass and the guitar player play together in a fusion-jazz project called "Valmuz", so they are not metalheads gatekeepers purists... and maybe thats why it sounds fresh and uncompromised. And people like it for the most part. More of this please!
@@phreshxmetaloh yeah, you're right. Pretty generic and easy to get. But then it's up to each one of us to decide if to be "generic" is good or bad. I think they sound "generic" because they want to. Not because they don't know any better 😉
The Cost just dropped their second song/video and I think it's closer to what you were expecting. Would be interested in seeing you follow up by reacting to that song as well.
I liked it a lot tbh, especially because we know his normal crazy content and also his former band he was in. Homie made a banger with his band and reminded everyone that sometimes less is more and you don't need to show off and go all out to make something good.
They're like a cleaned up Mastodon with a more ranged vocalist. Not insulting either band by saying that. The next song is much heavier and he still doesn't go crazy on drums. He plays what fits the song wonderfully and shows some heat in transitions and where you would. I think he prefers to write a great song as a unit than take the spotlight and that's great to see
It's the style of music that can reach out to many different audiences. It's not too heavy to make non-metal lovers turn away, but heavy enough to keep metal lovers in. Some call it "safe", but I call it "Brilliant". And as you mentioned sometimes as an artist you want to branch out of your "Norm", and audiences don't always jump on board. I will make a reference to my dad who was a studio musician (drummer)/producer (before youtube, everyone now is this). He would work with the craziest variety of people from Snoop, Mariah Carrie, did a tour for Paul Simon, an album with Steve Vai, house musician for Arsenio Hall and Lopez Tonight, and his drum teacher was Jeff Porcaro. But at the end of the day this guy only wants to create soft, simple, and atmospheric music. Specifically music that has no drumming in it. My dad LOVES El Estepario and has taken on his challenges (Only an x% of drummers can do this) finding them super refreshing. But seeing how an artist like my dad branches away from his "gift" because he prefers music that doesn't incorporate his gift I can see that in any artist that doesn't "Hold up" to audience expectations. Not dishing soap in any direction, hoping to just dive deeper on what you mentioned that an artist can want to do something completely off from what they're known for doing.
I understand why this is what his band sounds like. For myself, I released a progressive deathcore album last year, and I released my completely re-recorded and modified St. Anger album this year, but I don't often listen to metal in my own time and if I were in a band, I wouldn't want to play that stuff. Honestly, I'd just want to play drums in like a fun pop rock band or something. I wouldn't have to worry about playing something really difficult and I could just have fun and enjoy the band experience.
I dig it, it's pretty 90s/2000s Radio Rock which is what I'm known for from touring in Radio acts. Tad weird for El estapario though. For real though Rock has a ton of hidden shredders whom never Shred on anything.
I thought this was a joke at first, then thought it was instrumental, then it was not what I expected at all, but I really fucking dig it!!!!! Gojira meets Soundgarden with Layne making guest appearances.....
i like the song. And he said before the video dropped that it wasn't going to be him just going off. Also they made this song in like a weekend... The thing i love about this song is that his haters can't say he can't drum in a band or that he can't drum in the pocket anymore. Proved them wrong with 1 song.
I think they chose to introduce the BAND first. I think the vocal melody is really good, but I expect he’ll show off more on others now that the band has been introduced.
Might not be what we wanted but damn was what my playlists needed 😂. Listen to it a few times I have it mixed in with much heavier tracks it flows so well.
Sounds a lot like just about anything Clint Lowery (Sevendust guitarist) does. Dark New Day - Brother, Sevendust, Hello Demons... Meet Skeletons or even his solo stuff.
Definitely different than why we are used To from the groovefather, but I dig it. I’ve also never heard of Avila and checking them out now. Thanks for the referral!
You mentioned him only using single kicks but thats what hes all about...hes never been comfortable on a double pedal thats what actually kinda started his IG channel type of content
P.O.D/ Deftones vibes, very cool. I miss that style of metal. Very cool he could actually taylor his playing style into different ganres of music and plays simple what the song needed. The vocalist and guitar player who wrote the songs is killing it!
It's good. I really like the pre chorus because that chord progression is a lot like a melody you'd hear in Latin music. I definitely didn't expect it to be this simplistic that's for sure. But it's good.
Whenever I see prodigious talents restrain themselves in a band setting, I remind myself that Virgil Donati was the drummer for Southern Sons, and I feel better.
I'd say El Estepario is perhaps just as well-known for his grooves (he is also known as "The Groovefather," after all) as for the innovations to technique he brings to the drumming world. Still, it would be fun to see him use crazy-innovative techniques in an original song.
I’m part of his fan base. I have to say, I didn’t mind the change. People have been so critical of him being too showy and never being able to be a studio drummer. My guess is he timed down to both shut up the haters and also to allow everything else to come through and shine. Also, the fact they came up with this song, recorded it, and released it all within a week is nuts! So, I’ll hold judgement until I hear a few more.
This is how a drummer should play in a band. About the sound, a bit of Deftones, a bit of Soen, and a bit of something else. Get's better with every listen.
For him to really succeed, and his band to not flop, he can't come out too strong early on. The band needs to establish it's (incoming boxing metaphor) jab if it wants to be able to use more than just a "right cross" in the fight. Otherwise we all focus on one thing and we won't let the band do anything else.
For me, yes I was dissapointed when he didnt go like 1000 mph. BUT, He already had done everything and he just wants to rock out and for me thats respectable, to say Fuck everyone and do what he wants.
I call this floaty rock, I do like it, it has a good vibe. But I kinda expected more from him since he’s a very talented drummer. Anyhow, I want to hear more from this band.
*Hit the sub button - have fun!*
its like VOLA
I hit it along time ago my man lol
Love the channel & keep doing what you've been doing. 🤘😎👍
The wildly fluctuating subscriber numbers, lol
Fit for and autopsy - the sea of tragic beasts
"Why do I look like a vampire"
Guys he's becoming self aware
Right? 😂
Vamp nik: Blegh! blegh bleghh!
He has Crohn’s
Honestly I love this specific style. Clean vocals, lil bit grungy but still the energy of a metal banger
Part of the reason why I love Incubus
Down-tuned grungy goodness.
Check out Tremonti
Grunge influences is cool. Nothing else that's particularly unique or interesting though
Same here. It's giving me Queen of the Damned soundtrack vibes and I dig it.
He warned everyone before hand before this was not going to be his typical stuff. He said dont expect me to play crazy stuff. This band was stuff he wanted to play
Absolutely. This entire reaction to the song is coming from folks who didn't see his video previous to releasing the single. Wanting blast beats and quadruplets on the double bass during a dark, moody song is just... lame. It doesn't fit. Enjoy the song for how it is crafted... yeesh.
That’s cool! But it also doesn’t mean we need to like it.. 😂 he sets a precedent with his talent so naturally people will expect something good… not whatever this is… cause it’s terribly boring.
This proves that besides covering others and overkilling he isnt that talented. This is nothing special IMO.
@@miverick86your terribly boring if you are talking about this song
Chill. This is only the 1st song of the band. Also, its not about the drummer and show off unnecessary. This isn't a cover anymore. Its a BAND.@@TarmacSkin
The reason they released this first is that it is more of a band song as it would be wrong to make it a: Estepario plus 2 dudes.
valid point
That was what I was thinking too, I like the chill factor. But, I get respecting your band-mates and not just playing for one member's audience, if you listen to a lot of his covers he tends to compliment a song and not simply play over it.
Sounds like a great porno
Right. It's almost like he played what fit the song and not some random shit
This, right here. He said as much himself in a recent video he posted. He didn't want the first release to be all about him. This is intentional.
I have been a fan of Estepario for years and I will be 100% honest with you.
I like the project and I understand where he’s coming from. He said when he announced the band that it wouldn’t be what you would expect from him.
But to be honest, his vibe and his precision is something to admire always.
Cool band, cool concept. I’d like to see more of it.
*This is probably the SLOWEST drumming I have ever seen on El Estepario.*
I mean he kinda did that on purpose. He does not wanna be the focus of the band, he wants to be part of the 3 pieces. Its so wierd to me that people all wanna bitch about how he couldnt just play for the music and when he does it, they bitch it was boring.
And the best song he ever played tho. ABSOLUTE BANGER
@@codyscards6698 It's not him necessarily doing that on purpose, the singer wrote the song. It's a slow tempo/bpm song so as a drummer you have to adjust. your not just blast beating through this song it wouldn't make sense. So sure Technically he's not playing fast intentionally because it wouldn't make sense lol
@@jamesde4428 i mean, usually drummers write their parts to a song. you don't have to write the main melody to write drum parts. you write them to fit into the existing song structure. or you write the drum parts and then create the melody with guitars on top of it.
@@codyscards6698 it was boring. if his name wasn't associated with this band no one would care. so far the criticism is valid. when you listen to the greats you know it's them regardless of what they're playing. he is a very good drummer and he has the chops of a great drummer but musically it's not there.
I really dug this, we know he can go nuts but to write a good catchy song, that's a different talent all together. Excited to hear more from them.
I was a session drummer in the 90s. I auditioned for a bunch of bands on the verge of stuff who had deals in place. I was giving them tapes ( yep that was still a thing 🥹 ) with tons of epic technical stuff. I only got 3 auditions. Out of about 20. It was funny cause a guy who was a drum student of mine go one of the gigs. I went to see the band at a decent sized venue in the U.K. went backstage. We are shooting the shit i mentioned I had sent in my tape but didn’t get through to live. We were laughing & one of the band members comes over and asks what’s up. We tell him. He’s like - oh man I remember that tape with all the crazy virtuoso stuff. We just wanted a guy to keep it solid.
Bands have a serious lack of imagination for what you CAN do. If it’s not what you DO, DO! - our boy here is doing the right thing showing his versatility. Because some people think if you play the hard stuff that you can’t play the easy stuff. 🤷🏻♂️
He said in a recent video that the first single was going to be more mellow than the rest of their music.
I loved it and want more! Moody and intense with great dynamics, smooth vocals with an edge, technically clean and a gutsy bass and rock solid drumming. The video production was relatively simple, but effective and showcased the music and the guys. As far as expectations, EES has played with many bands and covered about every musical genre while he's built up a massive audience on social media. He's said he's doing this for himself and obviously wants to do his own thing and not be put in a category box. I applaud it!
This is catchy AF and I look forward to the rest of his band’s music!
Love the vocals and the guitar matching the melody in the chorus.
This really reminds me of Adema back in the early 2000's.
Damn I haven't heard that name forever lmao
@@kcrang - I don't think I've thought of them in forever either, lol.
A little bit of Flaw from around that time too, especially in the vocals.
@@psychopompinc.646Oh damn. I always thought Flaw was underrated.
Very true.
The best drummers are able to play slow too
I read in the comments that these song has vibes from: Deftones, Linkin Park, Incubus, Korn, Royal Blood, QOTSA, Vola, The Ocean, Karnivool, Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, Quicksand, Fighstar, Tool ..
OMG, no wonder why this song is so fucking good!
For the record: Both the bass and the guitar player play together in a fusion-jazz project called "Valmuz", so they are not metalheads gatekeepers purists... and maybe thats why it sounds fresh and uncompromised. And people like it for the most part.
More of this please!
or it sounds like all of those bands because it's pretty generic rock imo
@@phreshxmetaloh yeah, you're right. Pretty generic and easy to get.
But then it's up to each one of us to decide if to be "generic" is good or bad.
I think they sound "generic" because they want to. Not because they don't know any better 😉
The Cost just dropped their second song/video and I think it's closer to what you were expecting. Would be interested in seeing you follow up by reacting to that song as well.
Song is such a banger. Can’t wait for the rest 😎 i was under the impression it was going to be more jazz/fusion so this was a very nice surprise
The best drummers know when not to be super technical and dial it back. And he nailed this. I'm sure the next songs will showcase more of his skills
His explanation after the video explains alot of what you're talking about.
Heard this on Octane today. Blew me away. First song in awhile that did that for me. It's an amazing song!
This jam is fire 🔥
Vibe is immaculate.
I liked it a lot tbh, especially because we know his normal crazy content and also his former band he was in. Homie made a banger with his band and reminded everyone that sometimes less is more and you don't need to show off and go all out to make something good.
Clear, clean, groove drumming. Nice
Im getting breaking benjamin from this song. I like it. With the slowed mellow vocals an cadence an lingering leads an breakdown even
It's really good and he's showing how versatile he is. Bro's one of the best drummers out there
Has a nice Thrice/Trade Wind vibe - really dig it
I loved it from the first listen, but as you said not at all what I expected
Definite Thrice vibes and I'm not complaning!
Plays drums with one hand and lights spliffs with the other. Legend.
This style of chill metal is literally timeless
This is a good band. This particular song, mostly in the vocals, I am a bit reminded of King Buffalo. Looking so forward to hearing what’s next!
They're like a cleaned up Mastodon with a more ranged vocalist. Not insulting either band by saying that. The next song is much heavier and he still doesn't go crazy on drums. He plays what fits the song wonderfully and shows some heat in transitions and where you would. I think he prefers to write a great song as a unit than take the spotlight and that's great to see
I liked it! Vocals were gorgeous. Reminds me of Chevel a little. And that bearded Estaflashio Sabrinkerton is pimp... makes the band, ya dig?
Pretty solid track imo!
Reminds me of the band Katatonia.
This vocal gives me Mastodon vibes, and it's great!
They remind me of tesseract for some reason and this is compliment
PEOPLE NOW ARE MAD BC MUSIC WASNOT HEAVY ENOUGH.
It's the style of music that can reach out to many different audiences. It's not too heavy to make non-metal lovers turn away, but heavy enough to keep metal lovers in. Some call it "safe", but I call it "Brilliant". And as you mentioned sometimes as an artist you want to branch out of your "Norm", and audiences don't always jump on board. I will make a reference to my dad who was a studio musician (drummer)/producer (before youtube, everyone now is this). He would work with the craziest variety of people from Snoop, Mariah Carrie, did a tour for Paul Simon, an album with Steve Vai, house musician for Arsenio Hall and Lopez Tonight, and his drum teacher was Jeff Porcaro. But at the end of the day this guy only wants to create soft, simple, and atmospheric music. Specifically music that has no drumming in it. My dad LOVES El Estepario and has taken on his challenges (Only an x% of drummers can do this) finding them super refreshing. But seeing how an artist like my dad branches away from his "gift" because he prefers music that doesn't incorporate his gift I can see that in any artist that doesn't "Hold up" to audience expectations. Not dishing soap in any direction, hoping to just dive deeper on what you mentioned that an artist can want to do something completely off from what they're known for doing.
I understand why this is what his band sounds like. For myself, I released a progressive deathcore album last year, and I released my completely re-recorded and modified St. Anger album this year, but I don't often listen to metal in my own time and if I were in a band, I wouldn't want to play that stuff. Honestly, I'd just want to play drums in like a fun pop rock band or something. I wouldn't have to worry about playing something really difficult and I could just have fun and enjoy the band experience.
I dig it, it's pretty 90s/2000s Radio Rock which is what I'm known for from touring in Radio acts. Tad weird for El estapario though. For real though Rock has a ton of hidden shredders whom never Shred on anything.
I thought this was a joke at first, then thought it was instrumental, then it was not what I expected at all, but I really fucking dig it!!!!! Gojira meets Soundgarden with Layne making guest appearances.....
i like the song. And he said before the video dropped that it wasn't going to be him just going off. Also they made this song in like a weekend... The thing i love about this song is that his haters can't say he can't drum in a band or that he can't drum in the pocket anymore. Proved them wrong with 1 song.
I think they chose to introduce the BAND first. I think the vocal melody is really good, but I expect he’ll show off more on others now that the band has been introduced.
Might not be what we wanted but damn was what my playlists needed 😂. Listen to it a few times I have it mixed in with much heavier tracks it flows so well.
I think their new song "into the drone" they just dropped is a little closer to what you might expect. It's heavier and quicker.
The next Rick Allen this guy is incredible here loved this Nik
Honestly the breakdown weirdly reminds me of Tooth and Claw by Animals As Leaders
it was a great first song, amazing work by all people involved
His ghost notes are sooooo fucking perfect
Mentioning starset is huge becuase i have never heard nik referance them and thy is my favorite band
Sounds like a really solid Thrice song
I am into this slower more groovy rhythm metal styling's as I'm just happy & glad he's enjoying his newest musical outfit project 💯
Im getting Royal blood, Fightstar, mallory knox vibe.
I really like it.
Reminds me of a combo of 311's groove sections with maybe a bit of Sevendust Dad Rock.
The band you were looking for in a breakdown could be Jinjer - they have similar rhytmic patterns :).
Sounds a lot like just about anything Clint Lowery (Sevendust guitarist) does. Dark New Day - Brother, Sevendust, Hello Demons... Meet Skeletons or even his solo stuff.
He would sound sick playing drums with slaughter to prevail
Definitely different than why we are used To from the groovefather, but I dig it. I’ve also never heard of Avila and checking them out now. Thanks for the referral!
I grew up with grunge, and I'm glad to see that sound making a come back 🤘
You mentioned him only using single kicks but thats what hes all about...hes never been comfortable on a double pedal thats what actually kinda started his IG channel type of content
Dude, he understood the assignment when it comes to writing drum parts. Play what fits the song, just bc you CAN do something doesn't mean you should.
P.O.D/ Deftones vibes, very cool. I miss that style of metal. Very cool he could actually taylor his playing style into different ganres of music and plays simple what the song needed. The vocalist and guitar player who wrote the songs is killing it!
Almost sounds kinda like Karnivool
It's good. I really like the pre chorus because that chord progression is a lot like a melody you'd hear in Latin music. I definitely didn't expect it to be this simplistic that's for sure. But it's good.
At a first listen from my phone, I'm getting Pearl Jam vibes. I'll go listen to the song, with headphones, but rn I'm impressed how dull it seemed 😂
The switch up on the lead up to the verse is sooooo fucken sexy
Whenever I see prodigious talents restrain themselves in a band setting, I remind myself that Virgil Donati was the drummer for Southern Sons, and I feel better.
Reminds me of the band "RED". Sounds like something they'll write.
Playing to fit the song is the correct choice instead of doing something over the top and making the song shit
I couldn’t even listen to the whole song but I love his drumming videos
I'd say El Estepario is perhaps just as well-known for his grooves (he is also known as "The Groovefather," after all) as for the innovations to technique he brings to the drumming world. Still, it would be fun to see him use crazy-innovative techniques in an original song.
I’m part of his fan base. I have to say, I didn’t mind the change. People have been so critical of him being too showy and never being able to be a studio drummer. My guess is he timed down to both shut up the haters and also to allow everything else to come through and shine. Also, the fact they came up with this song, recorded it, and released it all within a week is nuts! So, I’ll hold judgement until I hear a few more.
He made a video about the possible hate coming out.
He addressed it pretty fine I´ll say.
The song is fire imo, the chorus.,.. ugug... love it.
Breakdown reminded me of the unpopular but should be popular MEDIA band
i was thinking jinger when you were trying to think of that band name they sound like
Saratoga was the last band of the el stepario. He release 3 album with them.
YO WHAT? STARSET got mentioned?!? That's probably the best I'm ever gonna get out of Nik. I'll take what I can and count this as an absolute win!!
VOLA are actually great, so, homie Jorge (El Estepario), who started in Saratoga, will be happy to know they have VOLA vibes. A nice compliment imho!
Islander band song is Pains very similiar but diffrent sound!
sounds like temples on mars?
from party tricks to actual music can be a big change for those who thought this guy was a circus animal
Check into the drone, from this guys its a bit more aggressive
Were you thinking of Skyharbor?
This is how a drummer should play in a band. About the sound, a bit of Deftones, a bit of Soen, and a bit of something else. Get's better with every listen.
For him to really succeed, and his band to not flop, he can't come out too strong early on. The band needs to establish it's (incoming boxing metaphor) jab if it wants to be able to use more than just a "right cross" in the fight. Otherwise we all focus on one thing and we won't let the band do anything else.
I do like the vibe of this band, but ngl I was kind of hoping for him to go full archspire or something 😅
Thrice vibes for sure
El Estepario said on his channel that he is purposely releasing a slower song first
For me, yes I was dissapointed when he didnt go like 1000 mph. BUT, He already had done everything and he just wants to rock out and for me thats respectable, to say Fuck everyone and do what he wants.
Banger song
He said in his videos, that it will not be the same as his Covers/videos until now
Early 2000s metal sound. Kind of nu metal. I like it a lot
I call this floaty rock, I do like it, it has a good vibe. But I kinda expected more from him since he’s a very talented drummer. Anyhow, I want to hear more from this band.
Bad Omens is the band you're thinking of
Queen of the dammed soundtrack
He made a point about not going bananas in the first song, imo
He needs to react to their second single Into The Drone
Gave me Steven Wilson/PT vibes when I first heard it.