Page 52 - Sick Drummer Magazine Issue 27 - March 2014
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paoli cntd. of the time I watch DVD s, youtube videos or read whole tour and every night was perfect. Shawn is a fix. Some parts were easy to track and some parts

exercises that I find in books/drum methods and very talented musician and a very nice guy too. You were.. nevermore , eheh. It was fun though.
I practice them until I m able to play them. I have can see he has fun while he plays, which I like. I
things that I ve been trying to play since last year also admire the way he switches from doublestroke
SDM: What method of the blast beat technique do but still.. apparently they look impossible to play roll to singlestroke roll with his feet. He makes it SDM: How long did it take you to write all the drum
you use and why? What might have influenced this? but I m confident I will make it! look so easy! parts for Labyrinth?

Francesco: I use the German grip and I blast using Francesco: Actually I m still doing it! Ahah! I m
my wrist mainly. I was watching Pete Sandoval, SDM: Did you ever take drum lessons? SDM: You recently appeared at a Q/A session in San never satisfied with my arrangements and even if
George Kollias or Derek Roddy. Those guys are the Francisco, which was the very first event held at I play the songs at the shows just like they were
ones who inspired my blasting technique the most. Francesco: Yes and I still take them. Studying opens our new Sick Drummer Studio! What did you think recorded, when I m alone (me and my drum kit)
They all have a very solid blast beat. The wrist your mind and helps to solidify your knowledge! of the event and what other kinds of events do you in the dark rainy nights I still try new things and
motion makes you more consistent and tight, at The more I study the more my drumming becomes think would be good for the scene and promoting sometimes it s like: fuck you Francesco, this would
least this is my experience. consistent! Last tour I got some exercises from Kai your style of drumming? have sounded much better this way! Ahah!
Hahto of Wintersun.. that guy is incredibly inspiring.
Also, as I said, if you consider George Kollias, Derek Francesco: The Q/A was an amazing experience and
SDM: How important are your kick pedals to your Roddy or Gene Hoglan DVD s as drum lessons, then it definitely helped a lot in giving me and my band SDM: When you write the parts for Fleshgod, what
playing? I ve had thousands of lessons! more exposure. Nowadays it s very hard to find do you do first? Do you like to write drums first,
something that is free and at the same time really guitars first, does the piano or vocals help you

Francesco: They are important just like all the rest helpful for promoting your work. You guys are doing to create better drum parts? What s the whole
of the gear a drummer uses. I don t think that they SDM: What kind of gear do you use these days? a lot for metal drumming... like my band who are proccess.
make a big difference to the skills that someone still growing and in need of continuous promotion.
has though. I ve seen people playing insane Francesco: I use Pearl Eliminator pedals, Vic Firth Clinics or Q/A sessions like yours should happen Francesco: I write together with my pianist,
patterns or speeds with rusty pedals and people sticks, UFIP cymbals and Evans heads. I used a more often during tours. It s a great chance to Francesco. We don t have a specific order when we
having a bad day with super-expensive pedals. Ddrum Dios M kit in the US and a DW Performance also exchange opinions and learn something from write new material. I just take care of the drums,
Actually, I have a pair of Pearl Eliminators. It s a kit lately throughout Europe but things are your fans who themselves are often very good guitars, bass and vocals and he takes care of the
pretty old model but they make me feel comfortable changing so stay tuned, eheh. Actually, I don t use musicians. orchestra and piano lines. We start with the best
and balanced and that s the main thing. At the end many shells. I have 2 x 22 kick drums, 14 snare ideas. They can be drum parts or guitar riffs or
of the day the right pedal is the one that works for drum, 10 and 12 rack toms and 14 , 16 floor simply a good harmonic progression and then we
you and a nice one can make you play a bit better, toms. I use Shure in-ear headphones and Roland SDM: Where did you record your latest album arrange everything to make it sound Fleshgod .
but again... I don t know anybody who s become a electronics and triggers. Labyrinth? We follow some rules during the arrangement but
monster just buying a cool pedal. again, it s nothing that has anything with a specific
Francesco: We recorded the album at the 16th order.
SDM: How was this latest tour you just finished Cellar Studio with the producer Stefano Morabito.
SDM: How do you prepare yourself before a show with Arsis, Wintersun and Starkill? He s killer and we had a great time, like always! I
and recording? work very well with him. He knows all of my weak SDM: What s your opinion about using triggers and
Francesco: Just one word: outstanding. Maybe the points and the certainty that everything will sound drum modules?
Francesco: I don t have much time to prepare myself best tour so far for my band! Septic Flesh tour was amazing at the end makes me feel relaxed and
before recording, that s why I suck most times I hit great too, we hope to bring that package to the US motivated. It s pretty tough to find studios where Francesco: I use triggers on all the shells in the
the studio, ahah! Fortunately the studio is not one soon. you can actually feel at home. I can definitely say studio. For example on the last album we used
shot one kill and I can do many different takes. that this aspect makes a huge difference to our 50% natural sound and 50% trigger sound. As
As for the live show it s different. I play rudiments releases. for the live shows I use triggers on my kickdrums
for at least 30 minutes before the show and I try to SDM: Did you learn anything in particular from Kai only. Triggers are useful to make you sound clear,
warm up all my muscles with some stretching. Hahto or Shawn Priest? especially if you are an opening band and you
SDM: How long did it take you to record all the don t have any soundcheck. It makes your sound-
Francesco: Kai is in my top ten metal drummers drums parts? guy s job way easier and faster. I would like to see
SDM: What kind of practice routines do you like? of all time, so everything he does is something how tight on an electronic kit all those guys are
to learn even if he plays a 4/4 groove. He s super Francesco: It took about two weeks. We recorded that write on the internet saying using triggers is
Francesco: I don t have a specific routine, except focused on what he does. I didn t see an error in the the parts again and again until we were completely cheating, ahah!
for the songs that I rehearse with the band. Most satisfied, trying to have the least possible things to


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