Darren Cesca - Eschaton - Tides of Betrayal - Exclusive Drum Play-through

Apocalyptic tech-death outfit Eschaton have released their sophomore album under the heavy-hitting Unique Leader Records, entitled Death Obsession. While current trends in progressive death metal are to include jazz, black metal or atmospheric/experimental elements, Eschaton maintains a more aggressive approach, focusing on brutal riffs and blast beats at the core of their sound. The average listener will enjoy headbanging to the sonic savagery, but the advanced listener will appreciate the complexity and nuance in Eschaton’s compositions, especially the drumming. Darren Cesca is best known for his drumming for bands like Goratory, Serpent of Gnosis, Deeds of Flesh, Incinerate and many more. To understate it hugely, Darren is a beast. A quick peruse of his youtube channel will make you question what you’ve done with your life lately.

Lucky for us, Darren pumps out lots of play through videos… here is the first of two tracks we will be releasing from Death Obsession, called ‘Tides of Betrayal.’ Here is a statement from Eschaton’s guitarist, Josh Berry, about Darren’s video for this track; “This is vintage Darren Cesca. Everything is heavy as hell to the ear, but bedazzling to the eye. The combinations he puts together are technical but flow so well with the other instruments. It’s just fun to watch him crush this track almost effortlessly.”

Darren’s Gear

Spaun Xtreme Series Drums

Toms 10” 12” 13” 14” 16”

Kicks 22” X 14”

Snare 14” X 5” Spaun Custom Maple Snare

TRX Cymbals

BRT Hi-hats 14”

BRT Ride 21”

ALT Crash 16” + 17”

BRT Crash 16” + 18”

BRT/Mdm Blends Crash 17”

SFX T-Bell 7” + 9”

DRK Thunder Crash

BRT Lightning Crash

ALT Splash 8”

BRT Splash 8”

DRK Splash 8”

BRT China 14” + 16” + 18”

Darren on Tides of Betrayal:

Eschaton songs, due to the composition style and intricate guitar playing are each unique for me when coming up with ideas behind the drum kit. Tides of Betrayal is no different. I never write based solely around what I already know, I write based around what I want to hear and what I believe will enhance the song and the listeners experience.

Tides of Betrayal has a combination of grooves, fills and blast beats quickly changing between styles depending on the dynamic that we want to stand out. Towards the end of the song, we did leave a section open for the drums to solo a bit before the final head banging grooves kick in. This is not something we often do in Eschaton songs but it seemed appropriate here. I guess you could say it has a little bit of everything drum wise.

Josh on Tides of Betrayal:

Guitar-wise, Tides of Betrayal comes from a different place – literally – because I wrote it when I was living in Indonesia. With very few English-speaking friends I turned to my guitar to process some complex emotions and experiences.

Lyrically, the Tides of Betrayal is very politically motivated and more openly angry compared to other Eschaton songs, which are generally more abstract and apocalyptic. This song is an expression in anticipation of revolution, where those who act as if they are untouchable will find themselves at the mercy of those whom they have oppressed.

The drum video is vintage Darren Cesca. Everything is heavy as hell to the ear, but bedazzling to the eye. The combinations he puts together are technical but flow so well with the other instruments. It’s just fun to watch him crush this track almost effortlessly.

If you’d like to contact Darren for session drumming, mixing/mastering work or just to say what’s up, you can find him through numerous different sources.