Trynt Kelly Interview - Unmerciful - Sick Drummer Magazine

Greetings, my name is Trynt Kelly, the drummer for the Topeka based death metal band Unmerciful. I joined Unmerciful in 2017 but really got my bearings in the local Kansas City, MO Death metal band, Marasmus – which I had been in for about a decade prior. Following me joining Unmerciful, I tracked the drums for Wrath Encompassed in the summer of 2019 with a release date of April 24, 2020, which was my first record appearance with Unmerciful.

Following that, we played shows and went on smaller tours but, due to Covid, we haven’t been able to do anything as of 2020. We did play a local (strictly limited-capacity) fund raiser/live stream on October 9, 2020 for one of our favorite venues, The Riot Room in Kansas City, MO.

Trynt was featured on our Favorite Drumming Albums of 2020 list which can be seen here.

Video – Unmerciful – Kingdom of Serpents

Trynt Kelly Interview:

SDM: How old were you when you started playing?

Trynt: I want to say that I was about 11 or 12 before I got an actual drum set. A friend of mine was starting a band and I wanted to be in it but I never actually played. My mom got me a 5 piece Talon kit after telling her I wanted to start playing.

SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Trynt: I did not but, as mentioned before, I was already playing in a band when I was in 6th grade

SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?

Trynt: I went through phases but the top influences that really shaped my playing are:

1. Derek Roddy

2. George Kollias

3. John Longstreth

4. Torturer

5. Dominator

SDM: Who are some other of your favorites?

Trynt: My current favorites are:

1. Dominator

2. Janne Jaloma

3. Torturer

4. Simon Schilling

SDM: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation

Trynt:

1. Horde of Hel – Döden nalkas

2. Dark Funeral – attera totus sanctus/ Where Shadows Forever Reign

3. NordJevel – Necrogenesis

4. Gunship – Dark All Day (Killer band but not metal)

SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Trynt: I have gone through several editions of a warmup routine but what I am doing currently is fairly straight-forward – I use marching band sticks and play runs of single strokes and double strokes at around 230 until I can feel any sort of burn in my forearms. I will switch back to my regular sticks and then quickly increase the tempo ending up doing shorter bursts at 270-280. That way, I get my hands doing longer runs and quicker bursts to sort of “wake up” my muscles and get the blood pumping.

SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have affected your playing?

Trynt: Some but I am very out of practice with it and it takes me forever to sort out simple charts. With my type of playing, I do not feel hampered at all by my low level of chart reading. I just don’t use it.

SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?

Trynt: In the studio, I play on a Pearl Reference kit, and live, I use a Pearl Decade Maple Kit. They are the same configuration (8,10,12 inch rack toms, a 16-inch floor tom, and a 22-inch kick.

For pedals, I am using the Trick Black Widows and I use Trick snare drums for live and studio (Either the Trick Brass snare or the Trick Kodiak aluminum snare.)

For cymbals, I am using all Meinl cymbals with the exception of the ride; it is a Paiste Gigabell ride.

For sticks, I am using Scorpion percussion drumsticks.

I use the Roland TM-2 module live with a Roland RT-30K trigger. For the studio, I will either use the Trick SB-1 Lasers or the Trigmic module/trigger.

Live, I also use a Roland SPD-1 sampler for intros, etc.

SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…

Trynt: Not a single drummer has a “gift” or talent. Every single drummer that you look up to worked their asses off to get where they are and you can get to that exact same level of proficiency with hard work and dedication. I say this for one reason – When I was younger, I got discouraged A LOT because I thought these people had something that I would never, or could never, obtain. I still have a long ways to go but it’s all about your work ethic; keep grinding and you can smash every goal you have, it might take a while but that’s the beauty in it. Cherish the journey and embrace the suck. haha…

SDM: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?

Trynt: Cannibal Corpse is impossible to beat live. Immolation is another one that is just amazingly powerful live.

SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?

Trynt: I collect comics and I love going on adventures with my family.