I am Alexey Tsypchenko, drummer of the death metal band Stalino from Donbass. I was also a member of the bands Datura, Endocranial, and Bredor. I’ve been playing in metal bands since 1996.
Alexey’s Links:
https://www.youtube.com/@AlexeyTsypchenko
https://www.facebook.com/pyrexionist
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063724620877
Alexey Tsypchenko Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Alexey: I started playing drums at the age of 13… These were lessons at a children’s music school. But before that, I already knew how to play the guitar a little. Later, I also studied at a music college. But I got the bulk of my knowledge on my own, using the experience of playing in bands and self-education through YouTube lessons, DVDs, schools, books, etc.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Alexey: No, but I started playing in metal bands in parallel with my studies from about the age of 14-15.
SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
Alexey: This is a difficult question because I really have at least 30-50 favorite drummers, but I’ll name those who influence me the most at this time:
- Lille Gruber
- Mike Heller
- Romain Goulon
- Flo Mounier
- Gene Hoglan
SDM: Who are some of your other favorites?
Alexey: George Kollias, Derek Roddy, Alex Hernandes, Joey Heaslet, Mike Andrejko, Mike Smith, Doug Bohn, Pete Sandoval, Tim Yeung, Dave Culross, Eric Morotti, Bobby Jarzombek, Valeriy Vorobyov and a lot of not metal drummers too.
SDM: Let us know 5 bands in your current personal rotation.
Alexey: Defeated Sanity, Despondency, Deeds Of Flesh, Suffocation, Morbid Angel.
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Alexey: I do my own compilation of exercises from the first pages of Stick Control, some flam-based rudiments, singles alternated strokes along a couple minutes, some paradiddles and different sticking combinations too, and basic Derek Roddy exercises as 4, 8, 16 beats in each hand. In feet, there will be usual singles, 16ths, and some combinations between 16th and 8 notes, 8ts, and 8th triplets.
SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of whether you answer yes or no, please tell us how it might have affected your playing.
Alexey: Yes, I can read music from a sheet. I can imagine my parts very well and how they would look in the recorded musical text. It helps me understand more deeply what I’m doing, memorize difficult parts better, and refine them. And it helps to work with a band better.
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Alexey: In the studio, the Yamaha Stage Custom (Birch) standard set has two rack toms and one floor tom. 12,13,16,22, and 14/5 snare, I use different snares occasionally. My pedals are Axis Longboads with E-kits. I use mostly not my own Roland TM2 at rehearsals and shows, and at home, I use classic Alesis D4. My cymbals are Paiste Alpha rock and chinas from the Russian brand ED Cymbals. I mostly use a small cymbal setup. Just one hi-hat and one ride, a couple of crashes, and a couple of chinas. Sometimes, for more experimental studio tracks, I add bells, cowbells, jamblocks, etc. For sticks, I use Vic Firth 5bn American hickory sticks.
Alexey’s Setup:
Yamaha Stage Custom (Birch)
22″ x 17″ Bass drum
12″ x 8″ Tom
13” x 10” Tom
16″ x 15″ Floor Tom
Snare: 14″ x 5″ Ludwig Supraphonic
Cymbals: Paiste/ ED Cymbals / Zildjian / Masterwork
Paiste Alpha brilliant rock ride 20″
Paiste Alpha brilliant rock hi-hat 14″
Paiste Alpha brilliant rock crash 16″
Paiste Alpha brilliant rock crash 17″
ED Crystal China 14″
Zildjian ZBT china 18″
Masterwork aluminum bell 9″
Masterwork aluminum bell 5″
Drumheads: EVANS
Evans Hydraulic Clean on Kicksicks
Evans ST on the snare
Evans G2 on all toms
Evans G1 Clear on all Toms as bottom heads
Pedals:
Axis Longbords X double pedals
Hardware:
Yamaha stands
Tama clamps
Kick Triggers: Axis classic E-Kits
Modules:
Alesis D4
Roland TM2
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…
Alexey: Believe in yourself and never give up.
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Alexey: It was Defeated Sanity. My band Stalino had the honor of being on tour with them for four shows in 2013. I still have the best impressions of their performances, and it really influenced me as well…
SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
Alexey: Basically, it’s all about the drums. I like to watch instructional videos of drummers of different styles, listen to music of different styles, and read interviews with interesting musicians. Well, I want to spend time with good friends and communicate a lot online with colleagues and like-minded people worldwide. I also enjoy traveling and the usual joys of life.
