Best overall metal rhythm section?

[MCS4]

Originally Posted by TDSLaBassiste

I've gotta give it to Opeth, personally. Martin Mendez and Martin Lopez are an amazing combination.

Agreed. The newest Martin in Opeth's rhythm section (Axenrot) is a worthy successor on the drums as well, particularly given in conjunction with Mendez' growth as a bass player the last several years.

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by TDSLaBassiste

I've gotta give it to Opeth, personally. Martin Mendez and Martin Lopez are an amazing combination.

Absolutely! Can't believe I forgot about those guys!

[DeliriumTremens]

Originally Posted by Epitaph04

Rex Brown and Vinnie Paul

yeah, it's gotta be this

[Rip Topaz]

Bello and Benante. Or Butler and Ward.

[Lackey]

Much as I love Meshuggah, DEP, Strapping Young Lad, and etc.. The bass for those bands isn't what I would deem extraordinary. Grooving, yes. Heavy, yes. Locked in with the drums, yes. But the drums are definitely the showstoppers.

Hard to find a band where the bass and drums are very balanced as far as prominence and importance. IMO. I would agree that Tool is pretty damn balanced, as was Led Zep and some others.

[Tupac]

Can't think of any metal drum/bass combo that really feels organic and connected, like with Flea/Chad and John Paul/Bonham. Maybe Myung and Portnoy?

[J03YW]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

You are all wrong. Tomas Haake and Dick Lovgren. Meshuggah. The End.

people say the bass doesn't do much in meshuggah. listen again, especially on their earlier albums the bass really growled and cut.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by ReiPsaeg

There isn't really much out there as far as a true "metal rhythm section" beyond Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Tool. Most other metal bassists and drummers don't really have the kind of push and pull and dynamic interaction that would merit the term "rhythm section".

While I'd agree that Geezer Butler and Bill Ward are pretty much the best, I would put Aaron Reiseberg and Travis Foster of Yob pretty high up.

Also Pol and Simon, whose last names I can't pronounce or spell, in Primordial, especially in the last couple albums.

Plus there's Sleep. Or really any band Al Cisneros is in (Om, Shrinebuilder).

[Mr.Typhus]

Originally Posted by Epitaph04

Rex Brown and Vinnie Paul

Amen!
I just love how these two are locked together. So GROOVY!

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by J03YW

people say the bass doesn't do much in meshuggah. listen again, especially on their earlier albums the bass really growled and cut.

People who say that either a) haven't listened properly, b) have never seen them live or c) don't know what they are talking about.

[davidjackson]

Can you imagine listening to Iron Maiden without the Harris/McBrain combo? The way Nicko compliments the galloping Steve Harris lines and fills has to put them right up there as the best rhythm section in metal.

Maybe this is a bit of a bass-biased view but I am amazed they have had only one mention so far.

I guess all of this means we aren't including rhythm guitar in the rhythm section of a metal band. Understandable but maybe a bit thought provoking?

[MICKUSS]

Since there's a bunch of bands listed here that aren't really that metal:

-RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Thin Lizzy
-Soundgarden
-Clutch
-Queens of the Stone Age(Oliveri + Grohl)
-Them Crooked Vultures(JPJ + Grohl)

[dedpool1052]

William Murderface and Pickles the Drummer

[bassgiant15]

Originally Posted by Epitaph04

Rex Brown and Vinnie Paul

Yup
These

[Musicman1901]

Tool. Hands down. I love and appreciate tons of rhythm sections but danny and justin have an ungodly synergy between each other. Danny is probably the most insane drummer. Yeah ppl play faster and louder or whatever you wanna make as an argument but I dont think some ppl realize how complex the things he is doing are. A beat that may sound average could actually be some crazy ass polyrhythm that alternates time signatures every other measure and you don't even realize is because of how natural he makes it and how it fits the song. Justins lines are the same. Technically, nothing he does is too challenging but rhythmically it's mindblowing. I also love Tim Commerford and Brad Wilks if you wanna call them metal

[Gasman]

Agree with Tool, if they qualify as "metal". If not, then Sabbath.

[Musicman1901]

I agree that butler and ward are probably the best "metal" rhythm section. I only mentioned Tool because I saw them listed earlier in the thread so I had to rant about how ridiculously advanced they are as a rhythm section haha

[leegreenman]

Another vote for Butler and Ward.

[mindwell]

Steve Harris and Clive Burr: total hi-hat--galloping bass triplet lockup. Real punchy duo, always pushing the beat and leading the band.

[joebar]

Originally Posted by Epitaph04

Rex Brown and Vinnie Paul

+10

they were the s**t
rex would lay beauty walking bass lines down and never play above the first octave or so. deep in the pocket and unobtrusive, yet busy. rex brown had a jazz scholarship in high school and one gets the feeling that he really knows what he is doing , yet could play any genre if he chose.
check out the album rebel meets rebel for great inspiring basslines that sit a little higher in the mix than a pantera album.

vinnie's economy and space between hits was his strength- their most punishing songs were usually the simplest.
they knew that by slowing down chugs was the key to tremendous sonic power.
way underrated players IMO. metal bassists should camp out here.
maiden is an honorable mention. the pitfall IMO is they never had the feeling of true power like some other metal bands. great gallopers for sure.
(steve harris is the reason i played bass when i was a young un, so nothing but love here)