Best overall metal rhythm section?

[Tractorr]

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.

Yes, Harris/Burr?

I met Nico at his BBQ restaurant in Coral Springs, FL. He was super nice and was taking pictures with everybody in the restaurant, and he actually worked there. He came in and started dusting stuff, I am not joking. Goes to show that those guys are just workaholics.


Another band not mentioned is Flynn and Choy from Atheist.

 

[Fenwick]

Some interesting answers, but mostly standard fare. Here are some metal bands that have 'it all' including 'pronounced rhythm' (see: fat bass) sections.

Obscura-era Gorguts

 

[leehinson]

Mudvayne

 

[NKUSigEp]

No mention of Intronaut?? Joe Lester on his fretless and Danny Walker rocking polyrhythms like a champ. Easily one of the strongest and most interesting rhythm sections in Metal in the last 10 years.

For me, I like the overall sound but the bass is way too over the top. I hardly ever say or think this about bass lines but in this case, I definitely think less would be more.

 

[Dave the Bass]

Angra.......Andreoli and Confessori are ridiculous together......add the most dangerous twin guitar assault in the world with Loureiro and Bittencourt and there you go.

 

[RS66LB]

I'd say the Butler/Ward interaction on the first two Black Sabbath albums

 

[Zanzibar Delgado]

For me, I like the overall sound but the bass is way too over the top. I hardly ever say or think this about bass lines but in this case, I definitely think less would be more.

Joe's basslines make the band for me. Always right in the pocket, but melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically interesting. Incredible player.

 

[Sasquatch Bob]

Butler and Ward fit together like a glove, and helped define heavy metal, so for me it's a no brainer. But have to add, the way Harris and McBrain work together always feels like a bit of a master class.

 

[Basstitan]

Black Sabbath....whoooooooo!

 

[Hamlet7768]

I'd like to punch in again and mention two names nobody around here has said, I don't think: Sean Malone and Sean Reinert of Cynic. They work fantastically well.

 

[bikeplate]

Pantera

 

[Kmonk]

Krist Noveselic and Dave Groel of Nirvana had it going on Nevermind. Cliff and Lars....

I wouldn't put Nirvana in the metal category.

For me the best metal band ever is Black Sabbath. They basically created the genre.

 

[Niff]

al cisneros by himself

 

[Veldar]

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

So true, as far as I'm concerned the bass tone from the nothing remaster and pitch black is perfect.

 

[taylor16]

Not exactly metal, but my vote goes for Dub Trio.

 

[dcarwin]

I'd say that Phil Rudd and Malcolm Young made a pretty bad-ass (i.e. my favorite) rhythm section - and yes CLIFF WILLIAMS is in there too.

 

[Melonthief]

AC/DC definitely has a rock solid rhythm section but I don't know if they are metal- hard rock for sure.

 

[Dave W]

Rex Brown and Vinnie Paul are the first that came to mind.

 

[Troph]

I have been recently impressed with David Ellefson and whoever is playing drums this year for Megadth. Speaking as pretty much a n00b tho, it seems that Ellefson is the key as no matter the drummer they seem to do pretty well.

Early Megadeth had an incredible rhythm section, with Gar Samuelsson on drums and Dave Ellefson on bass. In the 1980s scene at least, they really couldn't be touched.

Unlike the other thrash metal drummers, Samuelsson had a background in jazz, and he threw in a ton of elements missing from others, all at full speed.

If you listen to some of Gar's isolated drum tracks on Youtube, you'll only appreciate him more.

 

[chuck norriss]

Shavo & Dolmayan - System
Cliff & Phil - ACDC
I recognize the genius of Tool (long time fan), but sometimes I just don't want to do the math.
Neil & Geddy.
Myung & Portnoy -Dream Theater