Spin Doctors drummer Aaron Comess was challenged to play Avenged Sevenfold’s “Afterlife” as he heard it for the first time as part of Drumeo’s popular series.
The “For the First Time” series is known for pitting drummers against drumless tracks they’ve never heard, asking them to come up with an arrangement on the spot.
Comess stuns Drumeo host Brandon Toews by nailing his performance in one take, crediting his quick success to meticulously charting the song. His approach leans heavier on backbeat-driven rock playing rather than being by the bells and whistles common in heavy metal drumming, especially bands who draw from the progressive music well.
The song, originally played by late A7X drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, leans heavy on double bass at various points, which Comess replaced with more pocket-driven grooves. Still, his approach based on first instincts wound up feeling much the same as the original, showing the shared sensibilities of seemingly quite different players.
Spin Doctors are currently supporting Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms on a US tour, with tickets available here. Avenged Sevenfold, meanwhile, are set to kick off their co-headlining North American tour with Good Charlotte on July 25th (get tickets here).
Watch the full video of Aaron Comes taking on “Afterlife” below. For those looking to start their drum journey, Drumeo is offering a 30-day free trial here.
