⏩Video Question: Which drummer would you compare Clay to for similar playing styles? For live content catch me on Twitch. www.twitch.tv/drumrolltony

This is like the champagne of reaction channels -- genuine emotion immediately followed by informed & well-communicated analysis. Everyone else uploading Bud Light in comparison.

the drums are locked into EVERY OTHER PLAYER in this band so well. he hits those splash cymbals along with scottie's harmonic accents, pushes the beat on the hi-hat with tim's 16th note onslaught, all while the kick is locked in perfectly with clay's long bass notes. you hear it perfectly in the last part of the song

Clay going 5 years or so without touching the drums is one of the more inspiring things I've read. I usually think of virtuosos as more or less shut ins dedicated to their instrument. I know that isn't totally true but for as good as Clay is I would have guessed he's been at it constantly since his youth.

The fact this his playing can actually pull my focus away from the guitar is crazy!

Clay's cymbal work is some of my favorite I've seen from any drummer.

The way this man uses space is just insane.

It's his ability to know when not to play that's crazy, often leaving off even at the END of his runs and phrases to make room for the guitars and bass to really cut through. He doesn't just hold the rhythm down he accents the entire piece.

OMG, what you said about drummers adding a ton of notes and muddying up a section is EXACTLY how I felt about their previous drummer, Brandon! He’s a great drummer, and very technically proficient, but he never felt like he wanted to be in a band and MIX his playing with the music! Clay is the exact opposite! Everything he writes seems to compliment everything going on around him, with him getting tasty pockets to showcase his skills, making them STANDOUT in such a beautiful way! Also, you recognizing that just gained you a subscriber, as I appreciate your insight and this reaction as a whole! 😁

I just found Polyphia a few weeks ago and I've been blown away, as so many people are. Clay is my favorite drummer since Mike Portnoy and has captured me just like MP did. Wow. I found Dream Theater thanks to a guy working in Guitar Center on Oahu in '92 right after Images and Words was released - I was just getting strings and noodling on some ESP and he heard my NY accent and asked if I ever heard of DT. The rest, as they say, is history.

Finally someone who has musical knowledge (even moreso with drumline) who can react and appreciate the tastiness of Clay. I recommend checking out Christ Turner. Both "40 Roll" and "Triggered". I guarantee you'll love it.

OD should definitely be your next Polyphia song followed by Clay's drum play through on the Meinl Cymbals KZfaq channel.

Love all the little things you point out, like when the drums and guitar line up. I've watched Clay's play throughs, but I inevitably overlook something. Definitely boosts my appreciation of the music.

You have a great personality and I love the way you break down his playing. Even though a lot of what you're saying is flying right over my head I still love listening to it. Love the vids. Keep it up!

Thank you so much for your awesome breakdown of this song. I just found Playing God and I'm on the trip down the rabbit hole and now I'm stuck on your reactions and it's so awesome and your comments are so interesting and your going back was so intense. Thanks again for this! New fan my man!🔥🔥🔥

Seeing videos like this where the drummer has the kit set up in their house and the other parts are only coming in thru their headphones makes me think of neighbors' perceptions. Some of us have had musicians for neighbors who practice their parts and a drum part has a lot of power so it can come thru walls really easily, and some folks would hear a drum kit being played and just consider it noise. But... If this was your neighbor and you got to hear this artist doing what he does? I don't even think that your typical grumpy-ass neighbor would hear something like this and not enjoy it. It's so busy, but intricate and clean, and it's not repetitive or boring. I just don't see how anyone could NOT love this. 🔥🔥🔥❤❤❤

Really enjoyed this video, excited to see you continue with Polyphia and Snarky Puppy reactions. I love your vibe man, I'm gonna have to hop into your stream sometime.

Loved it nice job as usual :)

Sir first of all, love your awesome reactions, secondly I followed you on twitch and it's so cool you do a different content there, very few does the same, this band is super killer and really enjoying their music ❣️

Incredible reaction and insightful!

I knew the first time I heard him play that he had drumline experience. You can really hear a lot of the influence that drumline has on his kit playing.

He puts all that cool voicing on the symbols. He reserves it on the skins when it will add flavor. It’s all very meticulously written and I think only Clay can perform it solid every time. Good stuff

Didn’t realize Modern Drummer was still up, the Drummer for an old band, Mantys, who happened to be my landlord in Brooklyn, was an editor someone high up in Modern Drummer

Holy damn, that snare sound is amazing! It almost reminds me of a snare+quad drum line hit.

That series of fills starting at 9:59 is just insane

I can 100% tell what drummers marched on a (good) line when they play on a kit. The triplet grids and liberal use of diddles gives it away. Luke Holland does some similar stuff and also marched in high school. Most rock drummers play very straight rhythms and strict alternate sticking, maybe simple paradiddles.

Great stuff! :)

"Oh look I can play flam drags and.." "Noone gives a shit." Best reaction video I've seen in a while.

The Tom beat was so sick. Feels so good

Out of all the members of Polyphia, I think Aeschliman has the most talent. And that's saying a lot.

You gotta give Chris Turner from Oceans Ate Alaska a listen. He has some solo stuffs. ~4 minutes of just pure drumming goodness.

You should check out Between The Buried And Me and more importantly their drummer Blake Richardson. The drum playthrough of Voice Of Trespass is a fun one.

Definitely should check O.D. by polyphia

Definitely got to check his play through on G.O.A.T. That is absolutely ridiculous!

Hey Tony Love your reactions especially to Polyphia, thats why I subscribed, because one can tell that you have great knowledge and taste. Do you know of the drummer Jojo Mayer? I feel like you should react to some of his stuff! Cheers from a new subscriber :-)

now we just need the bass playthrough

Great video! You should check out Trivium and their drummer Alex Bent! His playing is amazing and they are a crazy talented band, great stuff

i cant play drums or guitar, but i love these kinds of polyphia reactions

Please check out the drum playthroughs that Braan Dailor (the drummer of Mastodon) did with meinl playing Mastodon songs (my personal favorites are Ancient Kingdom, Precious Stones, Ghost of Keralia, and Ember City...however all the playthroughs he did with them in that same session are good)

You should definitely give O.D Polyphia a listen! Another bangerr

oooh and not to forget Aron Mellergårdh from the swedish band Dirty Loops!

would absolutely love for you to take a look at Baard Kolstad. SO. talented.

He reminds me of Stewart Copeland he is fast and time specific like Copeland. Who to is one of the all time Drummers.

Love the reaction! You should check out the recent drum playthroughs by Chris Turner and II of Sleep Token.

Hey mate, if you love your Jazz, ya gotta react to Dirty Loops. 3 Swedish guys who went to music school together and absolutely murder jazz jazz/fusion. Snarky Puppy level musicians but they actually have great songs to sing to. Recommendations: ‘Work Shit Out’ is a killer track if you really love your jazz progressions. ‘Rock You’ if you just wanna dance. ‘Next To You’ if you wanna transcend to out of space 😊😊 love your reaction, subscribed.

What main splash is that,Size ,model? It looks like a 14-15”hats,12” main splash and a 13” or 14” splash under the 16” crash,right?

I feel like you will love Luke Holland if you haven't heard of him. He and Jason Richardson tear it up as a guitar/drum duo. Glad I found your channel. Later dude!

Just ran across your channel, have you ever reacted to Dirty Loops? Their drummer Aron Mellergardh is sick!

🔥🔥🔥

Tony! Would love to see you react to Polyphia's old drummer, his name is Brandon Burkhalter. He was supposedly fired for something I don't know. I do know he was the only person in the band to be accepted into Berkeley!

We need an analysis of Wintersun and Dir en Grey

Check out shamless by Vrsty I have a feeling that guy as well did drumline Also the whole band is phenomenal

I like this better than the studio version. That natural acoustic kick sounds better to me. That dub/trap/electronic sounding kick just drowns out too much of the rest of the kit.

dude, if you haven't already heard of him, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Chris Turner's '40 Roll' that shit will blow your mind and you will not be disappointed.

Edit: Had commented before the video was premiered, Good job bro for researching about the drummer before the video...very few people know about Clay's playing..let alone him being in drumline Yep he was definitely in drumline..he revealed on instagram that he was in drumline during his school after which he had completely changed into a corporate job. But after sometime he was frustrated and felt burnout from the monotonous work and decided to rekindle his past hobby and got a drum kit to practice...and after some time got better and eventually played for some local bands before joining Polyphia, replacing Brandon Bukhalter

He is gonna freak when he starts Chris Turner reactions....

You could check some Leprous out, great band, really great drummer. :D

I want to see Larnell Lewis play this so bad!

Check out saucey from polyphia and the drumming from clay is crazy there too

Drummer to check out if your not already familiar, George Kollias - Shall Rise Shall Be Dead :)

Polyphia leap into stardom since Clay join in

If you haven’t already, you need to check out Luke Hollands cover of cinema by Skrillex from 2017

I'm surprised you havn't done a drum playthrough with Jinjer's Vlad. The guy is an absolute beast. You can find several on the Jinjer channel.

Clay drums joined in 2016.

Suggestion: Bridear - Determination

@DrumRollTony Reacts, we need reaction to Mick Grodon - BFG Division and The Only Thing They Fear Is You )

Check OD pls

Time for you to react to Tim Henson's (Feat. Cory wong & Plini) Sunset

Please react to 'kukuha drum cover by Nishant Hagjer' too, it will mesmeraise you. Please try this.

Unearth | Never Cease | Drum cam This guy has a very unorthadox style of playing for metal (according to me, a never drummer) and still hits the same with both hands I feel. It's weird watching him play...to me

Pink floyd reactions 🙏🏻 You wont regret it

Next Alip_ba_ta Reaction, he a fingerstyle from Indonesia is the best in the world, you can try reacts to hem

I have forgotten. Have you reacted to Danny Carey's Drum Cam for Tool's Pnuema? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fNmjiK9_rLm-eXU.html I think you would enjoy it.

Please look at her

Rudimentary

Jesus Christ loves you