Jazz and metal go hand in hand, with improvisation and a distaste for limits being key facets of both genres. In either case, drums can go from mild to wild in a moment’s notice, with nu metal being a melting pot for various influences. With this in mind, the folks at Drumeo put forth their improvisation challenge, in which drummers of all backgrounds and genres are given a drum-trackless song over which they can create their own part, to Eric Harland.
Harland leads his own group, as well as having played in bands for McCoy Tyner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Aaron Goldberg, and Julian Lage. Currently, he plays in bands for Charles Lloyd, Taylor Eigsti, and Dave Holland’s Prism.
The track given to Harland was Korn’s “Freak on a Leash,” originally featuring David Silveria on drums. Normally, those who take on Drumeo’s challenge craft their parts over several takes, but Harland took a different approach: one and done. He played from the feel of the song and only took one take for his drums, and the result is something to behold.
With a half-time feel in several sections and even some double kick drums, Harland’s version is looser and freer than the more precise drumming of Silveria’s studio version. His drumming during the beatbox section before the breakdown is of special note, alternating between the hi-hat and the layered splash to great rhythmic effect.
When hearing the original version, Harland remarks that the “lyrics are so beautiful,” which is something considering lines like “something’s raped and taken from me” and “a cheap fuck for me to lay,” but here we are.
See the full performance from Drumeo below:
