NORMAN LONHARD (Triptykon) – Groove…..

Norman Lonhard heter trommeslageren legendariske Thomas G Warrior jobber med for tiden. Det handler selvfølgelig om Triptykon, bandet som skulle ta over etter Celtic Frost. Om de har klart det, får være opp til hver enkelt å bedømme. Norman Lonhard jobber til daglig som trommelærer og han spilte i Fear My Thoughts fram til det bandet ble oppløst i 2009. Som trommelærer har han selvsagt mange meninger om trommisyrket, og mye av det kan du lese om her i The Blast Beast Series og Norman Lonhard fra Triptykon.

What is the force behind you being a drummer, that is, what keeps you going?

Well, I don´t really know, I was addicted to drums when I was maybe 10 years old… I didn´t really have other interests as a kid than music so I decided to do it professionally. I love my job as a drum teacher but for me it´s the best thing to play live and to be able what I want to do, it’s amazing. You have to believe in yourself and even when it´s hard, don´t stop, keep on going!!

You are playing in a genre where both technique and speed, together with groove, are important ingredients. What do you think is the most important of these?

For me it´s definitely the groove, the feeling and having your own sound. I never practice to be fast, maybe that´s a mistake but I never was interested in just playing fast. In my opinion, it´s much more interesting to listen to a great shuffle Groove with a lot of feeling and huge balls that fits perfectly to the song.

Which drummer has inspired you the most throughout the years, and what would you have said to him/her if you had the chance to meet him/her in person?

That´s a really hard question because there are so many! But if there is one, whose records I listen to a lot over the years… I think it would be Mike Bordin from Faith No More. And I would say thank you Mike for these great songs that I’ve listened to for so many years and the excellent drumming!

Which is best while rehearsing alone: systematic progress or full improvisation?

There´s no better practicing than live shows! But at home I mostly warm up with some Wilcoxon exercises… after that I play to music or practice some stuff. But yes, I think you are faster on your target when you do it systematic. First practicing, then playing!

Do you have any "core rehearsal tips" that have given you a lot of progress in your drumming?

What I would say is what every teacher is saying: Be patience and do it SLOW. I have to say it to myself every day!

What is important for you while rehearsing new songs/riffs with your band? Is there something in particular you do or listen for?

I try to figure out in which way the song will go, where does it end, which atmosphere are we trying to create. And what I learned is: The first idea that you have is usually the best.

What is, in your opinion, the biggest challenges for extreme drummers (or, generally speaking, drummers), and what can you do to work them out?

Everybody has their own skills and challenges and has to work at what they want and know what they need. People have their own different techniques which may look weird to someone else but it works for them. One of the best things I´ve found is to talk to other drummers about what works for us and what doesn´t, try out some of it and leave what doesn´t work for me. We can all learn something from each other!

You must have rehearsed for an insane amount of hours to be as good a drummer as you are. Do you think it is worth it, and have you ever thought about quitting?

Well, thank you very much I appreciate that! Of course, it´s worth it. You have to know what you want, where your limits are and what you want to do.  Do I need a DB part on 260bpm??? If yes, than you have to have much more discipline in Single Notes on your double pedals than me, that´s for sure!

I never thought of quitting the drums.  Maybe some days I´ve thought damn it, why is it so hard!? It would be so easy to have a regular job. Your money on your account every month…but I really like my drum teaching job now and to be my own Chief and be able to do now what I have dreamed of doing for so long. Earn your money with your music!

While playing at a concert: are you 100 % concentrated about what you are doing, or do you notice some of the mood and energy among the audience?

It depends on a lot of things…monitor sound, the venue, the audience and of course your own condition. Sometimes you have a bad day; it feels hard to hit the drums like you normally do. Then you have to concentrate much more as if you´re in a good mood and everything works fine, if I have great Stage sound and hear the snare drum coming back through the hall, I feel the energy and the audience! Even if you have a bad day, but the audience is great they give you so much adrenalin that you forget anything else and after the gig you`re new born!

Is it expensive to become a drummer, and what does it take outside all that can be bought for money to become a clever and good drummer in extreme metal?

It´s relative what you want for equipment. Good equipment is much nicer but at the end of the day all you really need is, passion, desire, practice, creativity and many many hours.

And then some about your equipment:

I play an Drumcraft series 8! 22" Base Drum. I like kind of big sizes for the choice of Toms. So I play 2 Hang Toms 12",13"  and 2 Standtoms 16" and 18". I also have an 22" Gong Tom, which is great for grooves or accents. 

Which snare drum and configuration do you like the best? 12", 13" or 14"? And which material? Wood, steel, brass or bronze?

I definitely need a 14" snare drum. I like wood, also steel, it just depends on what I´m doing. I don´t feel comfortable with a smaller snare drum.

What kind of pedal(s) do you use? And which "settings" fits your style the best?

I use Iron Cobra Power Slide pedals. I don´t do anything any adjustments on my pedals for the settings. If I buy a pedal I try it and it has to fit immediately. I don´t want to spend hours to feel comfortable with it. Maybe I´m just too lazy. And I also have to feel the base drum. I tried one day an Axxis pedal but it was definitely to fast for me and I didn´t feel the response what I was looking for. Maybe I would have to figure out the settings on that if I used it.

As always, we are rounding off with you picking the next drummer in these series. Pick a drummer, and explain why he/she deserves (!) to be one of our Blast Beasts.

I was on tour last October with 1349 and was able to see Frost live every night and it was amazing!

This guy hit so hard and played so fast, it was unreal. Not from this planet! Also he is a great guy and I made a new friend in this big music world. Frost kicks ass!!!

http://www.myspace.com/triptykonofficial