Sick Drummer Magazine

Keep up with Todd here:

www.myspace.com/theberzerker
www.myspace.com/toddkase





My name is Todd Hansen from Brisbane, Australia. I am the current drummer for Australian Industrial Death Metal act The Berzerker. I started playing drums seriously in October 2000. Before this I learnt the drums for 2 years in Primary (Elementary) School (age 10 to 12), and played the snare drum in the school band, but quit because I hated the school band.  Apart from what I learned in school, I am self taught. I learned the piano from ages 3 – 14 and taught myself the guitar at age 15.  

The reason I began to play Drums again was due to the fact I could not find a drummer for any project I was doing. It was the GREATEST thing I ever did!!! Drums are a far more superior instrument than any other!!  My years of playing the piano gave me an ear for music and timing. I constantly count time signatures in my head when I play. Being a self taught drummer, I watched a lot of instructional videos. The one which I learnt most from was Extreme Metal Drumming 101 by Flo Mournier, which I bought at a Cryptopsy concert in 2006. I still use the same techniques described in this DVD with my everyday playing. Speed drumming to me is all about technique. It’s about achieving maximum power with minimal movement. Just relax and let the sticks and skins do all the work!  

I have played in many bands in my home town of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The First band I played drums with, and still play with today, is a circus-metal style band called Headkase. Think Mr Bungle meets Slipknot. As my drumming advanced I wanted to play faster and more technical styles of metal. I joined a metalcore style band called From These Wounds in Jan 2004. I met Luke ‘Berzerker’ Kenny around this time. All in all I have played for about 15 different bands in Queensland. I played in some bands as a member and some bands as a session drummer. I was performing and rehearsing in up to 9 bands a week.

I joined The Berzerker in June 2007 and did my first live performance with the band in December of the same year.  We are now touring the world playing fast, brutal industrial death metal!

 

Todd Hansen Interview:




SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?

Todd:  I started playing drums seriously in 2000 when I was almost 19. Before that I played a bit of everything, mainly piano and guitar. I couldn’t find a good drummer for my band so I took it up. Best decision I ever made musically. The drums kick ass!!

 

 

SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Todd:  Yes I played snare drum in the school band when I was 11 – 12 years old. I hated it and quit drumming so I wouldn’t have to be in the school band.

 

 

SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Todd:  Flo Mornier, Joey Jordison, Tim Yeung, Lord Marco, Paul Bostaph.

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Todd:  Joey Jordison. When I first heard Slipknot and the rad drumming I decided to start playing drums. I also like Dave Lombardo, Adrian Erlandsson of At The Gates has a great style, Paul Mazurkiewicz of Cannibal Corpse is solid, and just anyone who plays brutal stuff! After all a good drummer makes a band!

 

 

SD.com: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation

Todd:  Apocalyptic Feasting – Braindrill, Slaughter of the soul – At The Gates, Iowa – Slipknot, Kill – Cannibal Corpse and The Reawakening – The Berzerker. It’s the new studio album due out September 08. Its brutal!!

 

 

SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Todd:  I sit down with sticks and a pad and hit single strokes with both my hands and feet, stretching out my muscles at say 3 minute intervals. I do this for about 10 or 15 minutes, getting faster after each stretch. Then I stretch out my arms, legs and neck, similar to preparing for sports. I’ll then go back and repeat these steps until I feel limber and relaxed. I try to start my warm up at least 30 mins before playing, but the more time the better.

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?

Todd:  Hmmm. I rarely feel I’ve played a bad show. Most of the time my playing is solid, though a definite highlight would have to be Toddfest on June 8 this year (2008). It was a show I put on in my hometown of Brisbane, Australia. It featured all of the bands I was playing in at the time, thus the name. 7 in total, and I played for 6 hours straight! It was excellent!!

 

 

SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Todd:  Yep! Free ones! I don’t really have a favourite brand, there are a lot of nice kits out there. I play a 2001 Pearl Export when I’m at home. Excellent kit. I’ve been using Zildjian Cymbals for years though lately I’ve been using Sabian as well. I always make the best of whatever I have, sometimes touring backline is horrible but the show must go on. No fucking excuses. Currently I’m not endorsed by anyone so drum companies please free to contact me.

 

 

SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be...

Todd:  Play in as many bands as you have time for. And try to mix it up so you’re not playing the same thing all the time. With so many styles of metal these days you can have a great variety of music to play.

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?

Todd: Slipknot. Feb 10 2000 at The Arena in Brisbane. They oversold the show by about 500 tickets and everyone was crammed in on a hot summer night. And they just went ballistic!! I started drumming about 6 months later!

 

 

SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?

Todd: Spend every day wishing that I didn’t have to stop drumming.