Sick Drummer Magazine

Keep up with Alan here:

www.myspace.com/anesthetizednyc
www.myspace.com/code6





I started drumming at the age of 15 going to 16. I really wanted to get a drum set cause I had a huge interest in it. When I listened to music I would always bang on things with pencils. My first set was a 4 piece sound percussion with a couple of cymbals and a PDP double pedal. Over time I added on to the set, such as cymbals and toms, but eventually I got a 10 piece Pearl Export which was The Drum Set I was dying for. When I started playing I realized I had so much to learn, so I practiced for hours every single day. I practiced rudiments, speed excercises, rolls, odd time signatures, and more without any lessons. Drums just became addicting to me because I was actually learning really fast. The first 5 months of playing, I was already in 2 bands. After 1 year of playing I was in about 7 bands simultaneously (NYC needs drummers lol). My schedule was insane but I took every band serious. Eventually over time I had to choose the bands that were serious.

Anesthetized was formed on March 2008, after a few line up changes we are going really strong now. Code 6 was a serious band that was really well known in the city, so when they asked me for drummer in Summer 2008 it was an honor. In the past 3 years I went through a lot as a drummer recording wise, shows, and even music videos. It struck me that drumming can be a great career for my future. The Equipment I use is Pearl Drums, Vic Firth Drum Sticks, Sabian Cymbals, Remo Drum Heads, and Axis Pedals.


Alan Balamut Interview:


SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
 
Alan: I started playing drums at 15 going to 16. I got instantly hooked and practiced endless hours everyday and I always strived for perfection but never got satisfied so that made me practice more.
 
 
 
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
 
Alan: I played in the school's jazz band, but there wasn't any sheet music, there was no learning involved, it was more like do want you want for this song, so I did lol.
 
 
 
SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
 
Alan:

George Kollias
Zbigniew Robert Promiński (Inferno)
Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka (R.I.P.)
Derek Roddy
Mike Smith

 
 
SDM: Who are some other of your favorites?
 
Alan: I dont really have a favorite but my influences would be and many other different genre drummers such as Tony Royster Jr., Neil Peart, Steward Copeland, Buddy Rich, and many other different style drummers.
 
 
 
SDM: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation
 
Alan:

Behemoth - The Apostasy
Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest
Decapitated - Organic Hallucinosis
The 69 Eyes - Back in Blood
Suffocation - Suffocation

 

SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
 
Alan: I do rudiments and speed exercises with the practice pad and some stretching on the hands and legs until I feel loose and im ready!

 
 
SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?
 
Alan: I can read drum notations but I don't this with my bands but knowing how to is always a plus.

 
 
 
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
 
Alan: I use Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth 5A Drum Sticks, Remo Drum Heads, and Axis A Longboard Pedals. I love all these brands and will most likely use them for life.
 
 
 
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be...
 
Alan: Practice and passion is truly the key for everything. Never quit cause Nothings Impossible.
 
 
 
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?
 
Alan: It would deffinatley be Behemoth. They completlety amazed me from beginning to end especially Inferno.
 
 
 
SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
 
Alan: Spending time with my girlfriend, play hockey, record music, game, and play some guitar.