Seth Davis (musician)

Davis was the drummer for Berklee College of Music based progressive rock band Abigail's Ghost[3] from 2004–2006. From 2007 to 2011, Davis performed as a session musician in the downtown area of New Orleans known as the French Quarter, performing with local artists on the Bourbon Street club circuit. During a 2010 clinic tour, Davis was approached by legendary metallers, Exhorder. He joined the New Orleans-based groove metal band in the spring of 2010,[4] touring the U.S. and headlining metal festivals [5][6] through winter of 2011 performing hits from the band's two seminal albums - "Slaughter in the Vatican" and "The Law". Chris Nail, the original drummer, wrote and recorded all drum arrangements for the two aforementioned studio albums. In 2016, Davis arranged and released his first instrumental studio album through Seth Davis Drumming titled "The Darkling Throng". This is the first album in a music series he created called "M.U.S.I.C. – a tribute to modern-day composers" inspired by the late Neil Peart’s catchphrase "Make-up something interesting and complimentary". The recording features various composers with stylistic influences ranging from art rock, djent, and industrial music to progressive rock, progressive metal, and symphonic metal music genres.

Davis at a 2013 photoshoot

Davis became ranked as one of the top 10 fastest drummers in the world [7] during the 2002 Warped Tour, certified by the World's Fastest Drummers Org.[8] After being welcomed into what WFD champions refer to as "The Thousand Club",[9] their elite club for speed drummers by playing 1000+ single strokes in 60 seconds, he continued to break his initial single stroke speed ranking. He went on to set 3 world speed records for the double stroke roll [10][11] from 2002–2004, establishing himself as a world-recognized speed champion. "Seth was the first person in history to officially play a clean, open, double stroke roll over the 1000, 1100, and 1200 strokes per minute mark. Through permission from the WFD, Davis created the double stroke category to teach how to play a clean, open roll, as well as perform various accuracy demonstrations with rudiments from multiple sticking families. Davis was ineligible to compete in any NAMM WFD finals for single strokes because of becoming a world champion first."[12] He co-hosted the WFD competitions from 2005–2006 [13][14] with fellow speed champion Mike Mangini at the Nashville, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis NAMM Show.

Davis' official hand speed rankings and records:

• Single Stroke Roll: 1005, 1024, and 1044 strokes in 60 seconds [15]
• Double Stroke Roll: 1021, 1084, and 1200 strokes in 60 seconds [16]

Davis states his top speed for the single stroke roll is 17 1/2 to 18 strokes per second when applied to the drum set as a rhythmic phrasing and 20 strokes per second for the double stroke roll. He accredits fellow world speed champions through social media video posts as the World's Fastest Drummer Champions who are able to reach and exceed 20 strokes per second while playing a single stroke roll. In 2012, Davis trained a late-blooming 50+-year-old drummer named Nick Stefano to compete in the WFD. Through Davis' instruction, Nick placed third in official competition playing 948 single strokes with an unofficial score of 1022. Both scores were recorded using the traditional grip.[17] Following a 10-year hiatus from the WFD, Davis reemerged at the 2016 summer NAMM show in Nashville, Tennessee giving an exclusive interview about his experience in the organization, including an introductory speech at the world finals.[18][19]

Davis announced his retirement from drumming in December 2016 due to non-drumming related physical injuries. On September 13, 2017, Davis announced that he had started training and practicing again.[20]

Davis shared the following update via his website on July 9, 2019 - "My response to what seems to be an extensive hiatus- It takes time to teach "Time." I am passionate about my future releases, as I am my friends therefore the reason special care is being taken. My book Revolutionizing Rhythm is a steady work in progress. I look forward to sharing the past 5+ years of diligent and intensive study and writing with interested ones once completed. For now, it is back to the hermit-hiatus. Studying, training, practicing, and writing."[21]