By Connor T. (aka. Distal Sonority)

Where to begin?
There are so many things to comment on within this DVD set...so I suppose the first should be just that. Quite extensive. The ground covered here makes many other drum DVD's of it's caliber seem thin and short, and this is a metal drumming video at that. At last.

I have to applaud the production value of this DVD. Extremely professional. The camera angles are superb, throughout the extent of the video, allowing an up close and personal view of Flo's playing, making the advice on technique more notable on the first viewing, without having to guess what he's doing. The drum production is clean, full, and punchy. The live footage is highly energetic, and again, with a great bird's eye view of Flo and his monster of a kit. The menus and video interludes are quite impressive, and lastly, the Nasum shirt warms the soul.

The first disc is the instructional portion of the set. After a simple and to the point introduction, we head into the chapters, beginning with; foot and hand exercises, technique, warm up routines, stretching and exercise tips, speed, endurance, and control exercises, and the crown jewel, the Grind Library. A title so mighty it deserves an echo. Covered here are grind beats, blast beats, and the ever popular gravity blast. Each section is covered in great length and detail. The time is taken to show the watcher set-up ideas, leg angle and throne heights, and there's even a section covering head tension. Practically every warm up routine you can imagine is demonstrated, including a detailed stretching segment (something you won't find on most drum DVD's) performed by Flo. A side note, this portion is hilarious. Bonus points for the Suzanne Somers' Thighmaster reference. I wonder how much shit he caught from the band after that was filmed.

The second disc is the performance portion. Included here are several live Cryptopsy videos, a few solos, pre-production videos of the recording of Once Was Not, soundchecks, Adrenaline TV Documentary, Cryptopsy rehearsals of Phobophile and Cold Hate, Warm Blood, and the credits, coupled with a blooper reel if you will, of the filming of this DVD.

All in all, I'd recommend it to any drummer looking to expand their playing, metal or not. It's thorough and informative, what more could you ask for in an instructional DVD...besides a second disc full of extras of course. I know I'll be incorporating some of the lessons shared in my future practices.

Get it.