Eyes on the King (Benn) // Drum Recording Session

Here's a tracking session for the song Eyes on the King, by Benn. This is not a Portraits song, but a single that Ben asked me to track drums for as an entirely separate project.

I really like how the song came together, and it was a lot of fun tracking these drums for it.

This is the 'drum mix', and includes only the instrumental music.
The full single is available at Hurt Records:

and Twitter @JohnkewDrums

Recorded on Sonor Select Force maple drums, Pearl free-floating maple 14-inch snare, Evans G2 batter drum heads and G1 resonant drum heads, Sabian HHX Evolution 14-inch hi-hat; Sabian AAX-plosion 14-inch hi-hat auxiliary; Stacker with Sabian 19-inch Paragon china and 18-inch AAX O-zone, Sabian 21-inch Holy China, Sabian 18-inch HHX crash, Sabian 19-inch HHX crash, Sabian AAXplosion, Sabian Paragon ride cymbal, 18-inch crash, DW 9000 double bass pedal, DW 3000 hi hat stand, Tama drum throne, Vic Firth Danny Carey signature sticks, Audix Fusion overhead microphones, Apex 435 room mics, Audix D-series mics on toms and kick, Audix i5 and Shure SM57 mic on snare, M-Audio Profire 2626 interface, Logic Pro X, Sony Alpha 6000, Canon T2i, Canon Vixia HF M40, and GoPro HD Hero cameras, Shure in-ear monitors.

[TheJOAT]

Wow.. Honestly this is the best I've heard so far

[Matthew_Blacksmith]

Thank you for that, what are you doing! Each new video is a new inspiration for me!

[markhooper]

bloody amazing - nice job! Excellent song.

[rogersgonc]

Dude, the drums sound caption is so deep, with your skills and feeling, it's mind blowing!

[alexjackson]

1:26 if that isn't a Danny Carey inspired rhythm then I don't know what is! Nice job man 👍🏻

[tkk]

Just awesome. And, inspiring. Love watching you jam.

[jeffrhodes]

Killed it yet again, always love watching you shred! And thanks for introducing me to another gnarly band, keep up the good work man!

[ChelouWolf]

I really love it :) you're such an inspirationnal drummer

[VladShpiro]

Awesome work here, John. Loved it even more than all your cover work altogether :)

[augustburnsred]

real nice man I love that polyrythm at 1:26

[KOKUAFILMSHAWAII]

Much different than what I have seen from you in the past, I like it, tight!
J, Here is a request if you will, first off I have never seen you do anything by Perfect Circle and man, like holy shit man, is that versatile, band jumping mad man who shreds, drummer Josh Freese, who I.M.H.O. is worth going to see in their shows alone, so...my request would be "Weak and powerless" which is a quick song just over 3:00 the song rips some great groves and I almost said "Vanishing" - The only other drummer I would really like to see you try would have to be "Bozzio" the early 80's power hitting show off that despite showing off he just knows he is that dam good! Mental Hopscotch has to be one of my favorites of them with so much power and in your face raw hitting, but my most favorite because of the drive behind it, has to be "Noticeable one" Great work J keep it up!
Boda - KFH

[dumithegreat]

i love the intro. much sexy cymbal work lol

[feetusgaming]

Killer! A solid composition on the drums, with no need for little random fills here and there.

I enjoyed it overall, but what noticeably could have been a bit better, IMO, would be the palm muted guitar fills, they lack punch, power, and what not.
Such as in 2:52, the guitar seems like it's a bit lacking.

But hey, if that's intended, great!

[GhostModeActual]

Top 3 drummers: Danny Carey/Gavin Harrison/JohnKew

[TragicElegance]

Please send me a link to the final version when it's available. Please. Pretty please.

[Iamwrathster]

Great song, awesome drumming. Is there any particular reason why you put your left hand on the snare head sometimes or do you just rest it?

[tkelly]

Amazing Jon, you have a new sub. How long have you been playing?

[matteon.]

Amazing drum sound. Do you record with just one M-Audio Profire 2626 interface? I know it has just 8 preamps... how do you connect all the mics?

[orsova]

John, I've been looking for a drum play through of I'm a marionette by ghost, but I have found none, will you do it? :, D

[barnowlcom]

If you'll excuse me, I'm off to listen to my latest Amazon MP3 purchase. God help my neighbors...