Drummer Reacts To - Mike Portnoy Hears "Burn It To The Ground" For The First Time

His fills are drumming genius. The double bass drums add so much more to the original recording. Getting Portnoy for a Nickleback show would be like renting a Ferrari to go to the local shop.

I can’t unhear the double bass in the chorus now it’s so good.

Mike is a fuckin genius

Both versions are awesome! But, you cannot deny the feel, power and passion, that Mike brings to whatever he does!

Absolutely incredible song by Mike Portnoy Colby!!!! I’ll say it again….Mike really is a genius on drums 👍👍👍

I absolutely love the way Mike Portnoy plays drums. He can turn any song into musical bliss with his drumming techniques. I would love to have heard his drum version on any Nickleback songs.

What a humble guy full of respect! He doesn’t need to put nickelback down like so many rock/metal fans and even musicians of the genre do! He is a pro full of love for music! He adds his style not to „make it better“ just showing his interpretation! Thanks for answering all the nickeback-hate in that way! Ps: i am not loving or hating them! But they deserve appreciation and for sure not that hate!

He improved the song like a thousand times 😂

Mike's playing in A7X 'Save Me' is what got me interested in drumming, I love that song, it's my all time favourite!

If Mike Portnoy was doing this for Nickelback songs I definitely would have been a fan of the band. 😂

This guy is So Fucking Humble! He did a phenomenal job and his improve was on point and didn't think he was a good fit? Now I gotta find where Dream Theatre is playing near me to hear this guy Tear It Up!!!

His drumming added a whole different layer depth and feeling to the original track. I could only imagine what it would have been like had he toured with them.

Mike makes them sound so much better. Huge Portnoy fan

Mike is top 3 living drummers. The Dude is amazing

Wow, I had never heard this song before but Mike killed it. That double bass was on point in the chorus. Well done!

He's so good. And seems like a really good dude. I mean some of the stuff he plays is just gross good😊

People are all over el estepario Nuts and hes extremely talented. But when you see these drummers especially Mike Portnoy You see the creative Genius that many dont have. There are people that can play anything and everything But thats all they have. The ability to write is what sets players like Mike apart

He made the song feel much better than the original!

There is a Soul in his drumming that makes every song new life❤

Mike definitely added some cool elements to it. LOVE the double bass and the toms he added! The Toms could actually fit and not take away from the songs feel. But, I'll just say this as my opinion. Never forget the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) rule. It's hard to actually do and have it sound good. This song, and watching this video, really proves that rule. The single pumping bass kicks keep the songs energy "Pumping" and moving along which actually makes it easier for most people, who are not musicians, to tap their feet to it and feel the songs energy and vibe. I'm sure there were takes in the studio with Nickelback where they had more complex parts and maybe even a double bass in the arrangement. But that's why you get a producer, Robert John "Mutt" Lange in this case, who can help with this. Obviously Lange's record speaks for itself.