12 Best Hard Rock Drum Solos

By the time Judas Priest reached the 90's, they had weathered their fair share of ups and downs. Though the band had defined the heavy metal sound with albums like British Steel and Screaming for Vengeance, later releases like Turbo led them into more pop-centric directions that didn't sit well with some fans. Once you picked up Painkiller though, the real Priest was fully resurrected.

Most people who think of Priest think of the riffs first, but Scott Travis ended up doing his bandmates one better by creating one of the most signature drum performances in all of rock music. Though most of "Painkiller" relies on a heavy groove, the drum solo at the start hits you right in the center of your chest. Given the band's more lackluster material before this record, this entire first section feels like a deliberate musical way of shocking the band back to life.

Even when the initial groove kicks in, the actual drums don't let up, as it keeps a steady double bass rhythm going as the guitars take you away. This might not be the fastest or even the most sophisticated drum performance on the list, but this is the song that every drummer hears and is proud to have picked up two sticks.