The world's first recurring online drumming competition for metal drummers, judged by metal drummers. Blast Off made it's debut in March of 2008 in Denver, Colorado. We had nearly 40 contestants from all around the US, competing for $10,000 in prizes. The event also included two short clinics from John Merryman & Duane Timlin and was a great success.

Blast Off will now be a regular feature of Sick Drummer Magazine. 

Our 1st Blast Off Digital Drumming Contest will begin on November 1st. All the details you will need to enter can be found below, All entries need to be completed and uploaded by November 30th. Again, upload instructions will be published in our November issue...

 Q: Who can enter?

A: Anyone can enter... The contest will be split into 2 divisions: either you are a drummer signed to a label or you are not signed to a label... Simple

Q: How do I prepare my video?

A: Please try to move the camera around first, and find the best possible sound quality! Once you find this spot, leave the camera there! We do not want any movement of the camera during the video.

Your video has to be 3 minutes or less. The camera must be positioned to either side of you (about 3 feet behind your left or right elbow works best). If you have the means, the camera can also be positioned overhead, looking down on your kit. If you would like to have a guitar track accompany you, it must be through headphones. No other sound can be present in the drum video!

* The recording must be continuous! No stopping or video edits are permitted.

You must create this video for our contest! It can not be a video you already have recorded! How can we monitor this? At the beginnng of the video, you need to state your Name, location, "signed or unsigned" and say "This video is for the Sick Drummer Magazine Blast Off". This will not be counted as part of your 3 minutes.

* Each drummer may submit one video per contest! You are welcome to enter in our next issue, but only one per issue please!

* If you have been in a signed band, but are not currently in one, you still will enter in the signed division.

Q: Who is judging & what are they looking for? 

A: The judges for this first event will be: Adam Jarvis of Misery Index, Dave Culross ex: Malevolent Creation - Suffocation and Elliot Hoffman of CarBomb. The judges will be watching each video and looking at 6 different characteristics of your playing:

1. Dynamics

2. Ease of Motion

3. Beat Transition

4. Creativity

5. Blast Speed

6. Blast Consistency (or meter) 

7. Foot Speed

8. Foot Consistency (or meter)

Q: What can I win?

A: This first event is being sponsored by Axis Percussion & Hudson Music. There will be 1st and 2nd place winners in each division. Aside from the amazing prizes from our sponsors, each winning drummer will be featured in the pages of Sick Drummer Magazine & will be featured videos on metalinjection.net.

The 2 first place winners will receive: A brand new set of Axis Double A Longboard Bass Pedals.