Drumming News :
FOR YOUR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION – GODSMACK – LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN
BEST MUSIC FILM – Live at Mohegan Sun
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE – “Battle of the Drums”
BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPPELLA – “Battle of the Drums” (arranged by Sully Erna)
For more than three decades, Godsmack have built their legacy through the raw power, musicianship, and visceral connection of their live performances. On Live at Mohegan Sun, that legacy is captured at full force in a career-spanning concert film that celebrates the band’s unmistakable sound and enduring bond with audiences around the world.
At the center of the film is “Battle of the Drums,” Godsmack’s iconic all-percussion showcase featuring founder and frontman Sully Erna alongside drummer Shannon Larkin. Developed and perfected over decades, the instrumental performance has become a defining centerpiece of the band’s concerts and one of the most anticipated moments of every Godsmack show.
Performed on two full drum kits and powered by the extraordinary chemistry between Erna and Larkin, “Battle of the Drums” is a display of precision, power, musical interplay, and theatrical imagination.
The campaign video pairs the performance with archival commentary from legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart, reflecting the admiration the piece has earned across the rock and percussion communities.
“Just to watch this alone as a spectacle was rewarding. I love how much work Sully and Shannon put into it. It’s just a great performance in which a lot of care has been taken, and I congratulate it.”
Neil Peart
“The ‘Battle of the Drums’ is a melodic groove-fest, with chops galore, and some cool musical surprises…it features matching kits, spinning drum risers, a two-drummer face-off, and some world-class drumming. There have been many drum solos in hard rock, but there is none like Godsmack’s ‘Battle of the Drums’.”
Modern Drummer
“It’s an intricate piece. Shannon and I have worked on it for decades and really perfected it into a spectacle. Live at Mohegan Sun captures a moment we’ll always carry with us: the energy, the connection, and the gratitude we feel for the fans who’ve taken this journey with us.”
Sully Erna
Live at Mohegan Sun captures Sully Erna, Shannon Larkin, Tony Rombola, and Robbie Merrill in a thunderous celebration of Godsmack’s history. The film reflects a career that includes more than 20 million records sold worldwide, four GRAMMY® nominations, and one of the most successful chart runs in modern rock.
“Battle of the Drums” stands as the film’s instrumental centerpiece. What began in the mid-1990s with Erna performing percussion alongside Godsmack’s early drummer evolved into a full-scale rhythmic duel featuring two complete drum kits, rotating risers, and the remarkable musical communication between Erna and Larkin. Now immortalized in Live at Mohegan Sun, the performance gives audiences around the world the opportunity to experience one of the most celebrated moments of Godsmack’s live show.
A standout performance from Godsmack’s Live at Mohegan Sun concert is coming to vinyl for RSD Black Friday. Godsmack will release a collectible limited-edition 12-inch picture disc featuring “Battle of the Drums” and “I Stand Alone” from the band’s Live at Mohegan Sun concert film. The RSD release will be available exclusively at participating independent record stores on November 27, 2026 via SpecialRelease | RECORD STORE DAY.
Interview with David Frangioni :
