Speed is a talent, one like all other musical abilities requires loads and loads of practice and quite frankly natural ability to make truly an art. Tell me you have not listened to sucky ass drummers in dime a dozen bands trying to play fast and failing on a grand scale - if it was not for Beat Detective or other studio magic they would sound like shit. That is not the case with Mike - he is a truly talented drummer who has stated publicly that he really enjoys pushing the envelope of speed simply because it's fun and challenging for him.
I disagree that speed and precision is a talent. I think that with time, anybody who dedicates himself to it can play single strokes with consistency for as fast one wants to. The only variable here is the time it would take one to get to that speed, but this is dependent on grasping the technique.
It is only when speed is incorporated to music (and music being the decisive factor) that talent can be recognised. When speed is used correctly in music, then yes, one may identify it as talent, because that person is able to input something inherently unmusical and make something of it which appeals to the ears, besides the orgasmic sounds of single strokes (For example Hans Grossman, the drummer of Necrophagist in Epitaph).
Now, I'm sure Mangini can do this just like any other beastly drummer, but judging that first video, I felt that it lacked anything besides the speed he so much treasures used very 1 dimensionally.
But seriously, to me it sounds like you have a grudge against people who set their minds on playing fast. How is playing fast in any way inferior to playing with "soul", "feel" or whatever else? I see it all as equal, and ANY reason to play drums is a good enough reason to play drums, doesn't matter which one. Mangini gets a kick out of playing fast and I really REALLY doubt it is because he wants to impress others. I recognize myself in him actually, I get a kick out of playing fast too (whenever my "juices" flow well enough to actually let me play fast but that's another story ), and I totally understand how this can quickly be devloped into an addiction. Playing fast is liberating, it's extreme, it's adrenaline pumping, it gets you all warm and sweaty. Some people like that more than playing a 110 BPM funk beat. I'm not bashing on funk music here, since I love that stuff myself, but I'm just saying that I wouldn't be so sure to judge this guy because of what he said in the beginning.
Dude, a grudge on people who play fast is the LAST thing I have. I find myself in two death metal bands at the moment, one more extreme than the other, and I have to play fast. And no arguing there, it does feel great. But I hate it when speed is prioritized over other aspects of drumming. Constant speed shows a lack of dynamics and is generally uninteresting in my opinion. I believe in moderation. When speed is blended with groove and feel, then I can say WOW. I know I bring this guy up a lot, but he's my biggest inspiration at the moment. Listen to Sean Reinert in "Human" by Death; insane speeds are balanced with insane polyrythms, groove and even delicate playing.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Mangini can throw down a kick-ass groove just like any other amazing drummer, but as a performer, I felt that he emphasized too much on speed. This is what I gathered from the first video.
However, take the now famous Tony Royster Junior. Watch the video where he was just 12 years old; I have a feeling you all saw this once in your lives due to its popularity, but I want to show how this guy managed to include all aspects of drumming in 1 solo and made it sound so awesome.
I felt that Mangini placed too much stress on how amazing playing fast is, without balancing the performance with the inclusion of other elements of drumming.
Also, thanks for uploading the second vid, it was definitely better in my books, however still I felt that the limelight was placed too much on the gravity blast/rim-rolls and very fast single hand rolls. The beats themselves weren't that inspiring to say the least.
When videos were posted of very fast shredding guitarists which lacked melody,they were bashed, and rightly so. I feel that despite being fast, the performances in the solos I've seen were too focused on speed and precision rather than making it sound interesting in the process.
Hey, maybe his playing doesn't ring nicely in my ears and that's why I feel like this, but I respect your opinion and the last thing I have is a grudge or some inner desire to mock this guy.