"My first love was rock, and along with Maiden, Metallica and Slayer came metal. I’ve must have been 10-12 years old at that time. That speedy, thrashy energy, I just loved it! But in a way all of those heavy styles like hardcore, punk, metal and what not are related to one thing and that’s rock! Take for example Ullrich and Vinnie Paul from Pantera, that’s not metal..That just plain, heavy rock!"That’s why Tijs likes to see himself (or at least: wishes to be!) as an advanced rock-drummer. His kit looks indeed very much that way. Besides a couple of very thick rockhats and a thick, clean ride (both Sabian) he likes to use two 18 inch crashes and an 18 inch china (Sabian as well).
"Those big heavy crashes give me the volume I need. This is all I want to use, and cán use. No splashes or a dozen extra crashes are involved."Tijs likes to play with only one racktom and one floortom, although a second racktom is always present just in case. Although heavy styles are his favorite, the only thing ‘metal’ in his playing are the integrated doublebass-kicks.
"The thing with the twinpedal is, you certainly have to have one, and then just don’t use it as much! Endless doublekick patterns can really ruin a song. But then again, you gotta have those quick accents and roaring powerfills!"Tijs stresses the fact that he’s still learning:
"This thing with Mossfet is a real challenge for me, cause I’m still trying to get those fast hardcore-parts down and that’s some tricky shit I tell ya.” Moreover, Tijs wants to expand his creative input in heavy drumming, for instance using his hats to the fullest “I really wish I could get everything out of these hats, but I just can’t. The former drummer of Mossfet was awesome on his hi-hat. I wish I could say the same thing for myself one-day. So that’s what the future holds."
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