.:Press:.

Drum! magazine New Blood feature, December 2005

More proof that a Y chromosome is pretty close to useless, Liz Holland throws down heavy grooves that even the big boys could have trouble lifting. The New York-native started making music by tickling the ivories, but at ten years old, she switched to beating skins. Seventeen years and some serious woodshedding later, she can embarass you if you're asking for it. Holland cites Buddy Rich as a major influence (and even swings his signature sticks), but she channels John Bonham on Open Letters To No One, the debut disc from her moody and delicious trio, The Raven Society. Stand-out drum tracks include "Be Done Already," which pumps along with loud, open hats, a cranked snare, and a thick bass drum. Holland makes it sound easy, though, as she drives the band through subtle odd-time changes and clever hooks. More than just a great hitter, Holland also knows her notes: She led the marching band quints at the '94 World University Games and has performed Nebojsa Zivkovic's marimba solo "Uneven Souls" in her home-town of Buffalo. And to top it all off, Holland even pens a road blog at drumforum.org. Yep, a drummer who writes. That might catch on.