it's been a bit since I saw this video, but I remember Mike saying.. it's different when you write the song. Mike has songs much more complicated than pneuma.. but he wrote it. Have danny carey play some random hard DT song.. not a knock to danny, just explaining the difference.
As said above, Pneuma isn't incredibly difficult for the bulk of it. Now the middle breakdown basically separates those who have practiced their para-diddles for a decade or so and those who haven't.
But it's not a fast song, it's just weird timing/accents.
Me, as a drummer of 30 years and air drummer extraordinaire, drum parts stick in my head very easily. When I got this album, it took maybe 3 listens to understand that verse groove. It doesn't have a poly rhythm in it which is where I can struggle (like the breakdown in Euglogy towards the end)
And if I recall, Mike didn't even catch the in between verse area where danny switches from Justin's groove to Adam's groove (4:28 in the song), and then back to justin's groove at 5 minute mark.
I am not a counter like mike seems to be. I would obviously fail if I was filling in for someone and this was charted out.
But if I listen to the song a handful of times, I generally just memorize what's happening and when.
