Opinions are in: Anika Nilles has truly excelled in her debut as Rush’s new touring drummer.

Stepping into the role of the late Neil Peart was always going to be a challenge, but Nilles accomplished this with a remarkable blend of skill and respect. UCR’s live review, published shortly after the band’s opening night concert, remarked that Nilles “crushed it” in her new position, emphasizing that the drummer’s “brilliant talent was on display” throughout the evening. As highlighted below, many others echoed our enthusiasm.

Some of the most enthusiastic praise has come from a fellow prog rock artist. Mike Portnoy, the drummer for Dream Theater and someone who was once rumored to be in line for the Rush position, expressed high admiration for Nilles’ performance.

READ MORE: Watch Anika Nilles’ Full Drum Performance at Rush Tour Kickoff

“Anika absolutely KILLED IT in the best way imaginable,” Portnoy stated. “I was so happy for her…nailing all of the big Neil moments with a giant smile on her face the whole time! She really is the perfect choice for this!”

Similarly, Poison drummer Rikki Rockett celebrated Nilles’ success in a Facebook post, saying: “Congratulations to Anika Nilles for killin’ it on opening night with RUSH!!!”

Reviews of Anika Nilles’ Rush Debut

Across the rock community, reviews have praised Nilles’ opening night performance. “If fire could be packaged, it would be Nilles,” proclaimed USA Today. “Not only did Rush find a drummer worthy of succeeding Peart so the band could perform live again, but they chose a musician who is an absolute phenomenon on her playground of percussion.”

Rolling Stone commended her “mix of precision and snare-snapping brutality,” noting that she “simply nailed everything, down to the last 32nd note.”

The Los Angeles Times referred to it as a “monster performance,” describing the moment as a “coronation of sorts” for Nilles. “She nailed complex paradiddles and splashed nearly a dozen cymbals with abandon. Rarely did her expression stray from a furrowed brow. (To be fair, Peart’s never did either.) This is the most fearsome repertoire in all of pop music, and Nilles supplied its heartbeat and muscle, and most of its nuance.”

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Louder provided a deeper analysis of Nilles’ performance, highlighting two moments in the show that truly stood out. Among them was her impressive delivery of Peart’s famous drum fills in “Tom Sawyer.” “It’s a moment of genuine triumph,” they noted. “And, it appears, there isn’t a dry eye left in the house.

Meanwhile, veteran rock journalist Mitch Lafon remarked that Nilles “didn’t just nail it. She absolutely owned it.” He also pointed out that the drummer showed “not a sign of first night jitters.”

Most importantly, Rush diehards – known for being one of the most challenging fanbases to impress – have joyfully celebrated Nilles’ performance. Social media and Reddit have been flooded with compliments for the drummer, praising her as “amazing,” “unbelievable,” and “absolute beast.”

Rush’s Fifty Something tour will continue across North America through December, with additional international dates scheduled for 2027.