Recently, I switched from being a really soft hitter (like a 5 or below in dynamics), to a really hard hitter just because I had heard recordings of my playing and I didn't like the snare sound I was getting when I played softer. I think the problem might be that I like to tune my snare really low, which gives me a dead snare sound that I prefer. Thanks for the point though, I'll play around with different snare tunings and see how it affects my playing style. I do agree that I play really hard right now
I checked out a few Tricot videos and your guy has some amazing technique to be sure. Completely rips on a single pedal.
Also, I (and you should) notice that Komaki himself doesn't beat the snot out of the drums all the time or even most of the time. I watched the one where they have a GoPro on his left side and he's tapping the snare like a jazz guy, getting the volume from his wrist and fingers, not his elbow. He sounds thunderous, but it's from good technique, not brute force.
Watch how he doesn't lift the stick that high even while he's wailing. You don't need to kill the thing. He flails around at times, but that's just show.
I've found that for rock, it's actually easier to play hard than it is to play soft, or with dynamics. It's easier to make the drums sound good if I hit hard, but I think a well-rounded drummer needs to be able to play softly, as well as with dynamics.
As for snare deadening, I don't like a ringy snare either, but rather than trying to tune it dead, I prefer a piece of gel at 10:00 and 2:00 on the batter head about an inch from the rim. That way you can still get a sound that cuts, but without the ringing.
As for internal timing practicing with a metronome is of course the first thing. I sometimes like the "click" on quarter notes, but I find that I learn the intricate stuff better with the click on eighth notes.
Here's an interesting technique for building your feel using a metronome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMMtkf8UpnQ