Syncopation is your friend. I personally think that what it takes to master is more a sense of the absolute rhythm embedded in your soul more than anything else!
What I really mean is if you have the feel of the beat of that song, you have it down pat, no question, then you can start playing around that beat. You don't always have to land on 1! So long as you can keep the song moving forward within the time and groove, you can add lots of little things, off beat patterns, fills outside the norm, etc.
I studied alot of Stewart Copeland (crazy syncopated hi hat work), and most progressive rock has great syncopation in the drumming. It'll be worthwhile to listen to some Rush, or Yes, King Crimson, Porcupine Tree, etc. and see how the songs continue to flow in the same groove, but the drummers are not doing straight ahead kick on 1&3, snare on 2&4 stuff.
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