Hey chaosengine,
I listened to the licks, it sounds cool. Darren is hybrid picking. If you want some exercises to get used to some of these techniques, then check out my tutorial on hybrid picking. Hybrid picking is using a pick, and one or two fingers.

If you've ever played this way, check out some of my workin' man riffs.

http://guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=10889
http://guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8229

If you haven't, you may want to start with the tutorial, here is that link. Some of the same techniques are used in these lessons, and they will give you an idea of what's going on with muting the strings.

http://guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=364


JD

Check out my lessons
http://guitartricks.com/instructor.php?g=all&input=52878