August Burns Red 'Phantom Anthem' Drum Setup (Matt Greiner, 2017) | MetalForge
Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Matt Greiner used on August Burns Red's Grammy-nominated Phantom Anthem (2017). Complete breakdown of the Pear...
Frequently Asked Questions
What cymbals does Matt Greiner use on Phantom Anthem?
On *Phantom Anthem* (2017), Matt Greiner switched from Meinl Byzance to a hybrid Zildjian A Custom / Sabian AAX setup — the most significant gear change between *Found in Far Away Places* and this album. The Zildjian A Custom series delivers a brighter, more aggressive top-end character suited to *Phantom Anthem*'s denser production, while the Sabian AAX China provides cutting accent character. For comparison with his earlier Byzance setup, see the [Found in Far Away Places drum setup](/articles/found-in-far-away-places-drum-setup).
Was Phantom Anthem Grammy-nominated?
Yes. "King of Sorrow" from *Phantom Anthem* (2017) was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 60th Grammy Awards in January 2018 — the highest single-track recognition of August Burns Red's career. Matt Greiner's drumming on the track — blast sequences, ghost note layers, and blast-to-groove transitions executed on the Pearl Reference Pure kit — was a central factor in what made the track Grammy-eligible.
What tuning does Matt Greiner use on Phantom Anthem?
Greiner tunes his Pearl Matt Greiner Signature snare at medium-high tension — bright steel attack with controlled warmth, preserving both ghost note sensitivity and the projection of power accent strokes. Pearl Reference Pure toms are tuned for articulate attack rather than warmth, suiting *Phantom Anthem*'s compressed, aggressive production. Kick drums use Remo Powerstroke 3 heads for focused low-end attack. For his complete current tuning philosophy, see the [Matt Greiner complete drum setup guide](/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup).
How does Phantom Anthem fit in the August Burns Red discography?
*Phantom Anthem* (2017) fills the gap between *Found in Far Away Places* (2015) — ABR's Gold-certified commercial peak — and *Beacon* (2023), their most recent studio record. It's the album that earned ABR's highest Grammy recognition with "King of Sorrow" (Best Metal Performance nomination, 2018). The gear continuity with *Found in Far Away Places* (same Pearl Reference Pure kit, same Pearl Demon Drive) shows how Greiner's setup had stabilized, while the cymbal shift to Zildjian A Custom / Sabian AAX marks the key sonic evolution. See the full ABR arc: [Leveler (2011)](/articles/leveler-drum-setup) → [Found in Far Away Places (2015)](/articles/found-in-far-away-places-drum-setup) → Phantom Anthem (2017).