As the Palaces Burn Drum Setup: Chris Adler's 2003 Breakout Kit | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Chris Adler use on As the Palaces Burn?

Chris Adler recorded Lamb of God's As the Palaces Burn (2003) on a Mapex Pro M Series kit. The configuration included dual 22x18 inch bass drums, rack toms at 10, 12, and 13 inches, and floor toms at 14 and 16 inches — all built with all-maple shells featuring SONIClear bearing edges. The snare was a Mapex Black Panther Maple at 14x5.5 inches. This was Adler's transition into professional-grade gear, and the same Mapex Pro M platform he continued on Ashes of the Wake (2004).

What cymbals did Chris Adler use on As the Palaces Burn?

Chris Adler used Zildjian A Custom cymbals on As the Palaces Burn (2003). His setup included 14 inch A Custom hi-hats, 16 and 18 inch A Custom crashes, a 20 inch A Custom ride, and an 18 inch A Custom China. The bright, cutting A Custom series gave the album its aggressive top-end character. Adler later transitioned to Meinl Byzance cymbals for Ashes of the Wake (2004), but the China cymbal accent language he established on AtPB carried directly into the Byzance era.

Why is As the Palaces Burn significant for Chris Adler?

As the Palaces Burn (2003) was the album that established Chris Adler and Lamb of God as an international force. Three key developments make it pivotal: it was his first recording with the Mapex Pro M professional kit; it marks the beginning of his collaboration with producer Machine (Mark Lewis), which would produce four albums and multiple Grammy nominations; and it established the China cymbal accent vocabulary and riff-locked groove philosophy that defined his career through Resolution (2012). The album sold over 200,000 copies without mainstream radio, bringing Lamb of God to worldwide audiences.

How does As the Palaces Burn compare to Ashes of the Wake drumming?

As the Palaces Burn (2003) and Ashes of the Wake (2004) share the same Mapex Pro M drum kit, but the cymbal setups differ. AtPB features Zildjian A Custom cymbals with 14 inch hi-hats, while Ashes of the Wake switched to Meinl Byzance with smaller 13 inch hi-hats — enabling faster pivot technique footwork and providing a darker, more complex top-end character. Machine refined his recording approach between the two albums, and Ashes benefited from a more developed subkick and trigger-blend methodology. AtPB is the rawer, more direct statement; Ashes is the refined, definitive version of the same musical vision.

What pedals did Chris Adler use on As the Palaces Burn?

Chris Adler used Mapex P400 single pedals on his dual bass drum setup for As the Palaces Burn. The P400's chain-drive mechanism provided reliable response for his developing double-bass patterns — pre-dating the more advanced Mapex Janus and Falcon designs he would adopt in later years. He ran two independent P400 pedals, one on each bass drum, rather than a double pedal on a single kick.