Blake Richardson's Drum Setup on Between the Buried and Me's Automata I (2018) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Blake Richardson use on Automata I?

Blake Richardson played a Pearl Reference Pure kit on Automata I (2018) — marking his transition from the DW Collector's Series that had defined his setup from Alaska (2005) through Coma Ecliptic (2015). The Pearl Reference Pure uses all-maple shell construction, delivering a warmer, more resonant tone suited to Automata I's Sumerian Records production. Configuration: double 22"x18" bass drums, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and a 16" floor tom. Full drummer profile at [Blake Richardson at MetalForge](/drummer/blake-richardson).

What is BTBAM's Automata I about?

Automata I (2018) is the first half of Between the Buried and Me's two-part Automata concept arc, released on Sumerian Records on February 9, 2018. The concept explores themes of artificial consciousness, digital identity, and what it means to be human in a near-future technology-saturated world. The story arc is completed by [Automata II](/articles/automata-ii-drum-setup) (July 2018), which was recorded and planned alongside Automata I as a single conceptual statement delivered in two installments. It is BTBAM's most recent full concept album, placing it at the end of a long-form conceptual arc that includes The Parallax II: Future Sequence (2012) and Coma Ecliptic (2015). For the preceding album, see [Coma Ecliptic drum setup](/articles/coma-ecliptic-drum-setup).

How does Automata I differ from earlier BTBAM albums in terms of Blake Richardson's drumming?

Automata I (2018) represents Richardson's drumming at its most mature and fully absorbed. Where earlier BTBAM records like Colors (2007) and The Parallax II (2012) showcased his developing technique in ways that remain slightly legible as technical achievement, Automata I deploys the same vocabulary — odd-time signatures, metric modulation, compositional double-bass, jazz-influenced ghost note work — as completely natural musical language. The Sumerian Records production gives Richardson's performances a more polished sonic environment than the rawer Basement Studio sound of earlier records. The gear transition to Pearl Reference Pure also contributes a warmer, more resonant drum character that suits the album's more layered production aesthetic. For context, see [Coma Ecliptic drum setup](/articles/coma-ecliptic-drum-setup) and [The Parallax II drum setup](/articles/the-parallax-ii-future-sequence-drum-setup).

What label released BTBAM's Automata I and what changed from earlier albums?

Automata I (2018) was released on Sumerian Records — a significant label change from Metal Blade Records, which had released BTBAM's catalog from The Great Misdirect (2009) through Coma Ecliptic (2015). Sumerian Records brought a more contemporary progressive and djent-adjacent production infrastructure and a larger promotional platform than Metal Blade's more traditional metal focus. The production on Automata I — still by Jamie King at The Basement Studio — reflects this shift: more sonic layering and polish than earlier records while preserving the compositional identity BTBAM had built since Alaska. The label transition also signaled BTBAM's expanded audience ambitions in the Automata era.