Blake Richardson's Drum Setup on Between the Buried and Me's Automata II (2018) | MetalForge
Blake Richardson recorded Automata II (2018) on a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama STARPHONIC Brass Snare snare.
Blake Richardson's drum kit and gear on BTBAM's Automata II (Jul 2018): Tama Starclassic Bubinga drums, Sabian Dark/Extra Dry cymbals, Tama Iron Cobra Power ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drums did Blake Richardson use on Automata II?
Blake Richardson played his Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit on Automata II (2018) — the same configuration he had used on Automata I (February 2018). The Starclassic Bubinga's bubinga shell construction delivers a warm, resonant tone suited to Sumerian Records' more layered 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 most recent concept album?
Between the Buried and Me's most recent concept album is the two-part Automata arc — Automata I (February 9, 2018) and Automata II (July 13, 2018), both on Sumerian Records. The two records function as a single conceptual statement about artificial consciousness and digital identity, released in two installments across a single year. Colors II (2021) followed but is a spiritual sequel to Colors (2007) rather than a new standalone concept. The Automata arc closes BTBAM's consecutive concept album sequence: The Parallax II: Future Sequence (2012) → Coma Ecliptic (2015) → Automata I & II (2018). See [Automata I drum setup](/articles/automata-i-drum-setup) for the first half.
How does Automata II complete the Automata concept arc?
Automata II (July 2018) provides the narrative resolution for the artificial consciousness and digital identity story arc that began in Automata I (February 2018). Released five months after the first installment, Automata II was planned and recorded as the arc's conclusion — its four tracks extending the compositional ideas of Automata I into larger, more expansive structural territory. Blake Richardson's drumming on Automata II deploys the same Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit and Sabian cymbal spread as Automata I, creating a unified sonic arc across both releases. The second installment's more open track structures give Richardson more compositional space than Automata I's tighter arrangements — longer dynamic passages, more atmospheric sections, and extended peaks where his technique can breathe with the music. For the preceding record, see [Coma Ecliptic drum setup](/articles/coma-ecliptic-drum-setup).
What is Blake Richardson's drum setup across both Automata records?
Blake Richardson used an identical setup across both Automata I (February 2018) and Automata II (July 2018), reflecting the two records' status as a single conceptual project. Kit: Tama Starclassic Bubinga, bubinga shells, double 22"x18" bass drums, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), 16" floor tom. Snare: Tama STARPHONIC Brass, 14"x6.5". Cymbals: Sabian 14" Dark Hi-Hats, 17" Extra Dry Thin Crash, 18" Dark Crash, 20" Extra Dry Ride, 10" Dark Splash, 18" China. Hardware: Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide double pedal, Pearl rack system, Vic Firth American Classic 3A sticks. The Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit has defined Richardson's setup since 2018, unchanged across the Automata era. See [Automata I drum setup](/articles/automata-i-drum-setup) for the companion article.