The Black Album Drum Setup: Lars Ulrich's 1991 Tama Artist Maple Kit | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums does Lars Ulrich use on Enter Sandman?

Lars recorded "Enter Sandman" on a Tama Artist Maple kit — a distinct model from both the birch Artstar II used on Justice and the modern Star Classic. The bass drum is a deep 22"x18", contributing to the signature boom. The snare is a Tama prototype (later the LU1465) tuned lower than any previous Metallica album. Producer Bob Rock's room microphones, placed 15-20 feet from the kit, capture the cavernous ambience. Cymbals are Zildjian A series, including 14" New Beat hi-hats and A medium crashes.

How is the Black Album drum sound achieved?

The Black Album drum sound relies on three key elements: (1) lower drum tuning than Lars's thrash era — every drum was tuned down significantly at Bob Rock's direction; (2) prominent room microphones placed 15-20 feet from the kit, blended with close mics to create the cavernous ambience; (3) gated reverb on the snare, which allows a brief reverb bloom after each hit before snapping shut — the same technique used on John Bonham's "When the Levee Breaks." Maple shells (warmer than birch) and a deep bass drum reinforced the low-end weight. Replicating this sound requires low tuning, room mics, and gated snare reverb.

What snare did Lars Ulrich use in 1991 on the Black Album?

Lars used a Tama prototype snare on The Black Album — a steel-shell drum that preceded and directly influenced the production LU1465 Lars Ulrich Signature snare released later. The snare measures 14" x 6.5" and was tuned considerably lower than the tight, high-tension snare Lars used on ...And Justice for All. Bob Rock pushed Lars to loosen the batter head to create the fat, boomy crack heard on "Sad But True." A Remo Powerstroke 3 Coated batter head was used. The prototype snare's DNA lives on in the LU1465, which remains available today.

How is the Black Album kit different from the Master of Puppets or Justice setup?

Each Metallica album used a distinct setup even where the kit carried over. Master of Puppets (1986): Tama Artstar II birch shells with Ludwig Supraphonic snare — high tuning, Sweet Silence Studios. ...And Justice for All (1988): the same Tama Artstar II birch shells, but with a high-tension steel snare, dry production, close mics only. The Black Album (1991): Tama Artist Maple shells (warmer than birch), prototype LU1465 snare tuned much lower, Bob Rock's room mics and gated reverb, groove-focused production. The progression shows Lars moving from raw thrash aggression through dry technical playing to warm, roomy groove. Tuning and production philosophy changed significantly each time, and the Black Album marked the first shell-material change since 1984.

Did Lars Ulrich use double bass on The Black Album?

Yes, but sparingly compared to the Justice era. Lars used a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal on a single 22" bass drum. The double pedal is most prominent on "Wherever I May Roam" and sections of "Enter Sandman" and "The God That Failed." However, Bob Rock steered Lars toward single bass drum patterns on most tracks — the groove-first philosophy favored simplicity and feel. The absence of constant double bass on songs like "Sad But True" and "Nothing Else Matters" was a deliberate production choice, not a technical limitation.