Mike Mangini's Kit on 'Dream Theater' (Dream Theater, 2013) | MetalForge
Dream Theater's 2013 self-titled album was Mike Mangini's fully integrated statement — his first album where he helped shape the music from the ground up. Fu...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drums did Mike Mangini use on Dream Theater's self-titled album?
On Dream Theater's 2013 self-titled album, Mike Mangini played a Ludwig Keystone X maple kit — a departure from the Pearl Masterworks maple/birch hybrid shells he used on A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). The Ludwig Keystone X configuration included a 22" x 18" bass drum, four rack toms (8", 10", 12", 13"), and two floor toms (14" and 16"). The pure maple shells delivered a warmer, rounder drum tone than the birch-reinforced Masterworks, a sonic distinction clearly audible when comparing the two albums. For Mangini's complete gear history, see the [Mike Mangini drummer profile](/drummer/mike-mangini) and the [What's in Mike Mangini's Kit article](/articles/whats-in-mike-manginis-kit).
What year was Dream Theater's self-titled album released?
Dream Theater's self-titled album was released September 24, 2013 on Roadrunner Records. It was the band's twelfth studio album and Mike Mangini's second studio recording with Dream Theater, following A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). The self-titled debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and reached number one in both Germany and Greece. It was notably the first Dream Theater album in which Mangini participated as a co-writer from the initial songwriting sessions, rather than recording parts written before his arrival. For context on the album that preceded it, see the [A Dramatic Turn of Events drum setup article](/articles/a-dramatic-turn-of-events-drum-setup).
What cymbal setup did Mike Mangini use in 2013 on the Dream Theater self-titled?
Mike Mangini used Meinl Byzance Traditional series cymbals throughout the 2013 Dream Theater self-titled sessions — the same cymbal line he had used on A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). His configuration included 14" Traditional medium hi-hats, three crashes (16" thin, 18" medium, 20" medium), a 22" Traditional medium ride, an 18" Traditional China, and a 10" Traditional splash. The Byzance Traditional line is hand-hammered in Turkey, producing warm, complex, harmonically rich tones that suited the album's wide dynamic range from intimate passages through 'Illumination Theory's' 22-minute epic. Full cymbal details at the [Mike Mangini drummer profile](/drummer/mike-mangini).
How is the drum sound on Dream Theater's self-titled different from A Dramatic Turn of Events?
The primary sonic difference between the two albums comes from the drum shells: A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011) used Pearl Masterworks maple/birch hybrid shells, while the 2013 self-titled used Ludwig Keystone X pure maple shells. The birch component in the Masterworks formula adds tightness and attack; the Keystone X's 100% maple construction produces a warmer, rounder fundamental with longer natural sustain. Both albums used Meinl Byzance Traditional cymbals and DW double pedals, maintaining consistency in the cymbal and footwork character across the two records. The compositional approach also differed — the self-titled was Mangini's first album where he contributed to the songwriting from the ground up, which shaped the rhythmic architecture of tracks like 'Enigma Machine.' See the [A Dramatic Turn of Events drum setup article](/articles/a-dramatic-turn-of-events-drum-setup) for the full 2011 comparison.