Chris Adler's Drum Setup on Megadeth's 'Dystopia' (2016) | MetalForge
Chris Adler recorded Dystopia (2016) on a Mapex Black Panther Velvetone Series kit with a Mapex Chris Adler Signature Black Panther Warbird snare.
Chris Adler's Grammy-winning guest session with Megadeth. Full breakdown of the Mapex Black Panther Velvetone kit, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and Trick Pro V ped...
Frequently Asked Questions
Who played drums on Megadeth's Dystopia?
Chris Adler, co-founder and drummer of Lamb of God, recorded all the drum parts on Megadeth's "Dystopia" (2016). Dave Mustaine brought Adler in for a guest session at Vic's Garage, his private studio in San Marcos, California. Because Adler's Lamb of God commitments made a full touring cycle impossible, Dirk Verbeuren (formerly of Soilwork) took over touring duties afterward and was later confirmed as Megadeth's permanent drummer.
What drums did Chris Adler use on Dystopia?
Chris Adler used the same Mapex Black Panther Velvetone kit he was recording and touring with in Lamb of God at the time — a maple/walnut hybrid shell pack with dual 22" x 18" bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. He paired it with his own 14" x 5.5" Mapex Chris Adler Signature Warbird snare, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and Trick Pro V pedals — no gear changes were made specifically for the Megadeth session.
What won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 2016 / 2017?
Megadeth's "Dystopia" (the title track) won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 59th Grammy Awards, held in February 2017 (for recordings released in 2016). It was Megadeth's first competitive Grammy win. Competing nominees included Anthrax, Baroness, Gojira, and Trivium. Chris Adler performed the drum parts on the track, making it his only Grammy-winning performance outside of Lamb of God.
Did Dirk Verbeuren record Dystopia?
No. Dirk Verbeuren did not play on Megadeth's "Dystopia" — the album's drum parts were recorded entirely by Chris Adler (Lamb of God) at Vic's Garage in San Marcos, California. Verbeuren joined Megadeth in 2016 to handle the album's touring cycle after Adler's own band commitments ruled out a full tour, and he was subsequently confirmed as the band's permanent drummer. Verbeuren's actual studio debut with Megadeth came six years later on "The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!" (2022).
How does Chris Adler's Dystopia performance compare to Nick Menza's Rust in Peace setup?
The two performances reflect very different circumstances as well as three decades of drum technology evolution. Nick Menza used a Tama Artstar II birch kit with twin 22" bass drums and two independent single pedals as Megadeth's full-time drummer on Rust in Peace (1990). Chris Adler used his own Mapex Black Panther Velvetone kit as a guest musician on Dystopia (2016), completing the entire album in under two weeks around his main band's schedule. Both leaned on dual bass drums rather than a single kick with a double pedal — a rare point of technical overlap between two drummers from very different eras and circumstances. For the complete Rust in Peace breakdown, see the [Rust in Peace Drum Setup article](/articles/rust-in-peace-drum-setup).