Did Morgan Ågren play drums on the whole Empath album?

No. Empath features three different drummers across its ten tracks — Morgan Ågren, Anup Sastry, and Samus Paulicelli — each brought in by Devin Townsend for specific songs rather than the album as a whole. Ågren's confirmed contributions include "Genesis," "Sprite," "Why?," and "Borderlands," with Townsend himself referring to Ågren as the record's "third drummer." "Sprite" is the track most closely associated with Ågren's playing on Empath, showcasing the metric modulation technique he is best known for. See the full [Morgan Ågren drummer profile at MetalForge](/drummers/morgan-agren) for his complete career and gear history.

What drum kit did Morgan Ågren use on Empath?

Morgan Ågren used his standard Sonor SQ2 Beech kit on Empath — the same configuration he plays across his Devin Townsend Project and Mats/Morgan Band work. His setup includes a single 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms, paired with Meinl Byzance cymbals, a DW double bass pedal, and Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks. Drums for Empath were tracked at Monnow Valley Studios in Wales starting in September 2018.

What is metric modulation, and how does Morgan Ågren use it on 'Sprite'?

Metric modulation is a technique where the felt tempo changes as the time signature shifts, but the underlying subdivision stays constant — so a quarter note in 4/4 might become a dotted quarter in a new meter, keeping the listener's internal pulse intact even as the bar structure changes. On "Sprite," Morgan Ågren navigates shifts between 4/4, 7/8, and 5/4 using his hi-hat foot and ride hand as anchor points that carry the subdivision across each bar-line change, so the transitions feel continuous rather than like a reset. For a full technique breakdown, see [Morgan Ågren's Sprite lick page at MetalForge](/drummers/morgan-agren/licks/morgan-agren-sprite-metric-modulation).

Where was Empath recorded?

Empath's drum and bass tracks were recorded at Monnow Valley Studios in Wales, starting in September 2018. Guitars and vocals were tracked at several studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, with additional elements captured at The Grid in Montreal, Quebec. Devin Townsend produced the album himself and released it independently on his own label, HevyDevy Records, on March 29, 2019.

Empath Drum Setup — Morgan Ågren's Metric Modulation Masterclass | MetalForge

Inside Morgan Ågren's drum performance on Devin Townsend's Empath (2019): Sonor SQ2 Beech kit, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and the metric modulation technique tha...

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