Dirk Verbeuren's Drum Setup on Soilwork's 'Figure Number Five' (2003) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Dirk Verbeuren use on Soilwork's 'Figure Number Five'?

For Soilwork's 2003 album, Dirk Verbeuren played the same Tama Starclassic Performer kit he used on 'Natural Born Chaos' the year before — birch/maple hybrid shells with a 22" x 18" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. He paired it with a Tama Starclassic steel snare, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and a Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal. For his current touring setup, see the [Dirk Verbeuren drummer profile](/drummer/dirk-verbeuren).

Is 'Figure Number Five' considered one of Soilwork's best albums?

Yes. 'Figure Number Five' (2003) is frequently ranked among Soilwork's best releases by fans and critics. AllMusic gave it four out of five stars, and Rock Hard magazine scored it 9.5 out of 10, later placing it #398 on their 2005 list of the '500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.' It's often discussed alongside 'Natural Born Chaos' (2002) and 'Stabbing the Drama' (2005) as part of the band's most celebrated early-to-mid-2000s run. See the [Natural Born Chaos Drum Setup article](/articles/natural-born-chaos-drum-setup) for the album that came before it.

Where was 'Figure Number Five' recorded?

Recording was split across three Swedish facilities: guitars and keyboards were tracked at Queenstreet Recording between December 2002 and January 2003, drums were recorded at Dug-Out Productions in January 2003, and vocals and bass were tracked at Studio Fredman in January and February 2003. Soilwork self-produced the album, with mixing handled at Studio Fredman by Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten alongside the band, and mastering completed by Göran Finnberg at The Mastering Room.

How does 'Figure Number Five' compare to 'Natural Born Chaos'?

Both albums feature Dirk Verbeuren on an identical core setup — a Tama Starclassic Performer kit, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal. 'Natural Born Chaos' (2002) was Soilwork's commercial breakthrough, while 'Figure Number Five' (2003), covered here, pushed the band's songwriting even further toward melodic, keyboard-driven hooks, with keyboardist Sven Karlsson taking a lead songwriting role for the first time. Verbeuren's playing stayed consistent across both — rapid fills, dark Byzance cymbal voicing, and steady double bass work. See the [Stabbing the Drama Drum Setup article](/articles/stabbing-the-drama-drum-setup) for the album that followed two years later.