George Kollias Drum Setup: Nile's 'Ithyphallic' (2007) Gear Breakdown | MetalForge
George Kollias recorded Ithyphallic (2007) on a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with a Tama Starphonic Steel snare.
Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and pedals George Kollias used on Nile's 'Ithyphallic' (2007) — the band's Nuclear Blast debut and the final chapter of...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does George Kollias use on Ithyphallic?
On Nile's 'Ithyphallic' (2007, Nuclear Blast), George Kollias played the same Tama Starclassic Maple kit he introduced on 'Annihilation of the Wicked' (2005) — a double 22" kick drum setup with 10/12" rack toms and 14/16" floor toms. This is the final Nile studio album on this configuration before Kollias transitioned to Pearl Reference Maple shells on 'Those Whom the Gods Detest' (2009). See the earlier album's breakdown: [Annihilation of the Wicked drum setup](/articles/george-kollias-nile-annihilation-drum-setup).
How fast does George Kollias play on Ithyphallic?
George Kollias sustains blast beats in the 220–260 BPM range across 'Ithyphallic,' with tracks like 'Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks from He Who Is in the Water' and 'As He Creates So He Destroys' representing the album's most demanding sustained passages. Kollias is Guinness World Record-certified for sustaining 280 BPM single strokes — by 2007, two years of touring 'Annihilation of the Wicked' had already sharpened the consistency behind that speed. Full technique breakdown: [George Kollias at MetalForge](/drummer/george-kollias).
What cymbals and pedals does George Kollias use on Ithyphallic?
George Kollias played Meinl Byzance cymbals on 'Ithyphallic' (2007) — 14" Medium hi-hats, a 17"/18"/19" crash spread, a 20" Medium ride, and an 18" China, identical to his debut-album setup. His bass drum pedal was the DW 9002 double pedal, also carried over from 'Annihilation of the Wicked.' Both would be replaced during the transition to Pearl gear captured on 'Those Whom the Gods Detest' (2009).
Why is Ithyphallic significant in George Kollias's gear history?
'Ithyphallic' (2007) is the final Nile studio album performed in full on George Kollias's original Tama Starclassic Maple / DW 9002 rig — the equipment that launched his career on 'Annihilation of the Wicked' (2005). It closes out his earliest Nile-era gear chapter before the Pearl Reference Maple and Demon Drive transition documented on 'Those Whom the Gods Detest' (2009). For the full gear evolution, see: [What's in George Kollias's Kit](/articles/whats-in-george-kollias-kit).
What is Nile's Ithyphallic and why does it matter?
'Ithyphallic' (2007) is Nile's fifth studio album and the band's first release for Nuclear Blast Records, produced by Neil Kernon at The Sound Lab in Columbia, South Carolina. For drumming specifically, it represents George Kollias consolidating the technical vocabulary he introduced on 'Annihilation of the Wicked' — tighter execution, deeper endurance, and the same gear, one final time. Compare it to Kollias's later peak-era work: [Those Whom the Gods Detest drum setup](/articles/those-whom-the-gods-detest-drum-setup).