Messengers Drum Setup: Matt Greiner's Gear on August Burns Red's 2007 Breakthrough Album | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What gear did Matt Greiner use on Messengers?

On *Messengers* (2007), Matt Greiner played a DW Performance Series drum kit — a professional maple-shell setup that predated his later DW Collector's Custom endorsement. The configuration centered on dual 22" bass drums, two rack toms (10", 12"), and a 16" floor tom. For cymbals, he used Wuhan Traditional Series — Chinese B20 bronze cymbals with a raw, aggressive character that gave the album its distinctive cymbal sound before his Meinl endorsement. The bass drum pedal was a DW 5000 Series double pedal, and he played Vic Firth 5A sticks. The album was produced by Jason Suecof at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida. For his complete current setup, see the [Matt Greiner complete drum setup guide](/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup).

How did Matt Greiner's kit evolve from Messengers to Leveler?

Matt Greiner's setup underwent significant evolution between *Messengers* (2007) and *Leveler* (2011), reflecting his growth from a young professional to an endorsed artist at the top of his genre. On *Messengers*, Greiner played a DW Performance Series kit with Wuhan cymbals and DW 5000 double pedals — capable professional tools, but pre-endorsement. By *Leveler*, he had moved to a Ludwig Classic Maple kit with Paiste 2002 cymbals and DW 9000 pedals — a refined setup that prioritized warmth and musical complexity over the raw aggression that characterized the Messengers era. The shift reflects ABR's own musical evolution: from the direct metalcore aggression of 2007 toward the progressive, compositionally sophisticated approach of 2011. For a full comparison, see the [Leveler drum setup article](/articles/leveler-drum-setup).

What cymbals does Matt Greiner use?

Matt Greiner's cymbal setup has evolved across three distinct eras. On *Messengers* (2007), he played Wuhan Traditional Series cymbals — Chinese B20 bronze with a raw, aggressive character suited to the album's direct metalcore approach. By *Leveler* (2011), he had transitioned to Paiste 2002 series cymbals, bringing more musical complexity and cutting attack to the Grammy-nominated record. Today, Greiner plays Meinl Byzance cymbals as part of his full Meinl endorsement — the Byzance series' darker, more controlled character reflecting his most sophisticated period as a player. The cymbal evolution from Wuhan to Meinl mirrors the sonic evolution of August Burns Red's own production approach. For his current setup, see the [Matt Greiner complete drum setup guide](/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup).

What makes Matt Greiner's drumming on Messengers significant?

*Messengers* (2007) was the record that introduced Matt Greiner's blast-to-groove transition technique to the metal world — the ability to shift from a controlled blast beat directly into a locked, syncopated groove without losing the pocket or the connection to the riff. In a genre where blast beats were often treated as blunt instruments, Greiner demonstrated they could function as compositional tools: arriving at high points, then resolving into groove at the exact moment the riff changed. His ghost note integration — layering subtle dynamics beneath primary patterns — also distinguished his playing from simpler metalcore contemporaries. *Messengers* reached #13 on the US Christian Albums chart, and tracks like "Composure" and "Meddler" established ABR as a technical reference point for an entire generation of metalcore bands. See the [Matt Greiner drummer profile](/drummer/matt-greiner) for the full career context.