Messengers Drum Setup: Matt Greiner's Gear on August Burns Red's 2007 Breakthrough Album | MetalForge
Matt Greiner recorded Messengers (2007) on a Pearl Export/Vision Series kit with a Pearl Export/Vision Steel Snare snare.
Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Matt Greiner used on August Burns Red's Messengers (2007). Complete breakdown of the Pearl Export/Vision kit, ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What gear did Matt Greiner use on Messengers?
On *Messengers* (2007), Matt Greiner played a Pearl Export/Vision drum kit — a continuation of the Pearl relationship he signed when August Burns Red was founded in 2003. The configuration centered on dual 22" bass drums, two rack toms (10", 12"), and a 16" floor tom, essentially the same footprint he'd carry for years afterward. For cymbals, he used a still-developing Meinl setup — no specific series is documented for this era, years before the named Byzance line became his signature cymbal sound. No specific pedal brand is documented for this era, 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 evolved gradually between *Messengers* (2007) and *Leveler* (2011), reflecting the same continuous Pearl and Meinl relationship growing more defined rather than a series of brand switches. On *Messengers*, Greiner played a Pearl Export/Vision kit with a still-developing Meinl cymbal setup. By *Leveler*, he had upgraded to a Pearl Reference kit and a fully solidified Meinl Byzance cymbal setup — a more refined tonal palette that suited the band's more progressive songwriting. The shift reflects ABR's own musical evolution: from the direct metalcore aggression of 2007 toward the progressive, compositionally sophisticated approach of 2011, all within the same underlying Pearl/Meinl gear relationship. 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 reflects one continuous Meinl relationship that has deepened over time. On *Messengers* (2007), he played a still-developing Meinl setup with no specific named series documented. By *Leveler* (2011), that relationship had solidified into the named Meinl Byzance series, bringing more defined tonal complexity to the Grammy-nominated record — the same Byzance series that carried through his current setup. The cymbal evolution from an unnamed early Meinl setup to the fully solidified Byzance series mirrors both his own maturing endorsement relationship and August Burns Red's evolving sonic identity. 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.