The Path of Totality Drum Setup: Ray Luzier's 2011 Korn Gear Breakdown | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Ray Luzier use on The Path of Totality?

Ray Luzier used his DW Collector's Series drum kit on The Path of Totality (2011) — the same professional shell line he had used on Korn III the year before. The configuration included a 22" bass drum with DW 9002 double pedal, 10", 12", and 14" rack toms, and a 16" floor tom. The DW Collector's maple construction provided the controlled transient response needed for recording live drums alongside Skrillex's and other producers' dense electronic productions.

How did Ray Luzier record live drums alongside dubstep production on The Path of Totality?

Ray Luzier's extensive session experience before joining Korn was the key enabling skill. Recording live drums in an electronic production context requires precise click track discipline, careful kit tuning to avoid frequency conflicts with electronic bass elements, and the restraint to leave space for produced elements rather than filling the sonic landscape with live performance. Luzier's DW Collector's Series kit was tuned specifically for each producer's sonic framework, and his drums were recorded to interact with rather than compete against Skrillex's, Excision's, and other producers' bass-heavy electronic production.

What song is Korn's biggest track from The Path of Totality?

"Get Up!" (produced by Skrillex) is The Path of Totality's most prominent track and one of Korn's biggest streaming-era hits. The song's dubstep-metal fusion — Korn's aggressive nu-metal performance over Skrillex's characteristic bass-heavy production — made it both a commercial success and a frequently cited example of nu-metal and electronic music intersection. Ray Luzier's restrained, groove-supportive drumming on the track demonstrates his session-drummer ability to serve a production rather than dominate it.

Who produced The Path of Totality?

The Path of Totality (2011) featured seven electronic producers: Skrillex (two tracks), Excision, Feed Me, Noisia, Downlink, Kill the Noise, and 12th Planet. Each producer brought their own production approach, requiring Korn — and Ray Luzier specifically — to adapt their performance style to different electronic production philosophies. The multi-producer format was unprecedented for Korn and resulted in one of nu-metal's most unique genre experiments.

What bass drum pedal did Ray Luzier use on The Path of Totality?

Ray Luzier used the DW 9002 double bass pedal on The Path of Totality (2011), continuing his DW hardware setup from the Korn III era. The 9002's Accelerator cam design and consistent chain-drive action provided the mechanical consistency needed for recording in electronic production contexts — each bass drum stroke producing the same attack transient that could sit predictably alongside programmed production elements.