Periphery Drum Setup — Travis Orbin's Gear on the 2010 Debut Album | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

Who played drums on Periphery's self-titled 2010 debut album?

Travis Orbin played drums on Periphery's self-titled debut album, released March 30, 2010 on Sumerian Records. He was the band's founding drummer, joining during the final stages of the album's assembly, and his performance on tracks like 'Icarus Lives!' and 'Jetpacks Was Yes!' became a defining technical reference point for djent drumming. Full profile: [Travis Orbin at MetalForge](/drummer/travis-orbin).

What drum kit did Travis Orbin use on Periphery's debut album?

Travis Orbin used a DW Collector's Series kit with North American maple shells, configured with double 22" bass drums and a four-tom spread (10", 12", 14", 16"). He paired it with Zildjian K Custom Dark hi-hats and ride, and Zildjian A Custom crash and china cymbals — a combination chosen to stay articulate against the album's dense, mid-scooped guitar tone. Electronic bass drum triggers and a Roland SPD-SX sampling pad integrated the acoustic kit with the record's programmed elements.

Why is Periphery's debut album considered foundational to djent?

Periphery's 2010 self-titled debut is widely credited with turning djent from a guitar-tone in-joke into a recognized subgenre with its own musical vocabulary. Travis Orbin's drumming was central to that shift — his polyrhythmic phrasing, ghost-note density, and independent two-footed bass drum patterns proved that the genre's guitar-driven complexity could be matched, note for note, on drums. 'Icarus Lives!' in particular became the genre's most transcribed and studied track.

What drumsticks and heads did Travis Orbin use recording Periphery?

Orbin played Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks, chosen for the balance of mass and control his mix of explosive accents and dense ghost notes required. His drums were fitted with Evans heads throughout — EMAD on the bass drums for a focused, trigger-friendly attack, G2 Coated on the toms, and UV1 Coated on the snare. For more on gear suited to djent's technical demands, see the [best drumsticks for djent guide at MetalForge](/guides/best-drumsticks-for-djent).

Who replaced Travis Orbin as Periphery's drummer?

Matt Halpern replaced Travis Orbin as Periphery's drummer after Orbin's 2012 departure. Halpern inherited a drum chair whose technical baseline had been set by Orbin's work on the 2010 debut and Periphery II (2012), and went on to develop the band's groove-oriented evolution across subsequent albums. Full gear breakdown: [Matt Halpern at MetalForge](/drummer/matt-halpern).