Periphery Drum Setup: Matt Halpern's Gear on the 2010 Debut | MetalForge
Matt Halpern recorded Periphery (2010) on a Pearl Reference Series kit with a Pearl Reference 14"x6.5" Brass snare.
What drums did Periphery use on their first album? Complete breakdown of Matt Halpern's gear on the 2010 self-titled debut — DW Collector's Series kit, Sabia...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum setup does Periphery use?
Periphery's drum setup has evolved across their discography. On the 2010 self-titled debut, Matt Halpern used a DW Collector's Series maple kit with Sabian HHX cymbals and a single 22-inch by 18-inch bass drum — the rig that defined the early Periphery sound. By Periphery III: Select Difficulty (2016), Halpern had transitioned to a Mapex Saturn kit with Meinl Byzance cymbals, and his current setup features the Mapex Saturn V MH Exotic with a comprehensive Meinl Byzance arsenal. Vic Firth Matt Halpern signature sticks and Evans heads have remained constants throughout. For the full current breakdown, see the Matt Halpern drummer profile.
What was Matt Halpern's drum setup on Periphery's first album?
Matt Halpern used a DW Collector's Series maple kit on Periphery's 2010 self-titled debut. The configuration included a single 22-inch by 18-inch bass drum, 10-inch and 12-inch rack toms, and 14-inch and 16-inch floor toms. Cymbals were Sabian HHX series: 14-inch HHX Groove hi-hats, 17-, 18-, and 19-inch HHX Evolution crashes, a 21-inch HHX Evolution ride, and an 18-inch HHX Chinese. Pedals rotated between the Pearl Demon Drive and Tama Speed Cobra. Sticks were Vic Firth Matt Halpern Signature, and heads were Evans throughout. The entire rig was captured at Misha Mansoor's home studio in Washington D.C.
Did Periphery use double bass drums on their debut album?
No. Periphery's 2010 self-titled debut features Matt Halpern playing with a single 22-inch by 18-inch bass drum, not a double-bass setup. This was a deliberate choice: Halpern's single-kick discipline forced him to write rhythmically interesting kick patterns rather than relying on continuous double-bass to fill rhythmic space. The approach is one of the key reasons the Periphery debut sounds groovy where other early djent recordings felt mechanical. Halpern would later adopt DW 9000 double pedals (used as hardware on a single kick drum) for subsequent albums, but the debut was a pure single-pedal performance throughout.
What cymbals does Periphery's drummer use?
Matt Halpern's cymbal choice has changed across Periphery's career. On the 2010 debut he used Sabian HHX cymbals — the HHX Groove hi-hats, HHX Evolution crashes in 17, 18, and 19 inches, the 21-inch HHX Evolution ride, and an 18-inch HHX Chinese. From approximately Periphery II (2012) onward, Halpern transitioned to Meinl Byzance cymbals, which have remained his primary setup through Periphery III, IV, and V. The Meinl Byzance series — handcrafted B20 bronze made in Turkey — provides the dark, complex character that has become his sonic signature in the Mapex era.