Periphery II Drum Setup — Travis Orbin's Final Album Gear (2012) | MetalForge
Travis Orbin's drum setup on Periphery II: This Time It's Personal (2012) — his final album with the band before departing, and the record that expanded djen...
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Travis Orbin the drummer on Periphery II?
Yes, Travis Orbin played drums on Periphery II: This Time It's Personal, released August 21, 2012 on Sumerian Records. It was his second and final album with the band — he departed shortly after its release. His replacement, Matt Halpern, has been Periphery's drummer on every album since. Full profile: [Travis Orbin at MetalForge](/drummer/travis-orbin).
What drum kit did Travis Orbin use on Periphery II?
Orbin used the same DW Collector's Series kit that defined his debut-era setup — North American maple shells, double 22" bass drums, and a four-tom spread (10", 12", 14", 16") — refined through two years of touring. His cymbal setup added a fuller 19" A Custom crash alongside the existing Zildjian K Custom Dark hi-hats/ride and 18" A Custom crash and china, giving him more tonal range for the album's broader dynamic contrasts.
How does Periphery II's drumming differ from the debut album?
Periphery II demands more dynamic range than Periphery's 2010 debut. Where the debut was a largely sustained technical showcase, Periphery II incorporates spacious, groove-oriented sections alongside its dense polyrhythmic passages — tracks like 'Ji' shift between the two within a single song. Travis Orbin's playing and gear adapted accordingly, with cymbals and drums that needed to function as textural color at low dynamics as well as cutting rhythmic tools at full intensity.
Why did Travis Orbin leave Periphery after Periphery II?
Travis Orbin departed Periphery in 2012 shortly after the release of Periphery II: This Time It's Personal, on amicable terms. Matt Halpern took over the drum chair and has recorded every Periphery album since, building on the technical foundation Orbin established across the debut and Periphery II. See [Matt Halpern's complete gear breakdown at MetalForge](/drummer/matt-halpern) for the successor era.
What cymbals and sticks did Travis Orbin use on Periphery II?
Orbin played Zildjian K Custom Dark hi-hats and ride alongside Zildjian A Custom crashes (18" and 19") and an 18" A Custom china, with Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks. The dual crash setup was new for Periphery II, added to give more tonal variety across the album's more melodic, expansive song sections. For more on gear suited to technical progressive metal, see the [best drumsticks for djent guide at MetalForge](/guides/best-drumsticks-for-djent).