Persistence of Time Drum Setup: Charlie Benante's 1990 Anthrax Gear Breakdown | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Charlie Benante use on Persistence of Time?

Charlie Benante used a Tama Artstar Custom kit on Persistence of Time (1990). The setup included dual 22" x 16" bass drums, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and a 16" floor tom with birch shells. This was the fully refined late-80s Tama configuration he had been using since the Among the Living era — the concluding chapter of his first-generation Anthrax kit before switching to DW Collector's Series for Sound of White Noise (1993).

What is Charlie Benante's drum setup on 'Got the Time'?

On 'Got the Time,' Charlie Benante used his standard Persistence of Time setup: Tama Artstar Custom birch kit with dual 22" bass drums, Sabian AA cymbals including 14" Rock Hi-Hats, and Tama HP35 Camco bass drum pedals. The track runs at approximately 230 BPM, and the double-bass patterns in the opening riff — combined with the crystal-clear hi-hat articulation — represent the HP35 Camco operating at the outer limits of pedal speed. The performance remains one of the most studied drum recordings in thrash history.

What cymbals did Charlie Benante use on Persistence of Time?

Charlie Benante used Sabian AA and HH cymbals on Persistence of Time. The setup included Sabian AA 14" Rock Hi-Hats, 16", 17", and 18" AA crashes, a 21" AA Rock Ride, and an 18" AA Chinese. His Sabian endorsement had been fully established since State of Euphoria (1988), and by 1990 the AA/HH combination was thoroughly integrated into his playing vocabulary.

Why is Persistence of Time important in Charlie Benante's career?

Persistence of Time is the culmination of Charlie Benante's Joey Belladonna-era Anthrax career: the first Anthrax album to go Platinum in the US, the band's highest-charting album to that date (#24 on the Billboard 200), and the final studio record with the classic lineup before John Bush replaced Belladonna for Sound of White Noise (1993). For drummers, it documents Benante's most mature expression of the thrash technique he had been developing since Spreading the Disease in 1985.

Who produced Persistence of Time and where was it recorded?

Persistence of Time was produced by Mark Dodson with Anthrax, the same team that had produced State of Euphoria (1988). It was recorded at Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York in 1990. Dodson's production on this album built on the State of Euphoria approach with greater low-end weight and room depth — a natural evolution suited to the album's darker, more ambitious material.

How does Persistence of Time connect to Sound of White Noise drum-wise?

Persistence of Time is the direct predecessor to Sound of White Noise (1993) in Charlie Benante's gear arc, but the contrast between them is significant. Where Persistence of Time features Tama Artstar Custom birch drums, Sabian cymbals (maintained into Sound of White Noise), Tama HP35 Camco pedals, and Mark Dodson's tight production, Sound of White Noise features DW Collector's Series maple drums, DW 5000 pedals, and Dave Jerden's organic, room-rich production. The cymbals are the only constant. For the complete comparison, see the Sound of White Noise drum setup article.