Paul Mazurkiewicz's Drum Setup on Cannibal Corpse's 'Red Before Black' (2017) | MetalForge
Paul Mazurkiewicz recorded Red Before Black (2017) on a Pearl Reference (mature endorsement configuration, 2017) kit with a Pearl Free-Floating steel-shell snare snare.
Discover the drum kit, cymbals, and gear Paul Mazurkiewicz used to record Cannibal Corpse's Red Before Black (2017) — Erik Rutan's return as producer, the Pe...
Frequently Asked Questions
What kit did Paul Mazurkiewicz use on Red Before Black?
On Red Before Black (2017), Paul Mazurkiewicz played the same Pearl Reference kit documented across Kill (2006), Evisceration Plague (2009), Torture (2012), and A Skeletal Domain (2014) — dual 22-inch x 18-inch kick drums, a four-tom layout in maple/African mahogany hybrid shells, and his 14-inch x 6.5-inch Pearl Free-Floating steel-shell snare. His Meinl Byzance cymbal setup and Pearl Eliminator double bass pedal carried over unchanged.
Who produced Cannibal Corpse's Red Before Black?
Red Before Black was produced, engineered, and mixed by Erik Rutan at his own Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida, with assistant engineering by Art Paiz. It marked Rutan's return as producer after Mark Lewis had helmed A Skeletal Domain (2014), and it was the last Cannibal Corpse album Rutan produced purely as an outside collaborator — he later filled in on tour guitar and officially joined the band in 2020. The album was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.
How did Red Before Black perform commercially and critically?
Red Before Black debuted at #95 on the Billboard 200 upon its November 3, 2017 release, and charted internationally at #16 in Germany and #29 in both Austria and Switzerland. Critical reception was strong: Metal Injection rated it 9/10 and Blabbermouth.net gave it 8.5/10, while AllMusic and MetalSucks both scored it 3.5 out of 5 and Angry Metal Guy gave it 3/5.
What are the standout tracks on Red Before Black?
The album opens with "Only One Will Die" and features the singles "Code of the Slashers," the title track "Red Before Black," and "Scavenger Consuming Death" — tracks that showcase Mazurkiewicz's sustained double-bass drive against Erik Rutan's returning, denser production style.
Why is Red Before Black significant in Erik Rutan's history with Cannibal Corpse?
Red Before Black was the last Cannibal Corpse album Erik Rutan produced purely as an outside producer. Within roughly two years of its release he was filling in for guitarist Pat O'Brien on tour, and by 2020 he had officially joined Cannibal Corpse as their full-time lead guitarist — making Violence Unimagined (2021) both his next production credit and his recording debut as a band member.