Scott Travis's Drum Setup on Judas Priest's Redeemer of Souls (2014) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Redeemer of Souls Grammy nominated?

Yes. Judas Priest's Redeemer of Souls (2014) earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015. The nominated track was 'Halls of Valhalla,' the album's driving lead single featuring Scott Travis's double-kick-propelled rhythm section. The album charted at number 3 in the UK and number 6 in the US — Priest's strongest chart performance since Painkiller (1990) until Firepower (2018) eclipsed it at number 5 on both charts. The Grammy nomination confirmed the album's commercial significance and established producer Andy Sneap's production template for the subsequent Firepower sessions.

What drum kit did Scott Travis use on Redeemer of Souls?

On Judas Priest's Redeemer of Souls (2014), Scott Travis played the Pearl Reference Series shell pack — the hybrid maple/birch/mahogany kit he'd used since switching from Tama for Angel of Retribution (2005). The setup featured dual 22 inch by 18 inch bass drums (two independent pedals, no connected double-pedal linkage), 10 and 12 inch rack toms, and 14 and 16 inch floor toms. His snare was the Pearl Reference Brass at 14 inches by 6.5 inches with die-cast hoops. This is the same setup he used on Angel of Retribution (2005) and Nostradamus (2008); Travis would switch to a new kit and cymbal setup for Firepower (2018).

Who replaced KK Downing in Judas Priest on Redeemer of Souls?

Richie Faulkner replaced founding guitarist K.K. Downing on Redeemer of Souls (2014). Downing had departed Judas Priest in April 2011 after 40 years with the band, citing health concerns and disagreements with management. Faulkner — a British guitarist from London, then 29 years old and 27 years younger than Downing — had been touring with the band since 2011 as Downing's live replacement, and Redeemer of Souls was his studio debut with Priest. Faulkner co-wrote several tracks on the album and received co-writing credits alongside Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton. Scott Travis remained on drums throughout the lineup transition, providing continuity across the Downing-to-Faulkner change.

How does Scott Travis's Redeemer of Souls setup compare to Firepower?

Redeemer of Souls (2014) and Firepower (2018) are both Andy Sneap-produced Judas Priest albums, but Travis's gear changed between them: Redeemer of Souls was recorded on the Pearl Reference Series kit, the Pearl Reference Brass 14"x6.5" snare, the Pearl Demon Drive double pedal, and the Sabian HH/AA-to-HHX cymbal setup that had carried his sound since Angel of Retribution (2005), while Firepower marked a switch to an entirely different kit and cymbal brand. Redeemer of Souls is in many ways the proof-of-concept for Andy Sneap's production approach, with Sneap refining his engineering on the last album of Travis's Pearl era before the gear changed again.