Rescue & Restore Drum Setup: Matt Greiner's Gear on August Burns Red's 2014 Album | MetalForge
Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Matt Greiner used to record August Burns Red's Rescue & Restore (2014). Complete breakdown of the Pearl Refere...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drums did Matt Greiner use on Rescue & Restore?
On *Rescue & Restore* (2014), Matt Greiner played a Pearl Reference Pure drum kit — his first fully realized Pearl setup in studio after transitioning from the Ludwig Classic Maple kit of *Leveler* (2011). The configuration centered on dual 22" bass drums, two rack toms (10", 12"), and a 16" floor tom. The Pearl Reference Pure's 100% maple six-ply shells delivered a tighter, more articulate sound than the Ludwig era — perfect for the cleaner, more dynamically nuanced production approach of the Atrium Audio sessions. For his complete current setup, see the [Matt Greiner complete drum setup guide](/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup).
How did Matt Greiner's kit evolve from Leveler to Rescue & Restore?
Between *Leveler* (2011) and *Rescue & Restore* (2014), Matt Greiner underwent the most consequential gear evolution of his career. The Ludwig Classic Maple kit gave way to the Pearl Reference Pure — a shift from warmer, vintage-influenced shells to tighter, more articulate modern maple construction. Paiste 2002 cymbals were replaced by Meinl Byzance — a move from cutting, bright bronze toward darker, hand-hammered Turkish bronze with more controlled musical complexity. DW 9000 pedals gave way to Pearl Demon Drive direct-drive pedals, offering instantaneous response that matched Greiner's refined lever technique. The simultaneous shifts in kit, cymbals, and pedals reflected both his growing artist endorsement relationships and his evolving musical vision. For a full comparison, see the [Leveler drum setup article](/articles/leveler-drum-setup).
What cymbals did Matt Greiner use on Rescue & Restore?
On *Rescue & Restore* (2014), Matt Greiner used Meinl Byzance cymbals — his first studio documentation of the Byzance series that would remain central to his sound across every subsequent ABR album. His setup included Meinl Byzance 14" Medium Hi-Hats, 18" and 19" Medium Thin Crashes, a 22" Medium Ride, and an 18" China. The Byzance line is hand-hammered Turkish bronze (B20 alloy), producing a darker, more controlled character than the Paiste 2002 cymbals Greiner had played on *Leveler*. The transition to Meinl reflected both his evolving musical vision and the cleaner production approach of the Atrium Audio sessions. For his complete current cymbal setup, see the [Matt Greiner complete drum setup guide](/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup).
Where was Rescue & Restore recorded?
*Rescue & Restore* (2014) was August Burns Red's first studio album recorded entirely at Atrium Audio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania — just minutes from the band's hometown. The album was produced by longtime collaborators Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland, who replaced Jason Suecof (Audiohammer Studios, Florida) as the band's production team. The shift to hometown recording with familiar collaborators contributed to the album's distinctly cleaner, more dynamically controlled sound — particularly noticeable on Matt Greiner's drum performances, which Slovak and McFarland captured with less aggressive limiting and more preserved natural attack than ABR's previous albums. Atrium Audio would remain ABR's primary studio across multiple subsequent records.