Mike Mangini's Kit on 'The Astonishing' (Dream Theater, 2016) | MetalForge
Mike Mangini recorded The Astonishing (2016) on a Pearl Masterworks Maple kit with a Pearl Free-Floating Brass Snare snare.
Dream Theater's sprawling two-act, 34-track rock opera demanded a different kind of drumming from Mike Mangini. Full breakdown of the Pearl Masterworks kit, ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drums did Mike Mangini use on The Astonishing?
On The Astonishing (2016), Mike Mangini played a Pearl Masterworks Maple kit, continuing the same setup used since his 2011 Dream Theater debut on A Dramatic Turn of Events. The setup included a 22" x 18" bass drum, four rack toms (8", 10", 12", 13"), and two floor toms (14" and 16"), paired with a Pearl Free-Floating brass snare and Pearl Eliminator Redline double pedals. For Mangini's complete career gear history, see the [Mike Mangini drummer profile](/drummer/mike-mangini) and the [What's in Mike Mangini's Kit article](/articles/whats-in-mike-manginis-kit).
What cymbals did Mike Mangini use on The Astonishing?
Mike Mangini used Sabian HHX/AAX cymbals throughout The Astonishing, continuing the same setup from A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011) and the 2013 self-titled album — the combination he has used continuously since joining Dream Theater. The configuration included a 14" HHX Evolution hi-hats, AAX and HHX crashes at 16", 18", and 20", a 22" HHX Evolution ride, an 18" AAX Chinese, and a 10" AAX splash. The HHX Evolution line's complex, musical tone blended naturally with the album's orchestral string and brass arrangements. He has continued this Sabian setup through [Distance Over Time (2019)](/articles/distance-over-time-drum-setup) and beyond.
What is Dream Theater's most ambitious concept album?
The Astonishing (2016) is widely regarded as Dream Theater's most ambitious concept album — a two-act, 34-track dystopian sci-fi rock opera conceived primarily by John Petrucci, complete with named characters, recurring musical themes, and a full orchestral component recorded separately in Astoria, Toronto, and Prague. At roughly two hours, it dwarfs every other release in the band's catalog in scope and narrative structure. The album sits in the Mangini-era discography between [Dream Theater's self-titled album (2013)](/articles/dream-theater-self-titled-drum-setup) and [Distance Over Time (2019)](/articles/distance-over-time-drum-setup).
What Dream Theater albums did Mike Mangini record?
Mike Mangini recorded five studio albums as Dream Theater's drummer: A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011), the self-titled Dream Theater (2013), The Astonishing (2016), Distance Over Time (2019), and A View from the Top of the World (2021). Each album reflects a different stage of his integration into the band, from technical debut through full co-writer to the narrative-driven restraint required by The Astonishing. Full breakdowns of each album are available: [A Dramatic Turn of Events](/articles/a-dramatic-turn-of-events-drum-setup), [Dream Theater self-titled](/articles/dream-theater-self-titled-drum-setup), [Distance Over Time](/articles/distance-over-time-drum-setup), and [A View from the Top of the World](/articles/a-view-from-the-top-of-the-world-drum-setup).