Ben Koller's Drum Setup on Converge's The Dusk in Us (2017) | MetalForge
Ben Koller recorded The Dusk in Us (2017) on a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with a Tama S.L.P. Brass (Studio Legendary Percussion) snare.
Inside Ben Koller's drum setup for Converge's The Dusk in Us (2017) — the Grammy-nominated UK chart record featuring 'I Can Tell You About Pain.' Tama Starcl...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Ben Koller use on The Dusk in Us?
Ben Koller plays a Tama Starclassic Maple kit on The Dusk in Us (2017) — all-maple shells that give the kit a balanced, versatile tone rather than favoring one part of the frequency spectrum. His configuration includes a single 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and a 16" floor tom. The Starclassic Maple is Koller's fully settled touring kit — the same setup that carries into Bloodmoon: I (2021) and his current Converge work.
What snare does Ben Koller play on The Dusk in Us?
Ben Koller plays a Tama S.L.P. (Studio Legendary Percussion) brass snare in a 14" x 6" configuration on The Dusk in Us. The S.L.P. is Tama's vintage-inspired professional snare line; the brass shell and 6" depth provide extra body and projection on rimshots, helping the snare register through Converge's dense arrangements in Kurt Ballou's GodCity Studio production. By 2017, the S.L.P. is Koller's fully settled snare choice — no longer in transition, the definitive drum for his current Converge work.
What cymbals does Ben Koller use on The Dusk in Us?
Ben Koller uses Zildjian K Dark Series cymbals on The Dusk in Us. His full setup includes: Zildjian K Dark Series Hi-Hats (14"), Zildjian K Dark Series Crash (18"), Zildjian K Dark Series Crash (19"), Zildjian K Custom Ride (21"), Zildjian K China (18"), and Zildjian K Splash (10"). The K Dark Series's tonal complexity anchors his hi-hat, crash, and china work, while the brighter K Custom Ride adds versatility for texture.
What is Ben Koller's setup on The Dusk in Us?
Ben Koller's complete drum setup on The Dusk in Us (2017): Tama Starclassic Maple (all-maple shells) with single 22" bass drum; Tama S.L.P. 14" x 6" Brass snare; Zildjian K Dark Series Hi-Hats (14"), K Dark Series Crashes (18" and 19"), K Custom Ride (21"), K China (18"), K Splash (10"); Tama Iron Cobra single pedal; Vater Ben Koller signature sticks; Evans heads (G2 Coated on tom batters, G1 Coated on snare batter, EMAD on bass). Produced by Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts.
Was The Dusk in Us Grammy nominated?
Yes. The Dusk in Us (2017) by Converge received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance — a milestone for one of hardcore's most uncompromising bands. The album also entered the UK charts, signaling the broadest mainstream critical reception Converge had achieved to that point. Ben Koller's drumming on the record — his most dynamically sophisticated Converge performance — was central to the album's critical success.