Ben Koller's Drum Setup on Converge's The Dusk in Us (2017) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit does Ben Koller use on The Dusk in Us?

Ben Koller plays a Tama Starclassic Performer B/B kit on The Dusk in Us (2017). The "B/B" stands for birch/bubinga — a hybrid shell construction combining birch's punchy attack with bubinga's warmer, deeper fundamental. His configuration includes a single 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and a 16" floor tom. The Performer B/B 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) snare in a 14" x 6.5" configuration on The Dusk in Us. The S.L.P. is Tama's vintage-inspired professional snare line; the 6.5" depth provides 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 Custom and A Custom cymbals on The Dusk in Us. His full setup includes: Zildjian K Custom Dark Hi-Hats (14"), Zildjian A Custom Crash (18"), Zildjian A Custom Crash (19"), Zildjian K Custom Ride (21"), Zildjian A Custom China (18"), and Zildjian K Splash (10"). The K Custom's tonal complexity anchors his hi-hat and ride work, while the A Custom's explosive brightness delivers the crash and China accents that define Converge's climactic moments.

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 Performer B/B (birch/bubinga hybrid shells) with single 22" bass drum; Tama S.L.P. 14" x 6.5" snare; Zildjian K Custom Dark Hi-Hats (14"), A Custom Crashes (18" and 19"), K Custom Ride (21"), A Custom 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.