The Hunter Drum Setup: Brann Dailor's Grammy-Winning Kit on Mastodon's 2011 Album | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums does Brann Dailor use on The Hunter?

Brann Dailor recorded Mastodon's The Hunter (2011) using a Tama Starclassic Maple drum kit. The configuration featured a single 22 inch bass drum with three rack toms at 10, 12, and 13 inches, plus an expanded floor tom setup including both a 14 inch and 16 inch floor tom. The Tama Starclassic Maple's 100% maple shells produce the warm, resonant tone that gives Dailor's melodic tom patterns their musical character. The expanded tom configuration on The Hunter gave Dailor a wider melodic palette compared to the Crack the Skye setup — an expansion that suited the album's broader arrangements.

What kit did Brann Dailor use in 2011?

In 2011, Brann Dailor used a Tama Starclassic Maple kit for The Hunter sessions and subsequent world tour. The setup included a single 22 inch bass drum driven by a Tama Iron Cobra single pedal, an expanded tom configuration with 10, 12, and 13 inch rack toms and floor toms at 14 and 16 inches. His cymbal setup was Meinl Byzance across the Traditional series — the same dark, complex B20 bronze palette he had established on Crack the Skye. He played Meinl sticks and used Evans UV1 Coated heads on batter surfaces.

What cymbals does Brann Dailor use on The Hunter?

On The Hunter (2011), Brann Dailor used Meinl Byzance cymbals, carrying forward the dark, complex B20 bronze palette he had established on Crack the Skye (2009). His setup included 14 inch Traditional hi-hats, an 18 inch Traditional Thin Crash, a 20 inch Traditional Medium Crash, a 22 inch Traditional Ride, an 18 inch China, and a 10 inch splash. The Meinl Byzance series uses hand-hammered B20 bronze with Turkish craftsmanship that produces dark, warm, complex tones — suited to The Hunter's musically nuanced production even within its more commercial context.

Did Mastodon win a Grammy for The Hunter?

Yes. Mastodon won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards (2013) for "Black Tongue" from The Hunter. This was Mastodon's first Grammy win. The award confirmed the commercial and critical success of The Hunter's more accessible direction and recognised Brann Dailor's groove-forward drumming on "Black Tongue" as among the year's best metal performances.

How does The Hunter differ from Crack the Skye in terms of drumming?

The Hunter (2011) marks a significant transition in Brann Dailor's drumming compared to Crack the Skye (2009). The most fundamental change is the move to single bass drum — Crack the Skye featured extensive double-kick polyrhythmic complexity, while The Hunter commits to a single Iron Cobra pedal throughout. The song structures are shorter and more direct, requiring groove discipline over extended polyrhythmic development. Producer Mike Elizondo's hip-hop-influenced production approach also shaped a punchier, more defined drum sound compared to Brendan O'Brien's more atmospheric work on Crack the Skye. The Hunter represents the transitional album between Crack the Skye's conceptual ambition and Emperor of Sand's emotionally mature groove-forward approach.

Who produced The Hunter by Mastodon?

The Hunter (2011) was produced by Mike Elizondo, a departure from Brendan O'Brien who had produced Crack the Skye (2009). Elizondo is primarily known for his hip-hop production work with Dr. Dre and Eminem, bringing a different sonic sensibility to Mastodon — punchier, more defined drum sounds, tighter commercial arrangements, and a production polish that suited the album's more accessible direction. The collaboration resulted in Mastodon's most commercially successful album to that point, and the Grammy-winning 'Black Tongue.'