What drum kit did Matt Garstka use on The Joy of Motion?

Matt Garstka recorded The Joy of Motion (2014) on a Pearl Masterworks Maple kit configured with a 20x16 inch bass drum, 10x7 and 12x8 inch rack toms, and a 14x14 inch floor tom. The compact four-piece configuration, built from maple shells with Pearl's MasterCast hoops, prioritized quick attack and articulation over raw size — a deliberate choice given the album's dense, technical arrangements.

What snare did Matt Garstka use on The Joy of Motion?

Garstka used a Pearl Reference 14x5 inch maple snare on The Joy of Motion, recorded before Pearl developed his later signature model. Tuned to medium tension, it balanced sensitivity for his extensive ghost-note vocabulary with enough crack to cut through Animals as Leaders' layered eight-string guitar tracking.

Who produced The Joy of Motion?

The Joy of Motion was produced by Misha Mansoor of Periphery. The production emphasized dynamic range over heavy compression, allowing Garstka's ghost notes and dynamic contrasts — central to his playing style — to remain audible in the final mix rather than being flattened.

What cymbals did Matt Garstka use on The Joy of Motion?

Garstka used an early configuration of Meinl Byzance cymbals on The Joy of Motion, including 15 inch Dual Hi-Hats, an 18 inch Extra Dry Thin Crash, a 19 inch Dual Crash, a 22 inch Sand Ride, and an 18 inch Vintage Trash Hat used as a China. The Sand Ride in particular became one of his signature cymbal choices, carried forward across his later Animals as Leaders albums.

Was The Joy of Motion Matt Garstka's first album with Animals as Leaders?

Yes. Garstka joined Animals as Leaders in 2012, replacing founding drummer Navene Koperweis, and The Joy of Motion (released March 25, 2014 on Sumerian Records) was his first full studio album with the band. It established the jazz-fusion-influenced, traditional-grip playing style that would define his career.

The Joy of Motion Drum Setup: Matt Garstka's Debut With Animals as Leaders | MetalForge

Matt Garstka's drum gear on Animals as Leaders' The Joy of Motion (2014) — the Pearl Masterworks Maple kit, Pearl Reference snare, and Meinl Byzance cymbals ...

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