Jason Bittner's Drum Setup on Shadows Fall's The War Within (2004) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Jason Bittner use on The War Within?

On *The War Within* (2004), Jason Bittner played a Tama Starclassic Performer B/B kit — the "B/B" designation indicating birch/bubinga hybrid shell construction. His setup included a double bass drum configuration with two 22" x 18" kick drums, two rack toms (10" and 12"), and two floor toms (14" and 16"). The birch/bubinga shells provided the attack definition needed to cut through Shadows Fall's dense guitar arrangements combined with tonal warmth for the album's more dynamic passages. The Tama Starclassic Performer was Bittner's kit throughout the peak Shadows Fall era, from *The Art of Balance* (2002) through *The War Within* (2004) and beyond. For full career gear context, see [Jason Bittner at MetalForge](/drummer/jason-bittner).

What cymbals did Jason Bittner use on The War Within?

Jason Bittner played Sabian HHX and HH series cymbals on *The War Within*. His setup included Sabian HHX 14" hi-hats, HHX 16" and 18" crash cymbals, an HH 20" ride, and an HHX china cymbal. The HHX series — hand-hammered B20 bronze with brilliant finish — emphasizes upper harmonics that project above the mid-range density of Shadows Fall's dual-guitar arrangements. This upper-frequency positioning is what allows the hi-hat patterns and crash accents to register clearly in *The War Within*'s dense NWOAHM production. Sabian has been Bittner's primary cymbal endorsement throughout his career.

What double bass pedal did Jason Bittner use on The War Within?

Jason Bittner used the DW 9002 double bass pedal on *The War Within*. The 9002's dual-chain drive system provides matched action across both the primary and slave pedal sides — critical for the sustained double-bass patterns that define the album's most demanding tracks, including the Grammy-nominated "What Drives the Weak." At the tempos *The War Within* demands, any mechanical variation between pedal sides would become audible as rhythmic unevenness; the 9002's engineering prevents this. The DW 9002 remained Bittner's pedal of choice across his career with both Shadows Fall and Overkill. See [double-bass technique at MetalForge](/technique/double-bass/drummers).

Was The War Within Grammy nominated?

Yes — Shadows Fall's *The War Within* earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for the track "What Drives the Weak" at the 47th Grammy Awards (2005). This was the highest mainstream recognition achieved by any American metalcore or NWOAHM band at the time and remains one of the genre's most significant crossover achievements. The album also achieved RIAA Gold certification (500,000+ US copies sold) and charted at #43 on the Billboard 200 — the highest chart position for any American metalcore band at the time of release.

Who produced The War Within?

*The War Within* was produced by Peter Wichers — the Soilwork guitarist and producer — at Zing Studios in Methuen, Massachusetts. Wichers brought a Scandinavian melodic death metal production approach to the record: articulate guitar layering, melodic clarity above heavy rhythm, and modern drum sounds that prioritize attack definition and rhythmic clarity. The production is notably more polished and layered than Shadows Fall's previous album *The Art of Balance* (2002), which had been produced by Zeuss. Wichers's production gave *The War Within* the commercial accessibility that contributed to its Gold certification and Billboard 200 placement.