Thrill Seeker Drum Setup: Matt Greiner's Gear on August Burns Red's 2005 Debut | MetalForge
Matt Greiner recorded Thrill Seeker (2005) on a Pearl Export Series kit with a Pearl Export Steel Snare snare.
Discover the drum kit, cymbals, and gear Matt Greiner used on August Burns Red's debut album Thrill Seeker (2005). A pre-endorsement Pearl Export kit, entry-...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit did Matt Greiner use on Thrill Seeker?
On *Thrill Seeker* (2005), Matt Greiner played a Pearl Export Series kit — an entry-level poplar/mahogany shell configuration with a single 22" bass drum driven by a double pedal, two rack toms (10", 12"), and a 16" floor tom. This was two years and one album before he moved to the DW Performance Series kit documented on *Messengers* (2007). No endorsement deals were in place; every piece of gear was purchased outright. For the next chapter of his gear story, see the [Messengers drum setup guide](/articles/messengers-drum-setup).
What cymbals did Matt Greiner play on Thrill Seeker?
Matt Greiner used Sabian B8 series cymbals on *Thrill Seeker* (2005) — B8 bronze hi-hats, a single crash, a ride, and a china cymbal. This entry-level, lower-cost bronze alloy setup predates both the Wuhan cymbals he'd use on *Messengers* (2007) and the premium Meinl Byzance cymbals of his current setup. It reflects the realistic budget of an unsigned-turned-newly-signed teenage metalcore drummer in the mid-2000s. See the [Matt Greiner complete drum setup guide](/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup) for his full gear evolution.
Who produced Thrill Seeker and where was it recorded?
*Thrill Seeker* (2005) was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz — best known as the guitarist and producer for Killswitch Engage — and recorded at Dark Horse Studio in Franklin, Tennessee. It was released November 8, 2005, on Solid State Records, marking August Burns Red's debut full-length and the earliest studio document of Matt Greiner's drumming career.
How does Thrill Seeker's drumming compare to Matt Greiner's later albums?
*Thrill Seeker* (2005) shows a rawer, less technically developed version of the blast-beat-to-groove vocabulary that would become Matt Greiner's signature. The single-bass-drum, double-pedal setup and entry-level Sabian B8 cymbals stand in sharp contrast to the true double-bass-drum rigs, professional DW and Pearl kits, and Meinl Byzance cymbals documented on every subsequent August Burns Red album. The compositional instincts are already present in embryonic form, but the gear and execution reflect a teenage drummer two years before his professional breakthrough on [Messengers (2007)](/articles/messengers-drum-setup). For his full career arc, see the [Matt Greiner drummer profile](/drummer/matt-greiner).