The Violent Sleep of Reason Drum Setup: Tomas Haake's Live-to-Tape Kit (2016) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Tomas Haake use on The Violent Sleep of Reason?

Tomas Haake recorded The Violent Sleep of Reason in 2016 on his Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech kit, the same platform he'd refined through the obZen and Koloss eras. The setup featured Heavy Beech shells in a Custom Matte Black finish, with a single 24x18 inch bass drum (driven by two independent single pedals), 10x8, 12x9, and 14x12 inch rack toms, and 16x16 and 18x18 inch floor toms. The Heavy Beech shells' thicker construction provided the attack and projection needed to hold up in a live room, which suited the album's live-in-studio recording approach where natural room sound plays a more significant role.

Why was The Violent Sleep of Reason recorded live in the studio?

Meshuggah chose to record The Violent Sleep of Reason live-to-tape with all five members simultaneously in the room to capture a raw, immediate energy impossible to achieve through conventional multi-tracked recording. After years of precisely engineered studio albums — and the entirely programmed Catch 33 — the band wanted to reconnect with a more organic recording process. Producer Tue Madsen helped engineer the Soundtrade Studios session to maximize separation while preserving the natural energy of real-time band interaction. The absence of a click track on basic rhythm tracks placed particular demands on Tomas Haake, who had to maintain Meshuggah's metronomic polyrhythmic precision through internal pulse alone.

How does Haake's VSÖR setup differ from his obZen rig?

The Violent Sleep of Reason setup carried forward the core of Haake's obZen rig rather than replacing it: the same Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech kit and Sabian HHX/AAX cymbals he'd used since the Koloss era, and the same two-independent-single-pedal philosophy (now on Tama Speed Cobra pedals). The one genuine change was sticks — by 2016, Haake had his Wincent signature model rather than the standard 5A sticks he used earlier in his career. The gear stayed consistent precisely because a live-room recording with five musicians playing simultaneously demanded reliability over experimentation.

What cymbals did Tomas Haake use on The Violent Sleep of Reason?

Tomas Haake used his established Sabian HHX and AAX cymbal setup on The Violent Sleep of Reason, the same combination he'd relied on through the obZen and Koloss eras. His VSÖR setup included Sabian HHX 14 inch Compression Hi-Hats (his own signature design), Sabian AAX 18 inch X-Plosion and HHX 19 inch Evolution crashes, a Sabian HHX 21 inch Raw Bell Dry Ride, and a Sabian HHX 18 inch Chinese. The HHX line's darker, more complex character paired with AAX's brighter projection gave Haake definition without excessive brightness — well suited to a live-room recording environment where cymbal bleed has to be managed carefully.

What pedals did Tomas Haake use on The Violent Sleep of Reason?

Tomas Haake used two separate Tama Speed Cobra single pedals on The Violent Sleep of Reason — never a connected double pedal, consistent with his entire career approach. Each foot operates with complete mechanical independence, essential for the polyrhythmic patterns where his feet play different subdivisions simultaneously. The Speed Cobra's smooth, fast action held up under the sustained demands of a live-room recording session.