What's In Sean Reinert's Progressive Arsenal: A Tribute to Jazz-Death Metal's Pioneer | MetalForge

Remembering Sean Reinert (1971-2020), the visionary drummer who brought jazz vocabulary to extreme metal. Explore his legendary setups from Death's 'Human' t...

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Sean Reinert use throughout his career?

Sean Reinert used a Tama Artstar II birch shell kit throughout his tenure in Death and on Cynic's Focus, then upgraded to a DW Collector's maple shell pack for Cynic's 2008 reunion album, Traced in Air. He favored maple and birch shells for their warm response, working with bass drums in both 20 and 22 inch sizes to suit jazz and death metal contexts. His configurations typically included 10 and 12 inch rack toms and 14 and 16 inch floor toms, balancing melodic sensitivity with the power required for technical death metal.

What cymbals did Sean Reinert use throughout his career?

Sean Reinert was closely associated with Zildjian cymbals throughout his career, drawing from the A, K, and K Custom lines. He used Zildjian A Series cymbals on Death's Human (1991), then switched to the darker Zildjian K Series for Cynic's Focus (1993), before upgrading to Zildjian K Custom cymbals for Cynic's 2008 reunion album, Traced in Air. His setup typically featured 14 inch hi-hats, 16 and 18 inch crashes, a 20 to 22 inch ride, an 18 inch China, and an 8 or 10 inch splash. Zildjian's darker, more complex K Series tones complemented his jazz-influenced approach to death metal.

How much does Sean Reinert's signature kit cost?

Because Sean Reinert's gear evolved across his career, assembling a representative setup requires flexibility. A quality maple or birch shell pack from Tama or DW in a similar configuration runs $3,000 to $5,000. Adding a full Zildjian A, K, and K Custom cymbal setup brings the total to roughly $1,800 to $2,500. Individual snares in his preferred 14 inch depths range from $300 to $700 each.

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