Charlie Benante's Drum Setup on Anthrax's Worship Music (2011) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Charlie Benante use on Worship Music?

Charlie Benante used a Tama Starclassic Maple kit on Worship Music (2011), configured with dual 22" x 18" bass drums, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and two floor toms (14" and 16"). The all-maple shells with Tama's Star-Cast mounting system delivered the bright, punchy attack Jay Ruston's thrash-reunion production required. The Starclassic Maple represented Benante's return to Tama after the DW Collector's Series years of the John Bush era (1993-2001) and remained his primary touring and recording configuration through the 2010s.

Was Worship Music Grammy nominated?

Yes. Anthrax received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards (2012) for the track 'In the End' from Worship Music. This was Anthrax's first Grammy nomination of the 21st century and came directly from the commercial and critical impact of the Joey Belladonna reunion album, which debuted at #12 on the US Billboard 200.

Why did Charlie Benante switch to Speed Cobra pedals for Worship Music?

Charlie Benante switched from his legendary Tama HP35 Camco chain-drive pedals to Tama Speed Cobra pedals in 2010, when Tama discontinued the HP35 line he had used since 1984. The Speed Cobra offered similar chain-drive action with modern engineering improvements: a longer board footprint for better heel-toe technique, lighter overall construction for faster single-stroke velocity, and adjustable beater angle and spring tension. Worship Music (2011) was the first Anthrax studio album recorded with the Speed Cobras — by that time Benante had already toured with them for approximately a year, giving him the familiarity needed for studio-quality double bass performance throughout the sessions.

What is the drum setup on 'In the End' by Anthrax?

"In the End" from Worship Music (2011) features Charlie Benante on his Tama Starclassic Maple kit with dual 22" x 18" bass drums, his signature Tama steel snare, and Paiste 2002/Signature cymbals. The track is a mid-tempo composition that demonstrates Benante's ability to serve the song rather than showcase technique — precise snare backbeat, controlled double bass used structurally rather than as a constant presence, and cymbal work that supports the emotional arc of Joey Belladonna's vocal performance. It was Grammy-nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012.

How does Worship Music compare to Among the Living drum-wise?

Worship Music (2011) and Among the Living (1987) share the same fundamental configuration — Charlie Benante on dual 22" bass drums, Tama kit, forward thrash production — but represent 24 years of gear and technique refinement. Among the Living used the Tama Artstar II birch kit and Paiste 2002 cymbals with HP35 Camco pedals and a Vic Firth 2B stick; Worship Music used the Tama Starclassic Maple, the same Paiste 2002/Signature cymbals, and the new Speed Cobra pedals. Sonically, the biggest differences are the modern production context (Jay Ruston vs. Eddie Kramer), the fuller maple shell warmth versus birch's snappier upper-midrange, and the Speed Cobra's different pedal action from the original Camco mechanism. For the full Among the Living breakdown, see the [Among the Living drum setup article](/articles/charlie-benante-among-the-living-drum-setup). For the next album in the arc, see [For All Kings drum setup](/articles/for-all-kings-drum-setup).