Lamb of God 'Wrath' Drum Setup — Chris Adler's Grammy-Nominated 2009 Kit | MetalForge
Chris Adler recorded Wrath (2009) on a Mapex Saturn kit with a Mapex Warbird Signature Snare snare.
Discover Chris Adler's drum setup on Lamb of God's Grammy-nominated Wrath (2009) — Mapex Saturn kit, Zildjian A Custom cymbals, #3 Billboard 200 debut.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kit did Chris Adler use on Wrath?
On Wrath (2009), Chris Adler used a Mapex Saturn drum kit. The configuration included dual 22"×18" bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. Machine's production pushed the same Saturn kit he used on Sacrament (2006) toward warmer low-mids, denser attack, and more physical presence suited to Wrath's heavier production.
What cymbals did Chris Adler use on Wrath?
For Wrath (2009), Chris Adler continued with Zildjian A Custom cymbals, the same series he established on Sacrament. His setup included 13" A Custom hi-hats, 16", 17", and 18" A Custom crashes, a 20" A Custom ride, an 18" A Custom China, and a 10" A Custom splash. By 2009, Adler had three years of touring experience with these specific models, giving his cymbal work on Wrath a precision and familiarity that comes through in the recording.
How does Wrath differ from the Sacrament drum setup?
The primary difference between Wrath (2009) and Sacrament (2006) isn't a gear change — Adler used the same Mapex Saturn kit and Mapex Warbird snare on both records. What changed was the room and the mix: Sonic Ranch's more ambient spaces and Machine's production choices gave Wrath's kit a warmer, denser low-mid tone and the snare more open resonance and body than Sacrament's tighter capture. The Zildjian A Custom cymbals carried over unchanged from Sacrament, as did the Promark signature sticks. Recording location shifted from Capitol Studios (Hollywood) to Sonic Ranch (Texas), contributing to a more ambient, room-driven drum sound.
Why was "Set to Fail" Grammy-nominated?
"Set to Fail" from Lamb of God's Wrath (2009) was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards (2010). The track showcases Chris Adler driving Lamb of God's heaviest groove-metal assault at 178 BPM with complete control — the Grammy nomination recognized both the song's compositional quality and the performance's technical excellence. It was Lamb of God's second Grammy nomination after "Redneck" from Sacrament (2006), confirming Chris Adler as one of modern metal's most Grammy-recognized drummers.
Where was Lamb of God Wrath recorded?
Wrath was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, with producer Machine (Mark Lewis) — their third consecutive collaboration following Ashes of the Wake (2004) and Sacrament (2006). Sonic Ranch's remote desert location, multiple tracking spaces, and natural acoustic isolation gave Wrath's drums a more ambient, spacious quality than Capitol Studios' drier Hollywood environment on Sacrament.
What is the Mapex Saturn drum kit?
The Mapex Saturn is Mapex's professional-grade drum line, built with all-maple shells and SONIClear bearing edges that maximize head-to-shell contact for consistent tone and unrestricted resonance. Chris Adler played Mapex throughout his Lamb of God tenure, and the Saturn platform carried him from Sacrament (2006) through Wrath (2009) and beyond, with each album's tonal differences coming from the room and production rather than a change in kit.