Ben Koller's Drum Setup on Converge's You Fail Me (2004) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Ben Koller use on Converge's You Fail Me?

Ben Koller recorded You Fail Me in 2004 using the same Tama Starclassic kit with bubinga shells in Piano Black finish that he used on Jane Doe. The configuration included a single 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. His snare was a brass-shell Tama 14" x 6.5" model, tuned medium-high for cut through the album's rawer, more abrasive mix.

What cymbals did Ben Koller use on You Fail Me?

Ben Koller used Sabian HHX and AAX cymbals on You Fail Me, the same series he used on Jane Doe and would continue using through Axe to Fall. The setup included Sabian HHX Groove Hats (14"), Sabian AAX Stage Crashes (18" and 19"), a Sabian HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride (21"), and a Sabian AAX Chinese (18").

What did Converge release after Jane Doe?

Converge's next full-length after Jane Doe (2001) was You Fail Me, released September 20, 2004 on Epitaph Records — the band's first release for that label and their first to chart on the Billboard 200. It was followed by No Heroes (2006) and Axe to Fall (2009). You Fail Me is a rawer, more abrasive record than Jane Doe, tracked partly at Kurt Ballou's GodCity Studio with additional sessions at Magpie Sound Design and Witch Doctor Studio.

How does You Fail Me's drum setup differ from Jane Doe?

Gear-wise, almost nothing changed — Ben Koller used the same Tama Starclassic bubinga kit, brass snare, Sabian HHX/AAX cymbals, and Tama Iron Cobra single pedal on both records. The difference is in production and intent: You Fail Me was tracked across three studios with producers Alan Douches and Kurt Ballou, resulting in a rawer, less controlled drum sound, and Koller's playing leans into that abrasiveness with heavier rimshots and more committed dynamics than Jane Doe's tightly controlled mathcore precision.