Alex Bent Drum Kit & Gear Setup — Former Trivium Drummer | MetalForge
Alex Bent Drum Kit, Gear & Setup
Complete biography of Alex Bent, former Trivium drummer known for his technical precision. Explore his career from Brain Drill to Trivium, and his contributi...
Quick Facts: Alex Bent
| Band | ex-Trivium / Arkaik / Dragonlord |
|---|---|
| All bands | Trivium, Arkaik |
| Genre | Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal / Technical Death Metal |
| Country | USA |
| Primary brand | Tama |
| Drum kit | Tama Starclassic Maple |
| Snare | Tama Starclassic Maple 14x5" |
| Sticks | Vic Firth American Classic 5B |
Alex Bent Biography
Alex Bent (born January 31, 1993, in Oakland, California) is an American drummer who served as Trivium's drummer from 2017 to 2025, bringing technical death metal precision to the modern metal giants. His work on Trivium's acclaimed albums "The Sin and the Sentence," "What the Dead Men Say," and "In the Court of the Dragon" elevated the band's rhythmic complexity to new heights.
Bent's background in technical death metal—with bands like Brain Drill, Arkaik, and Battlecross—prepared him for Trivium's demanding catalog. His ability to blend extreme metal technicality with melodic metal accessibility made him an ideal fit for the band's evolved sound. After 9 years with Trivium, Bent departed in October 2025.
Career Highlights
- 2004: Started playing drums at age 11 after assembling father's old drum kit
- 2005: Began competing in drum competitions and auditioning for bands
- 2008: Participated in Guitar Center Drum Off, reaching Regional Finals
- 2008: Joined technical death metal band Arkaik
- 2012: Toured with Decrepit Birth and Hatriot
- 2015: Joined Brain Drill and Dragonlord (Testament guitarist's band)
- 2015: Joined Battlecross; filled in for Gene Hoglan on Testament dates
- 2017: Joined Trivium at producer Mark Lewis's recommendation
- 2017: Released "The Sin and the Sentence" with Trivium to critical acclaim
- 2020: Released "What the Dead Men Say" with Trivium
- 2021: Released "In the Court of the Dragon" with Trivium
- 2025: Released "Struck Dead" with Trivium; departed from band in October
Style & Influences
Alex Bent's drumming style combines the extreme technicality of death metal with the musicality and accessibility required for modern metal. His ability to perform complex blast beats, intricate fills, and driving grooves with equal proficiency made him ideal for Trivium's diverse songwriting.
Key Influences:
- Gene Hoglan (Death/Testament): Technical precision, filled in for him on Testament dates
- Technical Death Metal Drumming: Blast beats, complex patterns
- Classic Metal Drumming: Power and groove for accessible metal
- Jazz Training: Studied with jazz band, concert band backgrounds
Signature Techniques:
- Technical death metal blast beats with clarity
- Complex fills that serve the song structure
- Powerful double bass patterns
- Dynamic control across extreme and melodic passages
- Ability to blend technicality with arena-ready groove
Gear Highlights
Alex Bent used a combination of acoustic and electronic elements for Trivium's live and studio work, designed for technical precision and arena-level power.
Trivium Era Setup:
- Drums: TAMA Starclassic Maple
- Snare: TAMA Starclassic Maple 14"x5" for a bright, cutting attack
- Cymbals: Zildjian K Custom Hybrid series
- Hardware: Axis A Longboard double pedals
- Sticks: Vic Firth American Classic 5B
- Heads: Remo
Technical Specifications:
- Axis pedals favored for speed and precision
- Setup designed for both technical death metal and accessible metal
- Trigger-assisted bass drums for clarity at extreme speeds
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Alex Bent use?
Alex Bent plays a TAMA Starclassic Maple drum kit — a setup built for the technical precision and cross-genre versatility he brought to Trivium from 2017 to 2025, after cutting his teeth in technical death metal outfits Arkaik and Brain Drill. It powered three Trivium albums: "The Sin and the Sentence" (2017), "What the Dead Men Say" (2020), and "In the Court of the Dragon" (2021).
What drum set does Alex Bent use?
Alex Bent's drum set is built around a TAMA Starclassic Maple 14"x5" snare delivering a bright, cutting attack, driven by Axis A Longboard double pedals for his rapid double bass work.
What cymbals does Alex Bent play?
Alex Bent plays Zildjian K Custom Hybrid cymbals: 14" K Custom Hybrid Hi-Hats, 18" and 19" K Custom Hybrid Crashes, a 21" K Custom Hybrid Ride, and an 18" A Custom China.
What snare does Alex Bent use?
Alex Bent's snare is a TAMA Starclassic Maple 14"x5", delivering the bright, cutting attack that drives Trivium's thrash-meets-technical-death-metal sound.
What sticks does Alex Bent use?
Alex Bent uses Vic Firth American Classic 5B drumsticks.
What bass drum pedal does Alex Bent use?
Alex Bent drives his rapid double bass work with Axis A Longboard double pedals, mounted on a TAMA Roadpro throne.
What drumheads does Alex Bent use?
Alex Bent uses Remo drumheads across his TAMA Starclassic Maple kit.
What band is Alex Bent in?
Alex Bent drummed for Trivium from 2017 to 2025, and also drums for Eric Peterson's Dragonlord (since 2015) and Arkaik (since 2008).
Did Alex Bent ever fill in for another drummer?
Alex Bent filled in for Gene Hoglan, one of his key influences, on Testament tour dates in 2015 before joining Trivium in 2017 at producer Mark Lewis's recommendation, going on to record three albums with the band through his departure in October 2025.