Flo Mounier Drum Kit & Gear Setup — Cryptopsy Drummer | MetalForge
Flo Mounier Drum Kit, Gear & Setup
What drum kit does Flo Mounier play? Cryptopsy's drummer runs a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with Sabian AAX/HHX cymbals — full gear breakdown.
Quick Facts: Flo Mounier
| Band | Cryptopsy |
|---|---|
| Genre | Technical Death Metal / Brutal Death Metal |
| Country | Canada |
| Primary brand | Tama |
| Drum kit | Tama Starclassic Maple |
| Sticks | Vic Firth American Classic 5A |
Flo Mounier Biography
Flo Mounier (born February 4, 1974, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a Canadian drummer and founding member of technical death metal pioneers Cryptopsy. Since forming the band in 1992, Mounier has been widely recognized as one of the most technically proficient and influential drummers in extreme metal history.
His lightning-fast blast beats, complex polyrhythmic patterns, and jazz-influenced approach helped define the technical death metal genre. Albums like "None So Vile" (1996) showcased drumming that was ahead of its time, influencing countless extreme metal drummers. Beyond his work with Cryptopsy, Mounier is an accomplished drum educator, conducting clinics worldwide and releasing instructional content.
Career Highlights
- 1992: Co-founded Cryptopsy in Montreal, Quebec
- 1994: Released debut album "Blasphemy Made Flesh"
- 1996: Released "None So Vile," considered a technical death metal masterpiece
- 1998: Released "Whisper Supremacy," showcasing continued evolution
- 2000: Released "And Then You'll Beg," pushing technical boundaries
- 2005: Released "Once Was Not," progressive experimentation
- 2008: Released "The Unspoken King," controversial deathcore direction
- 2012: Released self-titled "Cryptopsy," return to roots
- 2015: Released "The Book of Suffering: Tome 1" EP
- 2023: Released "As Gomorrah Burns," acclaimed comeback album
- 2023: Celebrated 30+ years of Cryptopsy with world touring
Style & Influences
Flo Mounier's drumming style is characterized by extreme speed, technical precision, and jazz-influenced creativity. His approach combines death metal brutality with sophisticated rhythmic concepts, making him a pioneer of technical extreme metal drumming.
Key Influences:
- Buddy Rich: Jazz technique and speed
- Gene Hoglan (Death): Technical death metal precision
- Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel): Extreme metal blast beats
- Dave Weckl: Fusion drumming concepts
Signature Techniques:
- Sustained blast beats at extreme tempos (280+ BPM)
- Jazz-influenced fills and polyrhythmic patterns
- One-footed blast beats with double bass underneath
- Complex syncopation within brutal death metal framework
- Dynamic control and ghost notes in extreme contexts
Gear Highlights
Flo Mounier has been a Tama endorser since 2012, using their Starclassic Maple kit for Cryptopsy's demanding live and studio work. His setup is designed for speed, precision, and durability.
Current Setup:
- Drums: Tama Starclassic Maple
- Snare: Tama Starclassic Maple 14"x5.5"
- Cymbals: Sabian AAX and HHX Series (14" HHX Stage Hi-Hats, 17"/18" AAX X-Plosion Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride, 18" AAXtreme China)
- Hardware: Tama Speed Cobra 910 Twin Pedal
- Sticks: Vic Firth American Classic 5A
- Heads: Evans
Notable Features:
- Uses relatively small kit for such complex music
- Emphasizes speed and response over power in gear choices
- Known for meticulous drum tuning
- Has signature educational content and drum books
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier's drum kit is a Tama Starclassic Maple kit, the configuration he has run since switching to Tama in 2012 through Cryptopsy's most demanding technical death metal recordings. It centers on a Tama Starclassic Maple 14"x5.5" snare and is topped with Sabian AAX and HHX Series cymbals, driven by a Tama Speed Cobra 910 Twin Pedal.
What drum set does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier's drum set is a Tama Starclassic Maple configuration built around a sharp, penetrating Tama Starclassic Maple 14"x5.5" snare. The drum set carries Sabian AAX and HHX Series cymbals, a Tama Speed Cobra 910 Twin Pedal engineered for fast rebound, and Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks.
What cymbals does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier uses Sabian AAX and HHX Series cymbals: 14" HHX Stage Hi-Hats for rapid hi-hat patterns, 17" and 18" AAX X-Plosion Crashes for fast-response accent work, a 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride for dark articulation, and an 18" AAXtreme China for brutal punctuation.
What snare drum does Flo Mounier play?
Flo Mounier plays a Tama Starclassic Maple 14"x5.5" snare, tuned for the sharp, penetrating crack that cuts through Cryptopsy's dense arrangements on albums like None So Vile and Whisper Supremacy.
What bass drum pedals does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier uses a Tama Speed Cobra 910 Twin Pedal, a chain-drive mechanism engineered for the fast rebound his legendary gravity blast technique demands.
What band is Flo Mounier in?
Flo Mounier is the only constant member of technical death metal pioneers Cryptopsy, which he joined in 1992.
What drumsticks does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier uses Vic Firth American Classic 5A drumsticks.
What drumheads does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier uses Evans drumheads across his Tama Starclassic Maple kit.
What hi-hats does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier plays 14" Sabian HHX Stage Hi-Hats, chosen for the rapid response his gravity blast technique demands on tracks like Cryptopsy's "Phobophile."