Matt Garstka Drum Kit & Gear Setup — Animals as Leaders Drummer | MetalForge
Matt Garstka Drum Kit, Gear & Setup
Complete biography of Matt Garstka, Animals as Leaders' virtuosic drummer. Explore his jazz-fusion approach, polyrhythmic mastery, and influence on modern pr...
Quick Facts: Matt Garstka
| Band | Animals as Leaders |
|---|---|
| Genre | Progressive Metal / Djent |
| Country | USA |
| Primary brand | Tama |
| Drum kit | Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch |
| Snare | Tama S.L.P. 14x6" G-Maple |
| Sticks | Vic Firth Matt Garstka Signature |
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka's drum kit is a Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch build, the hybrid shell pack he has played as Animals as Leaders' drummer since 2012, chosen for the balance of warm low end and crisp attack his polyrhythmic, jazz-fusion-infused metal requires. It's anchored by his Tama S.L.P. 14"x6" G-Maple signature snare, which cuts through dense odd-meter passages on The Joy of Motion (2014) and The Madness of Many (2016).
What drum set does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka's drum set centers on the same Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch shells and Tama S.L.P. G-Maple signature snare, driven by a Tama Speed Cobra 910 double pedal for the intricate, ghost-note-laced double bass patterns central to his linear independence. Meinl Byzance cymbals and Vic Firth signature sticks round out the setup.
What cymbals does Matt Garstka play?
Matt Garstka plays Meinl Byzance Series cymbals: 15" Dual Hi-Hats for nuanced, washy articulation, 18" and 20" Extra Dry Medium Crashes for quick-decaying accents, and a 22" Dual Ride for complex rhythmic definition.
What hi-hats does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka plays 15" Meinl Byzance Dual Hi-Hats, chosen for the nuanced, washy articulation that suits his ghost-note-heavy, jazz-fusion-infused playing.
What snare does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka's snare is his Tama S.L.P. 14"x6" G-Maple signature model, delivering the articulate crack that anchors his ghost-note-heavy patterns on Animals as Leaders records.
What sticks does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka uses Vic Firth Matt Garstka Signature drumsticks, his own signature model developed with Vic Firth.
What bass drum pedal does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka drives his double bass patterns with a Tama Speed Cobra 910 double pedal.
What drumheads does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka uses Evans drumheads across his Tama Starclassic kit.
What band is Matt Garstka in?
Matt Garstka has been the drummer for instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders since 2012, appearing on The Joy of Motion (2014), The Madness of Many (2016), and Parrhesia (2022).
What hi-hats does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka uses 15" Meinl Byzance Dual Hi-Hats for nuanced, washy articulation, mounted on his Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch drum kit and drum set.