Tim Yeung Drum Kit & Gear Setup — Morbid Angel & Vital Remains Drummer | MetalForge
Tim Yeung Drum Kit, Gear & Setup
Complete biography of Tim Yeung, extreme metal drummer for Morbid Angel, Vital Remains, and Hate Eternal. Explore his incredible speed, precision, and death ...
Quick Facts: Tim Yeung
| Band | Morbid Angel / Hate Eternal / Vital Remains |
|---|---|
| All bands | Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, Vital Remains |
| Genre | Death Metal / Technical Death Metal |
| Country | USA |
| Primary brand | Tama |
| Drum kit | Tama Starclassic Bubinga |
| Snare | Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel 14x6.5" |
| Sticks | Vic Firth American Classic 5A |
Tim Yeung Biography
Tim Yeung (born November 27, 1978, in Pennsylvania, USA) is an American extreme metal drummer whose incredible speed, precision, and endurance have made him one of the most sought-after drummers in death metal. His resume reads like a who's who of extreme metal, having performed with Morbid Angel, Vital Remains, Hate Eternal, Divine Heresy, and Nile.
Yeung's drumming combines machine-like consistency with the brutal intensity demanded by the most extreme forms of death metal. His ability to maintain clarity and power at sustained high tempos has earned him a reputation as one of the elite drummers in the genre.
Career Highlights
- 1990s: Began drumming career in the underground death metal scene
- 2001: Joined Erik Rutan's Hate Eternal
- 2002: Recorded "King of All Kings" with Hate Eternal
- 2003: Joined Vital Remains, recorded "Dechristianize"
- 2004: Joined Morbid Angel following Pete Sandoval's health issues
- 2006: Co-founded Divine Heresy with Dino Cazares
- 2011: Recorded "Illud Divinum Insanus" with Morbid Angel
- 2012: Filled in for George Kollias on Nile European dates
- 2015: Left Morbid Angel
- 2023: Continues session and touring work in extreme metal
Style & Influences
Tim Yeung's drumming style is defined by extreme speed, unwavering consistency, and brutal power. His approach prioritizes technical precision while maintaining the relentless intensity that death metal demands.
Key Influences:
- Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel): Gravity blast pioneer, the template for Morbid Angel drumming
- Dave Lombardo (Slayer): Thrash metal foundation
- Gene Hoglan (Death): Technical precision in death metal
- Derek Roddy: Extreme speed technique
Signature Techniques:
- Sustained blast beats at extreme tempos with clarity
- Powerful, consistent double bass patterns
- Gravity blast technique execution
- Machine-like consistency throughout long sets
- Ability to adapt to various death metal subgenre requirements
Gear Highlights
Tim Yeung has used various drum setups throughout his career, favoring equipment that can handle the extreme demands of death metal drumming.
Typical Setup:
- Drums: Tama Starclassic Bubinga
- Snare: 14"x6.5" Metal snare for cut and attack
- Cymbals: Zildjian or Sabian (bright, cutting series for extreme metal)
- Hardware: Tama Speed Cobra 910 Double Pedal
- Sticks: Vic Firth or Promark 5B/2B for durability
- Heads: Remo (Powerstroke 3 series)
Setup Philosophy:
- Prioritizes durability and consistency for extreme applications
- Trigger-assisted bass drums for clarity at high speeds
- Bright, cutting cymbals that penetrate dense guitar tones
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Tim Yeung use?
Tim Yeung plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga drum kit — a dense, bass-heavy shell pack chosen for the low-end weight and fast attack his blast-beat-driven playing demands across three decades of extreme metal. It centers on a Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel 14"x6.5" snare.
What drum set does Tim Yeung use?
Tim Yeung's drum set pairs his Tama Starclassic Bubinga shells and steel snare with a Tama Speed Cobra 910 double pedal, powering the relentless double-bass runs that made him one of death metal's most in-demand session drummers.
What cymbals does Tim Yeung play?
Tim Yeung plays Sabian AAX and HHX Series cymbals: 14" AAX Stage Hi-Hats, 18" and 19" AAX X-Plosion Crashes, and a 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride.
What snare does Tim Yeung use?
Tim Yeung's snare is a Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel 14"x6.5", delivering a sharp, aggressive crack that cuts through the dense, downtuned arrangements of Hate Eternal, Divine Heresy, and Vital Remains.
What sticks does Tim Yeung use?
Tim Yeung uses Vic Firth 5B drumsticks.
What bass drum pedal does Tim Yeung use?
Tim Yeung anchors his legendary speed and stamina with a Tama Speed Cobra 910 double pedal.
What drumheads does Tim Yeung use?
Tim Yeung uses Evans drumheads across his Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit.
What band is Tim Yeung in?
Tim Yeung has drummed for Morbid Angel, Vital Remains, Hate Eternal, and Divine Heresy, and filled in for George Kollias on Nile's 2012 European dates.
Does Tim Yeung use trigger-assisted drums?
Tim Yeung uses trigger-assisted bass drums for clarity at the extreme tempos his death metal work demands, part of a setup philosophy that prioritizes durability and consistency across sustained blast-beat passages.