How to Sound Like Jason Bittner — Drum Gear & Setup Guide | MetalForge
Replicate Jason Bittner's Shadows Fall / Overkill / Category 7 drum sound. Gear list, settings, and technique tips to get that signature tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Jason Bittner play?
Jason Bittner plays a Mapex Saturn V kit with maple/walnut hybrid shells, a double 22" x 18" bass drum configuration, and a 14" x 6.5" Mapex Saturn V Steel snare. His cymbals are Zildjian K and A Custom series, and he uses a Mapex Falcon Double Pedal.
How does Jason Bittner combine NWOAHM groove with thrash drumming?
Bittner shifts between two vocabularies depending on the band: in Shadows Fall, he plays syncopated double-bass patterns with dynamic cymbal shaping that leaves room for melodic guitar lines; in Overkill, he plays sustained, even-stroke double bass at high velocity to drive straight thrash riffs. Both rely on the same technical foundation of precise kick-to-riff locking.
What bands has Jason Bittner played in?
Jason Bittner has drummed for Shadows Fall since 1997, helping define the New Wave of American Heavy Metal sound across albums like The Art of Balance and The War Within. He also played in Flotsam and Jetsam (2013-2017) before joining thrash legends Overkill full-time in 2017, where he remains the band's drummer today.
Is Jason Bittner's style good for beginners?
Bittner's sustained double-bass endurance work and dynamic-shaping drills are approachable for intermediate players, while his syncopated NWOAHM riff-lock patterns and thrash-velocity double bass are advanced techniques worth building toward gradually.