# August Burns Red 'Phantom Anthem' Drum Setup (Matt Greiner, 2017)

> Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Matt Greiner used on August Burns Red's Grammy-nominated Phantom Anthem (2017). Complete breakdown of the Pearl Reference Pure kit, Zildjian A Custom and Sabian AAX cymbals, and the drumming behind "King of Sorrow" — nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 60th Grammy Awards (2018).

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Matt Greiner](/llms/drummers/matt-greiner.md)
**Band / Album:** August Burns Red — *Phantom Anthem* (2017)
**Genre:** Metalcore / Progressive Metalcore
**Label:** Fearless Records
**Grammy:** "King of Sorrow" — nominated Best Metal Performance, 60th Grammy Awards (2018)

## Overview

Released on September 15, 2017, August Burns Red's *Phantom Anthem* fills the critical gap in the ABR discography between *Found in Far Away Places* (2015) — the band's RIAA Gold-certified commercial peak — and *Beacon* (2023). The album earned the highest single-track Grammy recognition of ABR's career: "King of Sorrow" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 60th Grammy Awards in January 2018.

Matt Greiner carried the Pearl Reference Pure kit and Pearl Demon Drive pedal from the *Found in Far Away Places* era, demonstrating that his foundational gear choices had fully stabilized. The most significant change between albums is the cymbal setup: from Meinl Byzance Traditional to a hybrid Zildjian A Custom / Sabian AAX configuration — brighter, more aggressive at the top end, suited to *Phantom Anthem*'s denser, more compressed production aesthetic.

The Grammy nomination for "King of Sorrow" reflects Greiner's complete technical vocabulary applied at the highest level: blast beat sequences that resolve into locked groove patterns, ghost note density that adds textural complexity beneath melodic sections, and the odd-meter facility that has distinguished his playing across the entire ABR catalog.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure (maple/mahogany hybrid shells — continued from Found in Far Away Places era)
- **Configuration:** Dual 22" x 18" bass drums, 10" x 7" and 12" x 8" rack toms, 16" x 16" floor tom
- **Snare:** Pearl Matt Greiner Signature, 14" x 6" steel shell
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom (hi-hats, crashes, ride) + Sabian AAX China
- **Pedals:** Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal
- **Hi-Hat Stand:** Pearl H-2050 Demon Hi-Hat Stand
- **Throne:** Roc-N-Soc Nitro Throne
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth Matt Greiner Signature
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kick batter), Remo Ambassador Coated (toms/snare batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension — bright steel attack with controlled warmth

### Pearl Reference Pure: Stable Foundation Through the Phantom Anthem Era

The Pearl Reference Pure was carried directly from the *Found in Far Away Places* sessions — Greiner's foundational shell choice had stabilized. The maple/mahogany hybrid construction continues to deliver the tight, articulate attack that defines his modern sound: a drum that cuts through a metal mix with definition rather than blurring into the low-midrange.

The Reference Pure's tight attack profile suited *Phantom Anthem*'s more compressed, denser production character well. Where *Found in Far Away Places* emphasized polished clarity, *Phantom Anthem* pushed toward greater surface weight. The Reference Pure's inherently precise shell response prevented the drum sound from muddying within a production that saturated guitars more aggressively.

Greiner's lever-driven double-bass technique — generating explosive speed through ankle and calf mechanics rather than leg force — demanded two fully matched, independent 22" bass drums. The 22" diameter provided deep fundamental without sacrificing the response speed his polyrhythmic patterns require.

### Pearl Matt Greiner Signature Snare

The 14" x 6" steel-shell Pearl signature snare continued through the *Phantom Anthem* sessions. The steel shell provides the bright, cutting attack required to project through metalcore's dense guitar arrangements; the 6" depth adds body that shallower steel drums lack at high volume. The custom bearing edge — designed to maximize ghost note sensitivity without sacrificing power accent crack — is audible throughout "King of Sorrow," where Greiner alternates between thunderous backbeats and intricate ghost note passages within single bars.

### Zildjian A Custom + Sabian AAX Cymbal Setup

| Type | Model | Position |
|------|-------|----------|
| Hi-Hats | Zildjian A Custom 14" Hi-Hats | Left side |
| Crash | Zildjian A Custom 16" Crash | Left of hi-hats |
| Crash | Zildjian A Custom 18" Crash | Right side |
| Ride | Zildjian A Custom 20" Ride | Far right |
| China | Sabian AAX 18" China | Above floor tom |

The switch from Meinl Byzance to Zildjian A Custom / Sabian AAX is the most audible gear change between *Found in Far Away Places* and *Phantom Anthem*. Where the Byzance Traditional's B20 bronze delivered controlled, precise decay, the Zildjian A Custom's bell-bronze alloy and machine-hammered finish produce a brighter, more aggressive top-end — higher in frequency, faster to speak. The Sabian AAX China adds a cutting, trashy accent character distinct from the Byzance China of the prior era.

The cymbal shift reflects *Phantom Anthem*'s production character: denser, more compressed, more immediately aggressive. The A Custom's brightness holds through the saturated guitar mix where the Byzance's controlled character might recede.

### Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal

The Pearl Demon Drive's shaft-driven mechanism continued unchanged from *Found in Far Away Places*. The linear response and adjustable stroke length remained optimal for Greiner's lever-driven approach. On "King of Sorrow," extended double-bass passages at sustained high tempo showcase the Demon Drive's consistent mechanical precision — the Grammy nomination reflects the complete package of technique and equipment.

## Grammy Context

**"King of Sorrow" — Best Metal Performance, 60th Grammy Awards (2018)**

The Grammy nomination is the highest single-track recognition in August Burns Red's career. "King of Sorrow" exemplifies Greiner's approach applied at its most refined: blast sequences, ghost note density beneath melodic sections, and blast-to-groove transitions executed with the precision of the Pearl Reference Pure kit and Pearl Demon Drive pedal. The Zildjian A Custom hi-hats' fast, articulate response enabled the intricate open/closed pattern variations that add rhythmic texture throughout the Grammy-nominated track.

The nomination confirmed what the metalcore community had recognized since *Leveler* (2011, also Grammy-nominated): that Greiner's jazz-informed musicality within aggressive music is exceptional at any genre standard.

## Key Tracks

**"King of Sorrow"** — Grammy-nominated centerpiece. Blast beat sequences that resolve into locked groove patterns, ghost note layers beneath melodic passages, and extended double-bass passages at sustained high tempo. The most Grammy-recognized track in ABR's catalog.

**"Coordinates"** — Polyrhythmic layering characteristic of Greiner's most technically demanding writing. Hi-hat pattern variations with fast accent placement create rhythmic movement within a tight pulse.

**"Hero of the Half Truth"** — Most groove-forward track on the album. Ghost note integration most musical here: subtle dynamics beneath aggressive guitar sections, jazz-informed dynamic range within metalcore context.

## Key Facts

- Released September 15, 2017 on Fearless Records
- "King of Sorrow" nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 60th Grammy Awards (2018)
- Fills the 2015–2023 gap in the ABR arc: Found in Far Away Places (2015) → **Phantom Anthem (2017)** → Beacon (2023)
- Matt Greiner continued Pearl Reference Pure — same foundational kit as Found in Far Away Places
- Cymbal shift: Meinl Byzance → Zildjian A Custom + Sabian AAX (brighter, more aggressive)
- Pearl Demon Drive double pedal continued unchanged
- Pearl Matt Greiner Signature snare (14" x 6" steel) continued unchanged
- Produced by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Castle Chaos Recording, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Estimated kit value: $3,500–5,500 (2017)
- Estimated cymbal value: $1,800–2,600 full setup (2017)

## Gear Evolution: Found in Far Away Places → Phantom Anthem

| Category | Found in Far Away Places (2015) | Phantom Anthem (2017) |
|----------|---------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Kit | Pearl Reference Pure (maple/mahogany) | Pearl Reference Pure (same — stabilized) |
| Snare | Pearl Matt Greiner Signature 14" x 6" steel | Pearl Matt Greiner Signature (continued) |
| Cymbals | Meinl Byzance Traditional (B20, controlled decay) | Zildjian A Custom + Sabian AAX (bell-bronze, brighter/aggressive) |
| Pedals | Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal | Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal (continued) |
| Sticks | Vic Firth Matt Greiner Signature | Vic Firth Matt Greiner Signature (continued) |

## FAQ

**What cymbals does Matt Greiner use on Phantom Anthem?**
Zildjian A Custom (14" hi-hats, 16" and 18" crashes, 20" ride) plus Sabian AAX 18" China. The A Custom's bell-bronze alloy delivers a brighter, more aggressive top-end than the Meinl Byzance of the Found in Far Away Places era — suited to Phantom Anthem's denser, more compressed production.

**Was Phantom Anthem Grammy-nominated?**
Yes. "King of Sorrow" from Phantom Anthem (2017) was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 60th Grammy Awards in 2018. This is the highest single-track Grammy recognition of August Burns Red's career. The nomination reflects Matt Greiner's drumming — blast sequences, ghost note density, and blast-to-groove transitions executed at the highest level.

**What tuning does Matt Greiner use on Phantom Anthem?**
Pearl Matt Greiner Signature snare at medium-high tension — bright steel attack with controlled warmth, preserving both ghost note sensitivity and power accent projection. Pearl Reference Pure toms tuned for articulate attack. Kick drums with Remo Powerstroke 3 heads for focused low-end attack with minimal unwanted resonance.

**What drum kit does Matt Greiner use on Phantom Anthem?**
Pearl Reference Pure — maple/mahogany hybrid shells, dual 22" bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, 16" floor tom. Same foundational kit as Found in Far Away Places (2015) — the foundational gear choice had fully stabilized by the Phantom Anthem sessions.

**Where does Phantom Anthem fit in the ABR discography?**
Phantom Anthem (2017) bridges Found in Far Away Places (2015) — ABR's Gold-certified commercial peak — and Beacon (2023). It is the album that earned the band's highest Grammy recognition with "King of Sorrow" (Best Metal Performance nomination, 2018).

## Related Articles

- [Matt Greiner Complete Drum Setup](/llms/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup.md)
- [Found in Far Away Places Drum Setup](/llms/articles/found-in-far-away-places-drum-setup.md)
- [Leveler Drum Setup](/llms/articles/leveler-drum-setup.md)
- [Messengers Drum Setup](/llms/articles/messengers-drum-setup.md)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/abr-phantom-anthem-drum-setup

**More LLM resources:** [Site index](/llms.txt) · [Full database](/llms-full.txt) · [Master FAQ](/llms/faq.md) · [Drummer index](/llms/index.md)

*Last updated: 2026-06-26 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*