# Altars of Madness Drum Setup: Pete Sandoval's Death Metal Genesis

> Complete drum gear breakdown for Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness. Discover Pete Sandoval's 1989 kit, revolutionary blast beat techniques, and the Morrisound recording that invented death metal drumming.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Pete Sandoval](/llms/drummers/pete-sandoval.md)
**Band / Album:** Morbid Angel — *Altars of Madness* (1989)
**Genre:** Death Metal

## Overview

On May 12, 1989, Morbid Angel released "Altars of Madness" — and death metal drumming was born. Before this album, there was thrash. There was punk. There was grindcore. But the synthesis of controlled chaos, blistering speed, and technical precision that defines death metal drumming? That started here, in Tampa, Florida, with Pete Sandoval behind the kit.

Recorded at Morrisound Recording — the studio that would become death metal's Ground Zero — Altars of Madness captured a 19-year-old Sandoval at the peak of his youthful aggression. The album's drum sound was revolutionary: clear enough to hear every blast beat, powerful enough to shake walls, and faster than anything metal had experienced.

Producer Tom Morris and engineer Scott Burns faced an unprecedented challenge: how do you record drumming this fast, this intense, and this complex without it becoming a wall of noise? Their solutions — close-miking, careful tuning, and strategic room treatment — created the template that death metal producers still follow today.

From the opening fury of "Immortal Rites" to the complex patterns of "Chapel of Ghouls," Sandoval's performance announced a new era. The sustained blast beats, the hurricane footwork, the controlled fury — every death metal drummer since has been chasing this sound.

This article breaks down every piece of gear Pete Sandoval used to create this landmark recording and explores the techniques that made Altars of Madness the foundation of extreme metal drumming.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Tama Superstar (early configuration) (Black finish)
- **Snare:** Tama Tama Superstar Steel Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Paiste — Paiste 2002 / RUDE Series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Camco-style Chain Drive Pedals; Tama Titan; Tama 1st Chair; Pro-Mark 5B Wood Tip
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** High tension, tight snare wires for extreme clarity

### Pete's 1989 Setup: The Death Metal Foundation

For Altars of Madness, Pete Sandoval used a Tama Superstar kit — a professional-level setup that offered the attack and projection needed for the extreme speeds he was pioneering. The birch shells provided the punchy, focused sound that would become essential to death metal.

The double 22" x 16" bass drums were the foundation of Pete's revolutionary style. While double bass drumming existed in thrash metal, Sandoval took it to unprecedented speeds and sustained it for entire songs. The Superstar's birch construction gave each stroke definition even at tempos exceeding 200 BPM.

Pete's tom configuration was relatively minimal by later standards — two rack toms and two floor toms. This focused setup kept the kit manageable while still providing options for his signature fills. The emphasis was on speed and endurance, not elaborate tom runs.

The drums were tuned medium-tight for maximum attack and minimal sustain. This tuning approach, combined with Morrisound's close-miking techniques, created the dry, punchy sound that defined the album. Every stroke was distinct, even during the fastest passages.

### The Crack That Started It All

The snare sound on Altars of Madness is distinctive — cutting, aggressive, with a crack that punches through the album's dense guitar sound. Pete achieved this with a Tama steel snare, tuned high for maximum attack.

The 14" x 6.5" dimensions provided the depth needed for body while the steel shell delivered the brightness and projection essential for death metal. At the extreme tempos Pete was playing, the snare needed to cut through without getting lost in the wall of sound.

Engineer Scott Burns positioned the snare mic (a Shure SM57) close to the drum, capturing the immediate attack while minimizing bleed from the surrounding kit. This close-miking technique became standard for extreme metal production.

Pete tuned the snare high and cranked the snare wires tight, eliminating ring and maximizing definition. The result was a snare that remained articulate even during blast beats exceeding 200 BPM — a sound that countless death metal bands have tried to replicate.

### Paiste Warfare

Pete's cymbal setup for Altars of Madness combined Paiste's 2002 series with select RUDE cymbals — a combination that provided both musicality and aggression. The 2002 series was the professional standard of the era, while the RUDE series added the raw, aggressive character that extreme metal demanded.

The 14" Sound Edge hi-hats were crucial to Pete's playing. The rippled bottom cymbal provided articulation that cut through even the fastest blast beats. The "chick" sound remained defined at tempos that would cause other hi-hats to wash out.

The crash cymbals (16" and 18") gave Pete options for accents without cluttering the kit. Death metal required precision, not excess — every cymbal hit needed to serve the music.

The 20" ride was used sparingly but effectively. Pete often rode on the hi-hats during verses, saving the ride for specific sections where its sustain added dimension.

The China cymbal became a signature element of the Morbid Angel sound. The trashy, explosive accents punctuated riffs and announced transitions — a technique that would become standard in death metal.

## Key Facts

- Recorded at Morrisound Recording, Tampa — death metal's legendary studio
- Pete Sandoval was only 19 years old during the sessions
- First album to successfully capture extreme blast beat drumming
- Established the sonic template for all death metal that followed
- Engineer Scott Burns developed techniques still used for extreme metal
- Spawned the "Tampa sound" that dominated death metal in the 90s
- Double bass drums essential for sustained blast beats
- Birch shells provided attack and focus for extreme speeds
- Medium-tight tuning for maximum clarity
- Minimal configuration focused on speed and control
- This setup would evolve into Pete's later Pearl endorsement
- Estimated kit value: $1,500-2,500 (1989) / $3,000-5,000 (vintage today)
- Estimated snare value: $200-300 (1989)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/altars-of-madness-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*