# Brave New World Drum Setup: Nicko McBrain's Gear on Iron Maiden's 2000 Reunion Masterpiece

> The complete gear breakdown for Iron Maiden's Brave New World (2000). Discover the Premier Artist kit, Paiste cymbals, and single bass drum technique behind 'The Wicker Man' and Nicko McBrain's reunion-era drumming.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Nicko McBrain](/llms/drummers/nicko-mcbrain.md)
**Band / Album:** Iron Maiden — *Brave New World* (2000)
**Genre:** Heavy Metal / NWOBHM
**Chart Peak:** #1 UK, #1 Germany, #39 US Billboard 200

## Overview

Released on May 29, 2000, Brave New World is one of the most significant albums in Iron Maiden's history: it marked the return of vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith after years apart. Debuting at number one in the UK charts and Germany, it announced that Iron Maiden had not only survived the 1990s but returned stronger than ever.

Brave New World was the first Iron Maiden album with Bruce Dickinson since Fear of the Dark (1992). His reunion with Nicko McBrain, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers brought renewed energy and ambition to sessions at Barnyard Studios in Essex, England. Produced by Kevin Shirley and Steve Harris, the album blended Iron Maiden's classic NWOBHM gallop with ambitious progressive structures — a signal of the direction the band would pursue across the following two decades.

The opening track, 'The Wicker Man,' became an instant classic. Its galloping intro is one of Nicko McBrain's most recognizable 21st-century drum moments — single bass drum, driving hi-hats, explosive fills — and remains a touchstone of Iron Maiden's reunion-era identity. The album is the most-searched Iron Maiden reunion record in online queries, forming the essential bridge between the classic 1980s catalog and Iron Maiden's acclaimed 21st-century output.

Brave New World fills the critical arc between Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Dance of Death (2003). It is the proof-of-concept reunion that set the template for everything that followed, including [The Final Frontier (2010)](/llms/articles/final-frontier-drum-setup.md).

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Premier Artist (birch/basswood shells)
- **Snare:** Premier Signia, 14" x 6.5", maple shell
- **Cymbals:** Paiste Signature series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Premier single bass drum pedal; Premier hi-hat stand; Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature sticks
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Clear (kick)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium tension for warmth and projection

### Premier Artist Kit

Nicko McBrain recorded Brave New World on a Premier Artist kit — his professional setup during the Iron Maiden reunion era. The configuration expanded on the 1980s layout: three rack toms (10, 12, and 13 inch) plus two floor toms (16 and 18 inch), alongside the single 22-inch bass drum that has been Nicko's unwavering choice throughout his Iron Maiden career.

The Premier Artist's birch/basswood shells delivered a punchy, focused attack suited to Kevin Shirley's powerful production approach. Shirley's philosophy — drums forward, guitars massive, a sound built for arenas from the first bar — required drums that hit with immediate impact. The Premier shells' tight transients and controlled sustain delivered exactly that character in Barnyard Studios' live room.

The three-rack-tom configuration opened new melodic pathways for Nicko's fill vocabulary, audible on longer tracks like 'Dream of Mirrors' and 'Ghost of the Navigator.' The two floor toms retained their role in the cascading melodic fills that have been a Nicko signature since his first Iron Maiden album, Piece of Mind (1983).

### Paiste Signature Cymbals

By the Brave New World era, Nicko McBrain had transitioned from the Paiste 2002 series of the 1980s to the Paiste Signature series — a warmer, darker, and tonally richer range suited to Iron Maiden's more expansive 21st-century sound. His setup included Paiste Signature 14-inch Sound Edge hi-hats, 16 and 18-inch Medium Crashes, a 20-inch Power Ride, an 18-inch Thin China, and a 10-inch Splash.

The transition from 2002 to Signature reflected the natural evolution of both Nicko's playing and Iron Maiden's production style. The 2002's bright, cutting character suited the punchy directness of the NWOBHM era. The Signature series' richer tonal complexity complemented the more layered, progressive arrangements of the reunion albums.

The 20-inch Power Ride became a central element on longer tracks. 'Dream of Mirrors' (over eleven minutes) featured extended passages where the ride cymbal carried the groove — the Signature Power Ride's articulate bell and clear stick definition maintaining rhythmic focus across the extended arrangement.

### 'The Wicker Man' Technique

The Wicker Man's intro gallop is one of the clearest examples of Nicko McBrain's single-pedal technique in the 21st century. The triplet-based bass drum pattern at approximately 155 BPM — powered by a single pedal, not double bass — creates the song's immediately recognizable forward momentum. Steady 16th-note hi-hats drive the pulse above; a precise snare backbeat anchors beats two and four.

This combination of single-pedal gallop, driving hi-hats, and precise snare is the rhythmic signature of Iron Maiden's sound across four decades. On 'The Wicker Man,' it announced to the world that the reunion was not nostalgic — it was vital.

## Key Facts

- Brave New World is the most-searched Iron Maiden reunion album in online queries
- First Iron Maiden album with Bruce Dickinson since Fear of the Dark (1992)
- Debuted at #1 in the UK and Germany simultaneously
- Premier Artist kit — three rack toms expanded from the two-tom 1980s configuration
- Paiste Signature cymbals — transition from the 2002 series of the classic era
- Single bass drum throughout — Nicko's lifelong single-pedal commitment maintained
- Kevin Shirley production — forward, powerful drum sound different from the Martin Birch era
- Recorded at Barnyard Studios, Essex, England
- Fills the Seventh Son → Brave New World → Dance of Death arc in Nicko's discography
- Estimated kit value: $2,500–3,500 (2000)

## Internal Links

- [Nicko McBrain Drummer Profile](/drummer/nicko-mcbrain) — complete career gear history and technique
- [The Final Frontier Drum Setup (2010)](/articles/final-frontier-drum-setup) — the arc continues; Grammy-nominated follow-up
- [Dance of Death Drum Setup (2003)](/articles/dance-of-death-drum-setup) — the album immediately following Brave New World

## FAQ

**What drums does Nicko McBrain use on Brave New World?**
Nicko McBrain recorded Brave New World (2000) on a Premier Artist kit with birch/basswood shells. The configuration featured a single 22-inch bass drum, three rack toms (10, 12, and 13 inch), and two floor toms (16 and 18 inch). The Premier Signia snare at 14 by 6.5 inches with a maple shell delivered warm, projecting backbeats suited to Kevin Shirley's powerful production at Barnyard Studios, Essex.

**Was Brave New World the first Iron Maiden album with Bruce Dickinson back?**
Yes — Brave New World (2000) was the first Iron Maiden album featuring Bruce Dickinson since Fear of the Dark (1992). Dickinson departed in 1993 and rejoined in 1999 alongside returning guitarist Adrian Smith. The reunion album debuted at number one in the UK and Germany, confirming that Iron Maiden had returned as a major creative force. It is the most-searched Iron Maiden reunion record and forms the essential bridge between the 1980s classic catalog and the band's acclaimed 21st-century albums, including [The Final Frontier (2010)](/articles/final-frontier-drum-setup).

**What is Nicko McBrain's technique on The Wicker Man?**
Nicko McBrain's technique on 'The Wicker Man' centres on Iron Maiden's signature galloping bass drum pattern — a triplet-based single-pedal rhythm at approximately 155 BPM. The right foot executes the gallop on a single bass drum pedal (no double bass), while the hi-hat drives steady 16th-note patterns above. Snare backbeats on beats two and four anchor the groove. This single-pedal gallop is the rhythmic foundation of Iron Maiden's sound, and 'The Wicker Man' is one of the clearest modern demonstrations. See the [Nicko McBrain drummer profile](/drummer/nicko-mcbrain) for his single-pedal technique breakdown.

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/brave-new-world-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-27 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*