# Among the Living Drum Setup: Charlie Benante's Anthrax Gear Breakdown

> Complete breakdown of Charlie Benante's drum setup on Anthrax's Among the Living (1987). Tama kit, Paiste cymbals, and the double bass techniques that defined Big Four thrash metal.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Charlie Benante](/llms/drummers/charlie-benante.md)
**Band / Album:** Anthrax — *Among the Living* (1987)
**Genre:** Thrash Metal

## Overview

Released on March 22, 1987, Anthrax's Among the Living cemented the band's place alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer as architects of the Big Four of thrash metal. At the center of its relentless aggression was Charlie Benante — a drummer who didn't just keep up with thrash's escalating demands, he helped define them.

Produced by Eddie Kramer — the legendary engineer behind Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and KISS — at Kajem/Victory Studios in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, Among the Living gave Benante's drumming a production context unlike anything in thrash at the time. Kramer's experience with dynamics and room sound translated into a drum mix that was simultaneously raw and full — every double bass hit landed with physical weight, every snare crack cut like a blade.

The album opens with the title track, inspired by Stephen King's The Stand, and within seconds Benante's signature blend of power and precision is fully apparent. The sustained double bass patterns, the judicious fills that never sacrifice the groove, the cymbal accents timed to hit exactly when the riff demands: this is mastery.

Songs like "Caught in a Mosh," "Indians," and "I Am the Law" showcased Benante's ability to maintain blistering tempos while retaining swing and musicality. Unlike some thrash drummers who played through the songs, Benante played with them — reacting to guitar riffs, accenting vocal phrases, building tension through dynamic restraint and explosive release.

This article examines every piece of equipment Charlie Benante used to record Among the Living, plus the techniques that made this album one of the definitive thrash drumming performances of the 1980s. Among the Living completes the Big Four thrash album breakdown at MetalForge alongside Metallica's Master of Puppets, Slayer's Reign in Blood, and Megadeth's Rust in Peace.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Tama Artstar II (Black Lacquer finish)
- **Snare:** Tama Tama Artstar Steel Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Paiste — Paiste 2002
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama HP35 Camco; Tama Titan Hi-Hat Stand; Tama 1st Chair; Vic Firth 2B Wood Tip
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** High tension for maximum attack and crack

### Benante's 1987 Tama Arsenal

For Among the Living, Charlie Benante used a Tama Artstar II kit — the professional-grade series that Tama offered before introducing the Starclassic line. By 1986-87, Benante had been a Tama endorser for several years and had developed a clear preference for the brand's hardware and shell construction.

The dual 22" bass drums were non-negotiable for Benante. His pioneering sustained double bass technique required two separate kick drums, each independently tuned and miked. The physical symmetry of two separate instruments gave him the consistency and punch that a double pedal on a single drum could not match — particularly important for the relentless patterns on tracks like "Indians" and "I Am the Law."

The extended tom configuration — three rack toms and two floor toms — reflected Benante's compositional approach. As Anthrax's primary songwriter, he thought about drums in musical terms: more toms meant more melodic options for fills and transitions. The toms on Among the Living aren't used as wallpaper; they're structural elements within the arrangements.

Tama's birch shells delivered the punchy, focused attack that cut through Scott Ian and Dan Spitz's guitar assault. Birch naturally produces more upper-midrange presence than maple, giving each tom hit definition and articulation even in dense passages. The die-cast hoops added sustain control and the durability needed for Benante's powerful rimshots.

### The Anthrax Crack

The snare sound on Among the Living is one of thrash metal's defining characteristics — a sharp, cutting crack that anchors every song with authority. Benante achieved this with a Tama steel snare, tuned high for maximum articulation and attack.

The steel shell provided the bright, aggressive tone that defined 1987-era thrash production. Steel delivers more upper-frequency content than brass or wood, resulting in a snare that cuts through even the densest guitar textures. Eddie Kramer's production captured this brightness without letting it become harsh — a crucial balance.

Benante's tuning philosophy prioritized attack over warmth. High tension on the batter head eliminated unwanted ring and maximized the initial transient — the crack that makes thrash snare work so satisfying. The snare wires were tensioned tight, giving the drum its characteristic snap on even the fastest single-stroke passages.

This snare sound became a template for an entire generation of thrash drummers. The combination of steel shell, high tuning, and Kramer's production approach created something immediately identifiable — an important part of what makes Among the Living sound like itself rather than any other thrash album of the era.

### Paiste 2002 Thrash Weapons

Charlie Benante's cymbal setup on Among the Living centered on Paiste's 2002 series — a line that had become the gold standard for heavy rock and metal drumming by the mid-1980s. The 2002s were known for their powerful, full-bodied sound and exceptional durability under aggressive playing.

The 14" Sound Edge hi-hats were central to Benante's thrash vocabulary. The wavy bottom cymbal design created a crisp, defined chick sound and fast closure response — essential for the tight hi-hat patterns that drive tracks like "Caught in a Mosh" and "Madhouse." These hats articulated clearly even at the blistering tempos Benante employed.

Multiple crash cymbals in different sizes gave Benante dynamic range across the album. The 16" provided fast, cutting accents for quick transitions, while the 18" served as the primary workhorse crash. The 20" Heavy Crash appeared for the album's most intense moments — the massive accents that punctuate thrash's most aggressive passages.

The 18" China cymbal provided the explosive, trashy accents that are a signature element of thrash metal production. Benante used it strategically rather than constantly, making its appearances land with maximum impact. The China's aggressive overtones cut through the dense guitar arrangement and announced key structural moments in the songs.

## Key Facts

- Recorded at Kajem/Victory Studios, Gladwyne, PA in 1986-87
- Produced by Eddie Kramer, famous for Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin recordings
- Benante's pioneering double bass technique is fully realized throughout
- Among the Living established the template for Big Four Anthrax drumming
- Album peaked at #62 on the Billboard 200 — major commercial breakthrough for thrash
- Two separate 22" bass drums — not a double pedal setup
- Birch shells for punchy, high-definition attack
- Extended tom configuration reflects Benante's compositional mindset
- Die-cast hoops for sustain control and durability
- Long-term Tama endorsee since the mid-1980s
- Estimated kit value: $2,000-3,000 (1987 era)
- Estimated snare value: $200-300 (1987 era)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/charlie-benante-among-the-living-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-20 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*