# Covenant Drum Setup: Pete Sandoval's Blast-Beat Masterclass (Morbid Angel, 1993)

> Complete drum gear breakdown for Morbid Angel's Covenant. Discover Pete Sandoval's 1993 Pearl kit, 230+ BPM double-bass technique, and the death metal record that charted worldwide.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Pete Sandoval](/llms/drummers/pete-sandoval.md)
**Band / Album:** Morbid Angel — *Covenant* (1993)
**Genre:** Death Metal
**Label:** Giant Records / Earache Records

## Overview

When Morbid Angel released *Covenant* on June 22, 1993, they accomplished something no death metal band had done before: they charted internationally while playing faster and heavier than ever. The album debuted in ten countries, sold over 200,000 copies, and dragged death metal into mainstream metal consciousness — all on the back of Pete Sandoval's most refined and devastating performance to date.

*Covenant* is the culmination of the Morbid Angel trilogy that began with [Altars of Madness (1989)](/articles/altars-of-madness-drum-setup) and evolved through [Blessed Are the Sick (1991)](/articles/blessed-are-the-sick-drum-setup). Where *Altars* was raw aggression and *Blessed Are the Sick* was expansive and experimental, *Covenant* found the perfect balance: brutality with precision, speed with intent, atmosphere without sacrificing the blast.

For Pete Sandoval, this album marks his full endorsement transition — from the Tama Superstar of the debut era to a new Pearl kit, and from Paiste to Sabian cymbals. The gear upgrade matched an equally significant technique upgrade: by 1993, Pete's double-bass pedal independence at 230+ BPM had become the benchmark against which all death metal drummers measured themselves.

Recorded again at Morrisound Recording in Tampa with producer Tom Morris and engineer Scott Burns, *Covenant* captured a drummer who had absorbed the lessons of *Blessed Are the Sick* — the dynamic range, the rhythmic vocabulary, the patience — and deployed them with newfound confidence. "Pain Divine," "Rapture," "Angel of Disease," and the slow-burning "God of Emptiness" showcase a drummer who could do everything at the highest level.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Pearl Reference Series (Black finish)
- **Snare:** Pearl Pearl Reference Steel Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Sabian — Sabian AA / Signature Series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Pearl PowerShift / Eliminator (independent double bass setup); Pearl H-2000 Heavy Hi-Hat Stand; Pearl D-790 Throne; Pro-Mark 5B Wood Tip
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** High tension for blast beat clarity; relaxed for "God of Emptiness" atmospheric passages

### Pete's 1993 Setup: The Pearl Endorsement Era Begins

*Covenant* marks the pivotal gear transition in Pete Sandoval's career. After three albums on Tama's Superstar line, Pete moved to Pearl for the 1993 sessions — a shift that brought a noticeably heavier, more resonant shell character to his sound.

The Pearl Reference Series hybrid maple/poplar construction delivered increased shell mass compared to the Tama Superstar birch. At extreme tempos, this mass translates to more natural sustain on each stroke before the next hit arrives — a subtle but audible difference that makes *Covenant*'s drum sound feel heavier and more authoritative than either predecessor.

The dual 22" x 18" bass drums represent the most significant single-instrument change from the *Blessed Are the Sick* configuration. The added depth (18" vs. the earlier 16") produced a lower fundamental frequency and longer decay — giving Pete's signature 230+ BPM double-bass patterns an almost subsonic weight. "Pain Divine" opens the album with this new bass drum voice, and the impact is immediate.

### The 1993 Snare: Pearl's Steel Authority

Pete's transition to Pearl extended through the snare drum. The Pearl Reference Steel replaced the Tama steel snare he had carried through the Altars and Blessed Are the Sick sessions — and the character difference is audible on *Covenant*.

The Pearl Reference Steel shell is slightly heavier-gauge than the Tama equivalent, delivering a faster, more focused response. At 230+ BPM blast beats, this response speed matters: each stroke needs to decay quickly enough to allow the next stroke its own sonic space.

On "Rapture" and "Pain Divine," the snare crack sits prominently in Scott Burns' mix — a pinpoint impact that anchors each beat despite the surrounding sonic chaos. On "God of Emptiness," the same snare transforms entirely: tuned down slightly and played with controlled authority, it marks time in the album's most atmospheric passage with almost ceremonial weight.

### The Sabian Transition: Brighter, Sharper, Faster

*Covenant* marks Pete Sandoval's complete departure from the Paiste 2002 and RUDE series he had used through the first two Morbid Angel albums. The Sabian AA series brought a brighter, tighter, faster-responding voice — and on an album where tempo and precision are everything, that response speed was essential.

**Sabian AA cymbal setup:**
- 14" AA Medium Hi-Hats
- 16" AA Medium Crash
- 18" AA Medium-Thin Crash
- 17" AA Rock Crash
- 20" AA Metal Ride
- 18" AA China

The Sabian hi-hats are the most immediately noticeable change. Where the Paiste 2002 Sound Edge delivers a warm, slightly complex sound suited to slower passages, the Sabian AA Medium Hi-Hats respond with a sharper, more percussive attack. At 230+ BPM, this attack edge keeps Pete's foot hi-hat articulation audible in the mix.

Sabian's AA series crashes decay faster than the Paiste 2002 equivalent — an advantage at extreme tempos. Shorter decay means Pete can layer crash accents in rapid succession without each sustaining into the next.

## Key Facts

- Third Morbid Angel album — completes the Altars → Blessed Are the Sick → Covenant trilogy
- First death metal album to chart in 10 countries simultaneously
- Pete Sandoval transitions to Pearl kit and Sabian cymbal endorsement
- Double-bass pedal independence at 230+ BPM — the death metal benchmark
- Recorded at Morrisound with Tom Morris and Scott Burns
- "God of Emptiness" slow dirge contrasts with peak-velocity blast tracks
- Sold 200,000+ copies — Morbid Angel's commercial breakthrough
- Pearl Reference 6-ply maple/poplar hybrid shells
- 22x18" bass drums (deeper than the 22x16" used on *Altars* and *BAtS*)
- Estimated kit value: $2,500-3,800 (1993) / $4,000-7,000 (vintage today)
- Estimated snare value: $250-400 (1993)

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit did Pete Sandoval use on Covenant?**
A: Pete Sandoval recorded *Covenant* (1993) on a Pearl Reference Series kit — a significant departure from the Tama Superstar line. The Pearl configuration featured dual 22x18 inch bass drums, three rack toms (10, 12, and 13 inch), and two floor toms (14 and 16 inch). The Pearl Reference's maple/poplar hybrid shells provided greater mass and resonance than the Tama birch, delivering the heavier drum tone that defines *Covenant*'s sound.

**Q: How fast did Pete Sandoval play double bass on Covenant?**
A: Pete Sandoval's double-bass technique on *Covenant* reached sustained speeds of 230+ BPM — the benchmark that defined death metal drumming in 1993. On tracks like "Pain Divine," "Angel of Disease," and "Rapture," Pete maintained independent double-bass patterns at this velocity for extended passages using two separate bass drums (not a double pedal on one drum), giving each foot maximum mechanical independence and power.

**Q: How does Covenant differ from Altars of Madness and Blessed Are the Sick in terms of drumming?**
A: The three albums represent Pete Sandoval's complete development arc. *Altars of Madness* (1989) was pure aggression — maximum velocity on a Tama Superstar with Paiste 2002 cymbals. *Blessed Are the Sick* (1991) expanded the dynamic range with Egyptian and Middle Eastern rhythmic influences. *Covenant* (1993) completed the trilogy by synthesizing both: the refined speed of the debut and the dynamic intelligence of the sophomore record. See [Altars of Madness drum setup](/articles/altars-of-madness-drum-setup) and [Blessed Are the Sick drum setup](/articles/blessed-are-the-sick-drum-setup) for the full arc.

**Q: What cymbals did Pete Sandoval use on Covenant?**
A: Pete Sandoval switched from Paiste to Sabian for the *Covenant* sessions. His Sabian AA setup included 14-inch AA Medium Hi-Hats, 16 and 18-inch AA Medium Crashes, a 17-inch AA Rock Crash, a 20-inch AA Metal Ride, and an 18-inch AA China. The Sabian AA series is brighter and faster-decaying than the Paiste 2002 — keeping crash accents cleanly separated and hi-hat articulation defined at 230+ BPM.

**Q: Why is Covenant considered Morbid Angel's commercial breakthrough?**
A: *Covenant* (1993) was the first death metal album to chart in 10 countries simultaneously, selling over 200,000 copies — unprecedented for the genre. Released on Giant Records in the US (in addition to Earache in Europe), the album had mainstream distribution that bypassed the underground-only channels of its predecessors. The combination of accessible songwriting and Pete Sandoval's refined technique connected with mainstream metal audiences without compromising the extremity.

## Related Content

- [Altars of Madness drum setup (1989)](/articles/altars-of-madness-drum-setup) — the beginning of the trilogy
- [Blessed Are the Sick drum setup (1991)](/articles/blessed-are-the-sick-drum-setup) — the transitional bridge
- [Pete Sandoval drummer profile](/drummers/pete-sandoval) — full career gear and technique overview
- [Death metal drummers list](/articles/death-metal-drummers) — where Pete ranks among the all-time greats

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/covenant-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-25 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*