# Eloy Casagrande M72 Drum Setup: What He Played with Metallica on the World Tour (2023–2024)

> Complete breakdown of Eloy Casagrande's drum kit on Metallica's M72 World Tour: Pearl Reference Pure shells, Zildjian A Custom cymbals, Pearl Demon Drive pedals, and how it compares to his Sepultura rig.

**Type:** Kit Breakdown
**Drummer(s):** [Eloy Casagrande](/llms/drummers/eloy-casagrande.md)
**Band / Album:** Metallica
**Genre:** Thrash Metal / Heavy Metal

## Overview

When Metallica launched the M72 World Tour in 2023 — their most ambitious live campaign in decades — they did something unprecedented: they brought in a second drummer for the largest stadium shows. That drummer was Eloy Casagrande, the Brazilian phenom who was simultaneously still powering Sepultura and building his reputation as the most technically gifted extreme metal drummer of his generation.

The M72 World Tour ran from April 2023 through November 2024, spanning five continents, over 200 shows, and setting attendance records across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. For Metallica's flagship two-nights-per-city format — the "No Repeat Weekend" concept — the logistical and sonic demands were enormous. Lars Ulrich, who turned 60 during the tour, remained the band's irreplaceable rhythmic anchor, but the co-drumming arrangement on larger shows added a dimension of live power that stadium audiences felt as much as heard.

Eloy Casagrande was the natural choice. At just 31 when the tour launched, he had already spent 12 years driving Sepultura's thrash metal engine, mastering classic albums like "Schizophrenia," "Beneath the Remains," and "Arise." His precision, power, and endurance were proven at the highest level. And crucially, he could handle Metallica's demanding catalog — from the galloping 16th-note patterns of "Battery" to the thundering double-bass of "One" — with the clarity and authority those songs demand at stadium scale.

This article breaks down the specific kit Eloy used during the M72 World Tour, how it differed from his Sepultura recording setup, and what makes his live configuration optimized for Metallica's unique sonic requirements.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure (Custom Metallica Onyx/Silver M72 World Tour wrap (exclusive livery) finish)
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian — A Custom
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Demon Drive (Direct-Drive, Twin); Eliminator Solo Hi-Hat Stand; Roadster Drum Throne; Eloy Casagrande Signature TX5BW
- **Heads:** Remo Coated Ambassador batter / Remo Ambassador Snare Side resonant
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high for punch and cut through stadium mixes

### The M72 Pearl Reference Pure Rig

For the M72 World Tour, Eloy switched from his Tama endorsement setup to Pearl's Reference Pure — a 100% maple shell kit that represents Pearl's flagship acoustic drum line. The move made both practical and aesthetic sense: Pearl's Reference Pure is a widely-regarded touring instrument known for its dimensional stability across temperature and humidity extremes, essential for 200+ dates across five continents.

The Reference Pure's all-maple construction delivers the midrange punch and warm low-end that Metallica's live mix requires. Unlike hybrid shells, the pure maple construction rings freely and projects with natural authority, meaning Eloy's bass drums and toms could cut through Metallica's guitar wall without excessive post-processing.

The custom Metallica wrap — an exclusive finish developed for the M72 tour — featured the band's black-and-silver aesthetic with the M72 World Tour logo on the bass drum front heads. This visual integration was important: Metallica's production design is meticulous, and the drum kit needed to match the tour's visual identity as much as its sonic requirements.

Eloy's M72 configuration expanded on his Sepultura setup, adding a second floor tom (18") for greater tonal range during Metallica's dynamic material. Songs like "Fade to Black," "The Unforgiven," and "Nothing Else Matters" require melodic tom work that rewards a wider tonal palette.

### Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x6.5"

Eloy's M72 snare choice was Pearl's Free-Floating steel — a drum engineered for maximum sustain and consistent tuning stability across varying conditions. The Free-Floating system suspends the shell from independent top and bottom hoops, eliminating the contact points that can dampen natural resonance.

For Metallica's catalog, this matters enormously. The sonic signature fans identify — a punchy, defined crack that cuts through dense rhythm guitars — demands a snare that projects at stadium volume without losing character. The Free-Floating steel delivered: bright, cutting, and capable of the distinct crack that defines Metallica's live rhythmic identity.

At 14"x6.5" standard depth, the Free-Floating construction adds projection that deeper drums achieve through mass. Eloy tuned it medium-high — bright enough to cut through but not so tightly wound that ghost notes became impossible during the dynamic passages in Metallica's catalog.

### Zildjian A Custom: Metallica's Aesthetic in Bronze

Switching from Paiste to Zildjian was a significant change for Eloy — his Sepultura work had been built around Paiste's RUDE and 2002 series, chosen for their raw aggression and near-indestructible build quality. The shift to Zildjian A Custom for the M72 tour reflected both the demands of Metallica's material and the brand aesthetic the band has maintained for decades.

Zildjian's A Custom series — with their brilliant lathed finish and medium-thin construction — deliver a different character than the RUDE: brighter, more complex overtones, faster response, and a sound that sits naturally in Metallica's sonic landscape. A Customs in particular suit the band's production signature: bell-like clarity in the highs, warmth in the mid-range, and enough body to support live stadium mixing.

For Eloy, the transition required real adaptation. Paiste RUDE cymbals reward aggressive striking with controlled aggression; Zildjian A Customs are more sensitive, rewarding dynamic variation. This sensitivity became an asset during Metallica's quieter passages — the delicate ride work in "One" and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" required a responsiveness that RUDE cymbals aren't optimized for.

The A Custom's brilliant finish also matched the visual requirements of Metallica's stage production. Under the M72 tour's lighting rig — one of the most elaborate in live music history — the reflective bronze surface created the visual impact that Metallica's theatrical production demanded.

## Key Facts

- Youngest drummer to co-perform with Metallica at stadium level at age 31 (2023)
- Pearl Reference Pure all-maple shells custom-wrapped in Metallica M72 branding
- Pearl Demon Drive twin pedals chosen for direct-drive precision at Metallica tempos
- Zildjian A Custom series replacing his Paiste RUDE setup from Sepultura
- M72 World Tour ran 2023–2024: 200+ shows across five continents
- Live configuration specifically optimized for stadium projection and Metallica's catalog
- All-maple Reference Pure shells for maximum projection and warmth
- Custom M72 World Tour wrap — exclusive Metallica-branded finish
- Dual 22"x18" bass drums for Metallica's classic galloping patterns
- 18" floor tom added vs Sepultura configuration for expanded tonal range
- Built to withstand 200+ shows across five continents
- Estimated kit value: $8,000–12,000 (Reference Pure custom configuration)
- Estimated snare value: $400–600

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/eloy-casagrande-m72-drum-setup

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