# Fortitude Drum Setup: Mario Duplantier's Custom Mapex Kit (Gojira, 2021)

> Discover Mario Duplantier's complete drum setup on Gojira's Fortitude (2021). Full breakdown of his custom Mapex kit, Paiste cymbal endorsement, DW hardware, and the Grammy-nominated 'Amazonia' drum performance.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Mario Duplantier](/llms/drummers/mario-duplantier.md)
**Band / Album:** Gojira — *Fortitude* (2021)
**Genre:** Progressive Death Metal

## Overview

Released on April 30, 2021, Gojira's seventh studio album *Fortitude* arrived as the culmination of a decade-long artistic evolution. Where *Magma* stripped everything back, *Fortitude* builds outward with confidence: richer arrangements, broader sonic palette, and a production philosophy that elevated every element of the band's sound.

For *Fortitude*, Mario Duplantier committed to a custom Mapex drum kit — the culmination of his long-running relationship with the brand. The result is a drum sound that combines the punch and clarity he developed through the Pearl Reference Pure years with a new dimensional richness: deeper resonance, more complex overtones, and a physical presence that commands the record's ambitious arrangements.

The album's Grammy credential is "Amazonia" — nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 65th Grammy Awards (2023). The track is a thunderous environmental anthem, built around one of Mario's most powerful drum performances. *Fortitude* was self-produced by Joe Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio in New York and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana's *Nevermind*, Rage Against the Machine's debut, System of a Down's *Toxicity*) — the most accomplished production in Gojira's catalog.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Custom Mapex Kit (Custom Gojira-era finish)
- **Snare:** Custom Mapex Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Paiste — Paiste Signature
- **Hardware / Pedals:** DW 9000 Series (x2 single pedals); DW 9000 Hi-Hat Stand; DW 9000 Series Boom Stands; DW 9000 Drum Throne; Vic Firth American Classic 5B
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high for clarity and cut in the polished production context

### The Custom Mapex Era: Dimensional Richness

Mario Duplantier's transition to a custom Mapex drum kit for *Fortitude* marks the final gear evolution in his recorded catalog through 2021. After the Pearl Reference Pure's maple/mahogany hybrid served *Magma*'s leaner production, the custom Mapex configuration offered a new dimension: greater shell resonance, a broader tonal palette, and a physical presence suited to *Fortitude*'s more ambitious arrangements.

Mario's dual bass drum configuration remained the constant anchor. Two independent 22" x 18" kick drums — each played with a single pedal, not a double pedal — define Gojira's rhythmic identity. The four-tom configuration persisted as Mario's melodic canvas: his tribal patterns, pitched melodic figures, and rhythmic countermelodies demand shells that respond consistently at any tuning.

### Precision and Authority on 'Amazonia'

Mario's snare on *Fortitude* is a custom Mapex snare, matched to the kit. The 14" x 6.5" dimensions deliver authority in the heaviest passages while maintaining sensitivity at the dynamic lower end. The custom maple construction provides the clarity and definition that *Fortitude*'s polished production demands — a cleaner, more direct attack than the Pearl Reference Pure snare on *Magma*, suited to Andy Wallace's world-class mix engineering.

### Paiste Endorsement Continues: Evolved Signature Setup

Mario Duplantier's Paiste endorsement continued into the *Fortitude* era. The Paiste Signature series — made from Paiste's proprietary 2002 Bronze alloy — remained his cymbal of choice: full, musical, and present without harshness. The setup included 14" Signature Medium hi-hats, crashes at 17", 19", and 20", a 21" Signature Heavy Ride, and an 18" Signature China. Andy Wallace's mixing gave these cymbals natural, dimensional presentation — a professional benchmark for modern metal production.

### Silver Cord Studio + Andy Wallace

Recording *Fortitude* at Silver Cord Studio continued Gojira's tradition of complete self-production — but with a decisive new element: mixing by Andy Wallace. Wallace's discography (Nirvana's *Nevermind*, Rage Against the Machine's debut, System of a Down's *Toxicity*, Jeff Buckley's *Grace*) brought world-class expertise that elevated Mario's custom Mapex kit to its maximum sonic potential.

## Key Facts

- Released April 30, 2021 — Gojira's seventh studio album
- "Amazonia" nominated for Best Metal Performance at Grammy 65 (2023)
- Custom Mapex drum kit — Mario's most evolved gear configuration
- Mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down)
- Self-produced by Joe Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio, New York
- Closes the Magma arc: Pearl Reference Pure era gives way to custom Mapex
- Dual 22" x 18" independent bass drums — unchanged since early Gojira era
- Four-tom setup for melodic tribal patterns — Mario's compositional signature
- Estimated kit value: $6,000-9,000 (Custom Mapex configuration, Fortitude era)
- Estimated snare value: $600-900 (Custom Mapex snare)

## Gear Evolution: Magma vs Fortitude

| Category | Magma (2016) | Fortitude (2021) |
|----------|-------------|-----------------|
| Kit | Pearl Reference Pure Maple/Mahogany | Custom Mapex |
| Snare | Pearl Reference Pure Maple | Custom Mapex Maple |
| Cymbals | Paiste Signature | Paiste Signature (continued) |
| Pedals | Pearl Eliminator | DW 9000 Series |
| Hardware | Pearl hardware | DW hardware |
| Mixing | Joe Duplantier | Andy Wallace |

## Related Articles

- [Mario Duplantier — Full Drummer Profile](/drummer/mario-duplantier)
- [Magma Drum Setup (2016)](/articles/magma-drum-setup)
- [L'Enfant Sauvage Drum Setup (2012)](/articles/lenfant-sauvage-drum-setup)
- [From Mars to Sirius Drum Setup (2005)](/articles/from-mars-to-sirius-drum-setup)
- [What's In Mario Duplantier's Kit: Complete Gear Breakdown](/articles/whats-in-mario-duplantiers-kit)

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

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*Last updated: 2026-06-26 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*