# From Mars to Sirius Drum Setup: Mario Duplantier's Breakthrough Gear

> Complete breakdown of Mario Duplantier's drum kit and techniques on Gojira's landmark album From Mars to Sirius. Learn about the gear behind 'Flying Whales' and the band's environmental metal sound.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Mario Duplantier](/llms/drummers/mario-duplantier.md)
**Band / Album:** Gojira — *From Mars to Sirius* (2005)
**Genre:** Progressive Death Metal

## Overview

Released on September 27, 2005, "From Mars to Sirius" transformed Gojira from a French underground act into one of the most important metal bands of the 21st century. At the center of this sonic evolution was Mario Duplantier, whose drumming helped create a new template for progressive death metal.

The album was recorded at the Duplantier brothers' own studio in Bayonne, France — a swimming pool they had converted into a recording space. This unconventional environment contributed to the album's massive yet organic drum sound, with natural reverb bouncing off the pool walls.

From the first thunderous moments of "Ocean Planet" to the 8-minute epic "Flying Whales" (arguably the greatest metal song of the 2000s), Mario's drumming combines technical death metal precision with primal, tribal rhythms. His double bass patterns groove rather than simply blast, his fills serve the song's emotional arc, and his dynamics shift from whisper-quiet atmospheric passages to crushing death metal assaults.

This article breaks down every piece of gear Mario used during these landmark sessions, plus the innovative techniques that defined Gojira's signature sound.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Tama Starclassic Performer (Piano Black finish)
- **Snare:** Tama Tama S.L.P. G-Maple, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian — Zildjian K Custom / K Series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide; Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand; Tama 1st Chair Ergo-Rider; Vic Firth 5A American Classic
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high for attack, adjusted for atmospheric passages

### Mario's Power Station: The Tama Setup

For From Mars to Sirius, Mario Duplantier used a Tama Starclassic Performer kit that would become the template for his sound. The dual 22" x 18" bass drums were essential to Gojira's visual and sonic identity — Mario prefers two separate drums over a double pedal for both the impact and the visual symmetry.

The birch/bubinga shell combination provided the perfect balance: birch's attack and focus for cutting through Gojira's dense guitar arrangements, and bubinga's warmth and low-end depth for the atmospheric passages. The 18" depth on the bass drums (deeper than standard) contributed to the subsonic rumble that defines tracks like "Ocean Planet" and "World to Come."

The tom configuration was relatively minimalist — two rack toms and two floor toms — reflecting Gojira's philosophy of power through simplicity rather than complexity. Mario's playing uses every inch of the kit purposefully, with tribal tom patterns that became as recognizable as any guitar riff.

The swimming pool studio's natural acoustics gave the kit a massive, reverberant sound that the brothers enhanced with careful mic placement. Unlike the dry, triggered sounds of many death metal productions, From Mars to Sirius let the drums breathe and resonate.

### The Crack That Cuts Through Whales

The snare sound on From Mars to Sirius needed to achieve something difficult: cut through walls of down-tuned guitars while still having the warmth and depth for atmospheric passages. Mario achieved this with a Tama S.L.P. G-Maple snare.

The 14" x 6.5" maple shell provided body and musicality — essential for Gojira's dynamic range. Unlike metal snares that favor brightness, the maple gave a woodier tone that blended with the album's organic aesthetic.

Mario tuned the snare medium-high for the aggressive sections but could loosen it slightly for the more tribal, atmospheric parts. His snare technique emphasizes powerful rim shots for accents while maintaining sensitivity for ghost notes — a dynamic range that defines songs like "Backbone" and "World to Come."

The die-cast hoops added focus and rimshot crack, essential when competing with Joe Duplantier's massive guitar tone. Engineers placed the snare mic close to capture attack while room mics picked up the natural ambience of the converted pool space.

### Dark Tones from Zildjian

Mario's cymbal choices for From Mars to Sirius emphasized the K Custom and K series — Zildjian's darker, more complex lines. This matched Gojira's sonic aesthetic: heavy but not harsh, aggressive but musical.

The K Custom Dark hi-hats provided the warm, complex sound essential to Gojira's groove-focused passages. Unlike bright, cutting hi-hats favored by many metal drummers, these added texture and depth that complemented the band's atmospheric elements.

The crash selection — 17", 19", and 20" — gave Mario dynamics without excess. He tends to crash sparingly, making each hit count. The K Custom Dark series crashes explode with complex overtones that decay musically rather than harshly.

The 22" K Custom Dark Ride was large enough to fill the room during sustained passages while maintaining articulation. Mario used it for both riding and crashing, exploiting its versatility throughout the album.

The 18" China provided the aggressive, trashy accents that punctuated breakdowns and riff changes. Gojira's use of China cymbals is relatively restrained compared to death metal bands, making each hit more impactful.

## Key Facts

- Recorded in a converted swimming pool studio in Bayonne, France
- Self-produced by the band for complete creative control
- "Flying Whales" became Gojira's signature song and a modern metal classic
- Introduced the "environmental metal" sound that would influence countless bands
- Dual bass drums for visual symmetry and maximum impact
- Birch/bubinga shells provided attack and warmth
- Deep 18" bass drum shells for subsonic low end
- Swimming pool studio added natural room ambience
- Estimated kit value: $3,000-4,500 (2005)
- Estimated snare value: $300-400 (2005)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/from-mars-to-sirius-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*