# Lighting Up the Sky Drum Setup: Shannon Larkin's Ludwig Vistalite Kit on Godsmack's Final Album (2023)

> Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and pedals Shannon Larkin used on Godsmack's Lighting Up the Sky (2023) — the band's announced final studio album. Ludwig Vistalite acrylic drums, Sabian HHX/AAX cymbals, DW 9000 double bass pedals, and the gear behind Godsmack's farewell record and #1 US rock radio cycle.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Shannon Larkin](/llms/drummers/shannon-larkin.md)
**Band / Album:** Godsmack — *Lighting Up the Sky* (2023)
**Genre:** Hard Rock
**Label:** BMG

## Overview

Released on February 24, 2023, *Lighting Up the Sky* is Godsmack's eighth and final studio album — the band announced it as their farewell record, closing a studio career that spans *Godsmack* (1998) to this conclusive statement. For Shannon Larkin, it represents the final chapter of his two-decade tenure as Godsmack's drummer, and the album arrived with a gear change as bold as the occasion demanded: the Ludwig Vistalite acrylic kit, a departure from every wood-shelled setup in Godsmack's studio catalog and a deliberate embrace of classic hard rock iconography for the band's concluding statement.

The Ludwig Vistalite is one of drumming's most recognizable instruments — the clear acrylic shell design, revived by Ludwig for the modern era, carries the DNA of the 1970s kits that John Bonham made famous with Led Zeppelin. For Larkin, a drummer who has cited Bonham's deep-pocket groove philosophy as a defining influence throughout his career, the Vistalite for *Lighting Up the Sky* is both a sonic choice and a statement of roots: this is where hard rock drumming was forged, and where Godsmack's final record chose to plant its flag.

The Vistalite's acrylic construction produces a bright, cutting, powerful drum sound unlike any of Larkin's previous Godsmack studio kits — sharper in attack than the Pearl Reference Pure from *When Legends Rise* (2018), louder and more immediately projecting than the Ddrum Reflex setup of his touring years. The album cycle's #1 US rock radio performance, driven by "Surrender" and the title track, was built on this signature sound: a kit that announces itself with visual and sonic authority.

His long-running Sabian cymbal endorsement continued for the *Lighting Up the Sky* cycle with the refined HHX/AAX dual-series configuration developed through the *When Legends Rise* period. The DW 9000 double bass pedal — Larkin's most consistent choice across the post-2010 Godsmack period — returned as the foot hardware foundation. Vater Shannon Larkin Signature sticks completed the setup.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Ludwig Vistalite (clear acrylic shells, double 22" bass drums, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms)
- **Snare:** Ludwig Black Beauty 14" x 6.5" Steel
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX 14" Stage Hi-Hats / Sabian HHX 17" & 19" Evolution Crashes / Sabian HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride / Sabian HHX 18" Chinese / Sabian AAX 10" Splash
- **Pedals:** DW 9000 Double Bass Pedal
- **Sticks:** Vater Shannon Larkin Signature
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter toms), Evans EMAD (bass batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)

### Ludwig Vistalite: The Acrylic Statement for Godsmack's Farewell Record

The Ludwig Vistalite represents one of the most distinctive gear choices in Shannon Larkin's Godsmack career. The Vistalite's clear acrylic shells trace their lineage directly to John Bonham's iconic 1970s Led Zeppelin setup — the kit that defined what powerful, authoritative hard rock drumming could sound like. Ludwig revived the Vistalite line with modern manufacturing for a new generation of drummers, updating the construction while preserving the visual and sonic identity that made the original famous.

Acrylic shells produce a distinctly different acoustic character from the wood kits that defined Larkin's previous Godsmack studio work. Where pure maple (Pearl Reference Pure, *When Legends Rise*) offers warm sustain and a full fundamental, acrylic speaks with maximum projection and a cutting, high-frequency clarity that wood cannot replicate. The Vistalite's sound is immediate — every stroke projects with authority that suits both the album's production aesthetic and the touring cycle's arena-scale presentation.

The double 22" kick configuration is the one constant across Larkin's entire Godsmack studio catalog, from the Tama Starclassic Maple of *Faceless* (2003) through the Ludwig Vistalite of *Lighting Up the Sky* (2023). Two 22" kicks, four toms (10", 12", 14", 16") — this configuration has never wavered. The Vistalite gives this fundamental architecture a new, historically resonant voice for the farewell record.

### Ludwig Black Beauty: The Crack That Closes the Godsmack Arc

Shannon Larkin's snare voice on *Lighting Up the Sky* matches the Ludwig kit choice. The Ludwig Black Beauty — one of the most respected steel snare drums in rock drumming history — delivers the crisp, cutting crack that has defined the Godsmack backbeat. The Black Beauty's seamless steel shell produces a bright, projecting attack with a complex, singing decay: a snare that speaks with authority through even the densest hard rock mix.

On tracks like "Surrender" and "Soul on Fire," the snare's presence in the production is immediate and unambiguous. Every backbeat on *Lighting Up the Sky* carries the physical weight that Larkin's playing style demands — a snare that matches the Vistalite kit's projection-forward aesthetic.

### Sabian HHX / AAX: The Refined Dual-Series Configuration

Shannon Larkin's Sabian cymbal setup for *Lighting Up the Sky* continues the HHX/AAX dual-series configuration developed through the *When Legends Rise* (2018) period. The Sabian AAX 14" Stage Hi-Hats anchor the rhythmic foundation — the AAX series' machine-hammered construction delivers the bright, fast-responding chick that drives Godsmack's rock grooves forward with cutting clarity.

The HHX Evolution Crashes — 17" and 19" — provide the accent voices. Hand-hammered and dark, the HHX Evolution series responds quickly but sustains with complex harmonic depth. The HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride has been Larkin's signature time-keeping voice since the *IV* (2006) era — its dry body wash and sharply defined bell are among the most consistent elements across his entire Godsmack career.

## Key Facts

- *Lighting Up the Sky* — Godsmack's eighth and final studio album (February 24, 2023)
- Ludwig Vistalite acrylic kit — most historically resonant drum choice of Larkin's Godsmack career
- Sabian AAX/HHX dual-series configuration: the settled cymbal setup carried over from *When Legends Rise*
- DW 9000 Double Bass Pedal — Larkin's consistent post-2010 pedal choice
- #1 US rock radio album cycle — "Surrender" and title track led the chart run
- Announced as Godsmack's farewell record; closes a studio catalog spanning 1998–2023
- Estimated kit value: $3,500–6,500 (Ludwig Vistalite shell pack)

## FAQ

**What kit does Shannon Larkin use on Lighting Up the Sky?**
Shannon Larkin played a Ludwig Vistalite acrylic drum kit on Godsmack's *Lighting Up the Sky* (2023) — clear acrylic shells in his standard double 22" bass drum configuration with 10" and 12" rack toms and 14" and 16" floor toms. The Ludwig Vistalite is a revival of the iconic 1970s acrylic design made famous by John Bonham, producing a bright, high-projection sound distinct from the wood shells Larkin used on prior Godsmack studio albums.

**What cymbals did Godsmack use in 2023?**
Shannon Larkin used Sabian HHX and AAX series cymbals on *Lighting Up the Sky*: Sabian AAX 14" Stage Hi-Hats for bright rhythmic drive, Sabian HHX 17" and 19" Evolution Crashes for accent voices, the Sabian HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride for time-keeping, an HHX 18" Chinese for trash accents, and an AAX 10" Splash for quick effects. Shannon Larkin has been a Sabian endorsee throughout his entire Godsmack career.

**When was Godsmack's last album released?**
Godsmack's most recent and final studio album, *Lighting Up the Sky*, was released on February 24, 2023, through BMG. It is the band's eighth studio album and was announced as their farewell record. Shannon Larkin drums throughout — his final Godsmack studio recording after joining the band in 2002 for *Faceless* (2003).

**How does Shannon Larkin's 2023 kit compare to When Legends Rise?**
The most notable change between *When Legends Rise* (2018) and *Lighting Up the Sky* (2023) is the drum kit: Pearl Reference Pure pure maple shells on *WLR* versus Ludwig Vistalite clear acrylic on the 2023 album. The Vistalite's acrylic construction produces a brighter, more cutting, higher-projection sound than the Pearl maple shells' warmth and sustain. The Sabian HHX/AAX configuration, DW 9000 double bass pedal, and Vater signature sticks remain consistent between the two eras.

## Related Content

- [Shannon Larkin drummer profile](/drummer/shannon-larkin)
- [Shannon Larkin complete gear guide](/articles/shannon-larkin-drum-setup)
- [When Legends Rise drum setup (2018)](/articles/when-legends-rise-drum-setup) — the Pearl Reference Pure era
- [Godsmack 1000hp drum setup (2014)](/articles/godsmack-1000hp-drum-setup) — the DW Collector's Series era
- [Browse all drummers](/drummers)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/lighting-up-the-sky-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-27 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*