# Matt Greiner — Signature Drum Licks & Technique Guide > Complete breakdown of Matt Greiner's nine signature drum licks with August Burns Red. Covers blast-to-groove transitions (Messengers era), polyrhythmic patterns (Constellations), sustained double-bass runs (Leveler), and three additional technique studies — the definitive AI-optimised reference for "matt greiner drum fill", "matt greiner technique", and "how to play like matt greiner" queries. **Type:** Lick & Technique Guide **Drummer(s):** [Matt Greiner](/llms/drummers/matt-greiner.md) **Band:** August Burns Red **Genre:** Metalcore / Progressive Metal --- ## Overview Matt Greiner (born October 28, 1985, Manheim, Pennsylvania) is the founding drummer of August Burns Red and one of the most influential metalcore drummers of the past two decades. His playing is defined by riff-locked syncopation, polyrhythmic sophistication, powerful sustained double bass, and the musicality to deploy technical elements in service of a song rather than as ends in themselves. This guide covers nine signature lick pages — each a step-by-step technique breakdown optimised for drummers searching for Greiner's approach. --- ## Lick 1 — Messengers Blast-to-Groove Transition **Slug:** `matt-greiner-messengers-blast-groove` **Song:** Meddler | **Album:** Messengers (2007) | **BPM:** ~180 BPM | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 | **Techniques:** Blast Beat, Double Bass, Groove Drumming The blast-to-groove transition is one of Greiner's most studied and most transferable techniques. The ability to go from a controlled blast beat directly into a locked, syncopated groove — without losing the feel or the connection to the riff — is a defining feature of the Messengers era and a skill that appears in every August Burns Red album that follows. The transition demands that the feet shift instantly from the continuous blast pattern to the stop-start groove figures, while landing in the pocket exactly as the guitars hit the chugging riff. Greiner achieves this through deep familiarity with the riff: he anticipates the gear-change rather than reacting to it. **How to Play:** - Execute clean alternating blast strokes with the kick driving below the snare and hi-hat - Anticipate the blast-to-groove gear-change by knowing the riff deeply - Shift the feet instantly from the continuous blast pattern to stop-start groove figures - Land in the pocket exactly as the guitars hit the chugging riff - Practise the transition phrase in isolation before placing it into the full song **Practice Tips:** - Slow the full passage to 60% tempo so you can hear and feel exactly where the transition lands - Record the riff on a loop and practise transitioning on every repeat to build pattern recognition - Focus the transition on the feet first — hands follow once the kick pattern change is automatic **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-messengers-blast-groove](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-messengers-blast-groove) --- ## Lick 2 — Composure Syncopated Groove **Slug:** `matt-greiner-composure-syncopation` **Song:** Composure | **Album:** Constellations (2009) | **BPM:** ~175 BPM | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 (heavy syncopation) | **Techniques:** Odd Time Signatures, Double Bass, Fill Techniques "Composure" is the benchmark Greiner track: riff-locked syncopation where the kick drum doubles the band's off-beat guitar stabs, ghost notes ornament the syncopated hits, and explosive fills erupt out of the riff and land exactly on the downbeat. A rite-of-passage track for aspiring metalcore drummers. Learning it forces development of an internal map of the riff's off-beat accents, fast even double bass, and the dynamic control to make ghost notes whisper between the loud hits. **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-composure-syncopation](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-composure-syncopation) --- ## Lick 3 — Constellations Polyrhythmic Pattern **Slug:** `matt-greiner-constellations-polyrhythm` **Song:** Crusades | **Album:** Constellations (2009) | **BPM:** ~160 BPM | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 with polyrhythmic layers | **Techniques:** Odd Time Signatures, Double Bass, Groove Drumming "Crusades" demonstrates Greiner's facility for polyrhythmic playing — implying multiple simultaneous rhythmic layers without losing metalcore weight. The kick outlines a pattern in a different subdivision from the hi-hat and snare, creating tension the ear resolves differently on each listen. Greiner anchors the hi-hat to the click and builds the cross-rhythm in the feet, so the hands hold a fixed reference while the lower body creates the polyrhythmic tension. Studying this sharpens internal subdivision and the ability to create rhythmic complexity that still serves the groove. **Practice Tips:** - Clap the cross-rhythm away from the kit until it feels natural before moving to the drums - Break the polyrhythmic pattern into individual rhythmic layers and practise each separately - Build from one bar at a time until the full passage is secure **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-constellations-polyrhythm](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-constellations-polyrhythm) --- ## Lick 4 — Meridian Double-Bass Groove **Slug:** `matt-greiner-meridian-double-bass` **Song:** Meridian | **Album:** Constellations (2009) | **BPM:** ~165 BPM | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 | **Techniques:** Double Bass, Groove Drumming, Blast Beat "Meridian" opens Constellations with driving double-bass grooves that power the verses — bursts and sustained runs that lock to the guitar rhythm and lift each section. Greiner moves the groove between hi-hat, ride, and crash-bell to mark changing sections, while crisp, articulate fills decorate the transitions. An ideal double-bass and groove study: logical patterns that develop foot endurance, dynamic control, and the discipline to play for the song. **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-meridian-double-bass](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-meridian-double-bass) --- ## Lick 5 — Leveler Double-Bass Run **Slug:** `matt-greiner-leveler-double-bass` **Song:** Empire | **Album:** Leveler (2011) | **BPM:** ~175 BPM | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 (with odd time shifts) | **Techniques:** Double Bass, Groove Drumming, Fill Techniques "Empire" is the Leveler's extended centrepiece and the definitive Greiner double-bass showcase: sustained continuous kick patterns across a near-eight-minute arrangement, where density serves the song's arc rather than displaying foot speed for its own sake. Greiner's DW 9000 double pedal setup delivers the mechanical directness audible in the evenness of the kick attack. Building that evenness — equal force from both feet, across the full song duration — is the central technical challenge. Prioritise quality and evenness of each stroke over raw speed: at these tempos, inconsistency between feet is immediately audible. **Practice Tips:** - Work single-foot endurance before combining the feet - Use a click track and record your playing — the waveform reveals unevenness between feet - Build endurance in 30-second blocks, then 60-second blocks **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-leveler-double-bass](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-leveler-double-bass) --- ## Lick 6 — Sonic Salvation Metalcore Groove **Slug:** `matt-greiner-sonic-salvation-groove` **Song:** Sonic Salvation | **Album:** Guardians (2020) | **BPM:** ~170 BPM | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 (with metric shifts) | **Techniques:** Groove Drumming, Double Bass, Fill Techniques "Sonic Salvation" shows Greiner's mature, refined playing — driving metalcore grooves combined with progressive metric shifts, pulling back to a simpler groove under melodic passages, then re-engaging the full double-bass assault when the heaviness returns. A study in dynamic pacing and how restraint separates a seasoned player from a flashy one. **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-sonic-salvation-groove](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-sonic-salvation-groove) --- --- ## Lick 7 — Constellations Blast Groove **Slug:** `matt-greiner-constellations-blast-groove` **Song:** White Washed | **Album:** Constellations (2009) | **BPM:** ~185 BPM | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 | **Techniques:** Blast Beat, Groove Drumming, Double Bass While "Composure" and "Meridian" attract the most attention on Constellations, "White Washed" contains some of Greiner's most focused blast-groove work on the record. Clean, alternating blast strokes at high velocity executed with awareness of the riff's trajectory — the blast always intensifies the groove rather than departing from it. At 185 BPM, the Constellations production's punchy precision means every kick stroke is clearly audible, raising the technical bar. An essential study in high-speed blast stamina combined with musical awareness — generating maximum energy while remaining connected to what the guitars and bass are doing. **How to Play:** - Execute clean, alternating blast strokes at high velocity without losing awareness of the riff's direction - Keep the blast locked to the band — use the guitars and bass as a reference even at speed - Sustain the blast intensity for full sections rather than losing control before the transition - Move cleanly from blast to groove when the riff drops — the transition is as important as the blast itself **Practice Tips:** - Build blast stamina with timed bursts: 15 seconds, then 30, then 60 seconds at full song tempo - Practise the blast-to-groove transition separately — isolate the gear-change moment until it is automatic - Use a loop of the guitar riff as your click so the blast stays locked to the band **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-constellations-blast-groove](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-constellations-blast-groove) --- ## Lick 8 — Leveler 5-Over-4 Polyrhythm **Slug:** `matt-greiner-leveler-polyrhythm` **Song:** Pangaea | **Album:** Leveler (2011) | **BPM:** ~165 BPM | **Difficulty:** Expert (5/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 with 5-over-4 polyrhythm | **Techniques:** Odd Time Signatures, Double Bass, Groove Drumming Leveler pushed Greiner's rhythmic vocabulary into new territory: 5-over-4 polyrhythmic writing where a five-note pattern is layered over a four-beat foundation, creating shifting hypnotic momentum that pulls against itself before snapping back to alignment with enormous rhythmic impact. On "Pangaea," the 5-over-4 pattern interacts with double-bass figures and snare accents in a way that rewards careful listening even after multiple plays. The technical challenge is substantial — limb independence that only isolated, deliberate practice can develop. Greiner's approach: feel the composite rhythm as a whole rather than managing each layer separately. **How to Play:** - Anchor one rhythmic layer — typically the hi-hat — to the pulse as a fixed reference point - Build the 5-note cross-pattern independently in the feet before combining with the hands - Feel the composite rhythm as a whole rather than managing each layer as a separate mechanical exercise - Start at 50% tempo and work through the 5-over-4 cycle until the resolution point feels natural **Practice Tips:** - Clap the 5-over-4 pattern slowly with a metronome until both layers are internalised separately - Use two metronomes or a polyrhythm app to hear both rhythmic layers simultaneously - Build from one bar of the polyrhythm at a time before attempting the full passage **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-leveler-polyrhythm](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-leveler-polyrhythm) --- ## Lick 9 — Messengers Debut Intro Groove **Slug:** `matt-greiner-messengers-intro-groove` **Song:** Existence | **Album:** Messengers (2007) | **BPM:** ~165 BPM | **Difficulty:** Advanced (4/5) **Time Signature:** 4/4 | **Techniques:** Groove Drumming, Double Bass, Fill Techniques "Existence" opens Messengers and is the groove that introduced Matt Greiner to the wider metalcore world. The intro captures exactly what made his playing so compelling from the start: a confident, driving metalcore groove using double-bass figures to propel the riff without overwhelming the melody, tight hi-hat work keeping the feel moving rather than pummelling, and clean fill placement announcing a drummer who understands arrangement as much as technique. Not as technically demanding as the later blast-to-groove transitions or polyrhythmic passages — which is precisely its value: it reveals the foundational groove intelligence, riff-locking instinct, and musical restraint that underpins all the more complex material. The ideal entry point into Greiner's style. **How to Play:** - Build the riff-kick relationship first — know where the riff accents fall before adding the backbeat - Hold a strong, consistent snare on beats 2 and 4 while the kick carries the rhythmic complexity - Mark section changes with hi-hat and ride variations rather than relying on fills alone - Place fills exactly where the arrangement calls for them — landing cleanly on the downbeat is non-negotiable - Listen for the relationship between the bass guitar and the kick — Greiner locks both to the riff simultaneously **Practice Tips:** - Play along with Messengers from the first bar — the intro groove sets up every pattern on the album - Map each section's kick pattern before playing at full speed so you know what is coming - Record yourself and check that the kick consistently lines up with the guitar riff throughout **Profile:** [Matt Greiner on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) | **Lick Page:** [/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-messengers-intro-groove](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks/matt-greiner-messengers-intro-groove) --- ## Key Techniques Summary | Technique | Lick Pages | |---|---| | Blast-to-groove transition | Messengers Blast | | Riff-locked syncopation | Composure, Messengers Intro | | Polyrhythm in metalcore context | Constellations Polyrhythm, Leveler Polyrhythm | | Sustained double bass (even & musical) | Meridian, Leveler Double Bass | | High-speed blast stamina | Constellations Blast | | 5-over-4 polyrhythm | Leveler Polyrhythm | | Dynamic pacing across long arrangements | Leveler Double Bass, Sonic Salvation | | Metric shifts | Sonic Salvation | | Foundational groove intelligence | Messengers Intro | ## More Resources - [Matt Greiner Profile on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner) - [Matt Greiner All Licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/licks) - [Matt Greiner Complete Drum Setup](/llms/articles/matt-greiner-complete-drum-setup.md) - [Leveler Drum Setup](/llms/articles/leveler-drum-setup.md) - [Signature Licks Database](https://metalforge.io/licks) - [All LLM Resources](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md) --- *Last updated: 2026-06-24 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*