# Messengers Drum Setup: Matt Greiner's Gear on August Burns Red's 2007 Breakthrough Album

> Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Matt Greiner used on August Burns Red's Messengers (2007). Complete breakdown of the DW Performance Series kit, Wuhan Traditional cymbals, DW 5000 double pedals, and the origin story of one of metalcore's most influential drum setups.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Matt Greiner](/llms/drummers/matt-greiner.md)
**Band / Album:** August Burns Red — *Messengers* (2007)
**Genre:** Metalcore / Melodic Death Metal

## Overview

Released on August 7, 2007, August Burns Red's *Messengers* was the breakthrough album that announced Matt Greiner to the metal world. Where the band's debut *Thrill Seeker* (2005) had established their presence on Solid State Records, *Messengers* was the record that changed everything — a ferocious combination of metalcore aggression and melodic death metal precision that set a new standard for what the genre could achieve. The album charted at #13 on the US Christian Albums chart, and tracks like "Composure" and "Meddler" established ABR as a technical reference point for an entire generation of metalcore bands.

At the rhythmic foundation of every track was a twenty-two-year-old Matt Greiner, playing with a technical depth and compositional intelligence that belied his age. The blast-to-groove transitions that became a Greiner signature — shifting from controlled high-velocity blast beats directly into locked, syncopated grooves without losing the pocket — were already fully developed on *Messengers*. The technique that would be studied and imitated across the genre for the next decade is documented here in its first major recorded form.

What makes *Messengers* historically important beyond the music is the gear context. Greiner recorded the album on a DW Performance Series kit — before the signature DW Collector's endorsement that would follow — with Wuhan cymbals providing a raw, aggressive character that the later Meinl setup would refine. The DW 5000 series double pedals were the mechanical platform for his lever-driven kick technique at its earliest professional stage. The album was produced by Jason Suecof at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.

This was not yet the polished, endorsed setup of a Grammy-nominated drummer. This was a young player, capable professional instruments, and hungry playing — the foundation from which every subsequent evolution in Greiner's kit can be measured.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** DW Performance Series (North American maple shells, HVX hardware)
- **Snare:** DW steel snare, 14" x 5"
- **Cymbals:** Wuhan Traditional Series — Chinese B20 bronze
- **Hardware / Pedals:** DW 5000 Series Double Pedal; DW 9000 Hi-Hat Stand; Roc-N-Soc Nitro Throne; Vic Firth 5A sticks
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter), Remo Powerstroke 3 (kick batter)

### Matt's Messengers Kit: DW Performance Series

The DW Performance Series kit Greiner used on *Messengers* was a professional instrument that sat below DW's premium Collector's Custom tier — but in 2007, it was the right tool for the record being made. The Performance Series uses North American maple shells with the same fundamental construction philosophy as DW's premium lines, with the distinction primarily in hardware class rather than shell quality. The result is a genuinely professional instrument accessible to a young band before endorsement relationships developed.

The maple shells delivered the warmth and resonance that would become consistent in Greiner's drum sound. Unlike the harder birch or hybrid shells favored by some contemporaries, the Performance Series maple gave *Messengers* a full, resonant low end — bass drums with genuine fundamental thump, toms with natural sustain that filled the mix without requiring heavy processing.

The double 22" bass drum configuration reflected Greiner's already-developed kick technique. His lever-driven approach — generating velocity through controlled ankle mechanics rather than raw leg force — required two fully independent kick drums each delivering equivalent attack. At 22", the bass drums hit the fundamental metalcore's heavy riffs demanded while maintaining the response speed his fast patterns required.

### Wuhan Cymbals: The Raw Edge of the Messengers Sound

The Wuhan Traditional Series cymbals gave *Messengers* a raw, aggressive cymbal character distinct from the refined Meinl Byzance setup Greiner would later adopt. Wuhan cymbals are handmade from Chinese B20 bronze — the same alloy used by premium manufacturers — but finished with a raw, unlathed surface that produces a dirtier, more aggressive sound. In 2007 metalcore, that rawness was an asset.

The Wuhan setup prioritized aggression and impact over tonal complexity. The China cymbal's raw, trashy character amplified the blast-to-groove transitions that defined Greiner's early reputation — landing at the exact moment the riff shifted for maximum physical impact. The evolution from Wuhan to Meinl mirrors the evolution of ABR's sound from raw early metalcore toward the progressive, musically sophisticated approach of *Leveler* (2011).

### DW 5000 Double Pedal: Building the Foundation

The DW 5000 Series double pedal provided the mechanical platform for Greiner's kick technique. Chain-driven with adjustable beater angle and spring tension, the 5000 allowed Greiner to dial in the feel his lever-driven technique required. On tracks like "Meddler" and "Composure," where the kick drives relentlessly through blast-to-groove transitions, the pedal's mechanical consistency was essential. The 5000's reliability under touring conditions — Warped Tour appearances, support slots — also mattered for a young band on the road.

## Key Facts

- Released August 7, 2007 on Solid State Records — ABR's breakthrough second album
- Charted #13 US Christian Albums — first major commercial moment for the band
- Matt Greiner played DW Performance Series kit — pre-endorsement, professional maple shells
- Wuhan Traditional cymbals: raw Chinese B20 bronze before the Meinl era
- DW 5000 double pedals: the workhorse platform for Greiner's developing lever technique
- Vic Firth 5A sticks: standard taper before the Matt Greiner Signature development
- Produced by Jason Suecof at Audiohammer Studios, Sanford, Florida
- "Composure" and "Meddler" introduced Greiner's blast-to-groove transition to the metal world
- Estimated kit value: $1,500–2,500 (2007) / $800–1,500 (used today)
- Greiner later moved to Ludwig Classic Maple (Leveler, 2011), then Pearl Reference Pure

## FAQ

**What gear did Matt Greiner use on Messengers?**
On *Messengers* (2007), Matt Greiner played a DW Performance Series drum kit — professional maple shells in a pre-endorsement configuration. The setup included dual 22" bass drums, two rack toms (10", 12"), and a 16" floor tom. Cymbals were Wuhan Traditional Series — raw Chinese B20 bronze with aggressive character. Bass drum pedals were DW 5000 Series double pedal. Sticks were Vic Firth 5A (before the Matt Greiner Signature). The album was recorded at Audiohammer Studios with producer Jason Suecof.

**How did Matt Greiner's kit evolve from Messengers to Leveler?**
Between *Messengers* (2007) and *Leveler* (2011), Greiner's setup evolved significantly at every level. The DW Performance Series shells were replaced by a Ludwig Classic Maple kit — warmer, more complex, and associated with ABR's Grammy-nominated sonic identity. Wuhan cymbals gave way to Paiste 2002 — more cutting, more musical, more refined. The DW 5000 double pedal was upgraded to the DW 9000 with its adjustable cam mechanism. Vic Firth 5A sticks became the custom Matt Greiner Signature. Each upgrade reflected both Greiner's growing endorsement relationships and ABR's musical evolution from direct metalcore aggression toward progressive sophistication.

**What cymbals does Matt Greiner use?**
Matt Greiner's cymbal history spans three distinct eras. On *Messengers* (2007), he played Wuhan Traditional Series — Chinese B20 bronze with raw, aggressive character. By *Leveler* (2011), he had moved to Paiste 2002 series — cutting, warm, and musically complex. Today he plays Meinl Byzance series as a fully endorsed Meinl artist. The evolution from Wuhan to Paiste to Meinl mirrors the sonic evolution of ABR from raw early metalcore toward the refined, progressive sound of their Grammy-nominated period and beyond.

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

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