# None So Vile Drum Setup: Flo Mounier's Technical Death Metal Landmark > Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Flo Mounier used to record Cryptopsy's legendary None So Vile. Complete breakdown of the most technically demanding death metal drumming ever recorded. **Type:** Album Drum Setup **Drummer(s):** [Flo Mounier](/llms/drummers/flo-mounier.md) **Band / Album:** Cryptopsy — *None So Vile* (1996) **Genre:** Technical Death Metal ## Overview Released on June 25, 1996, "None So Vile" didn't just push boundaries — it shattered them entirely. Cryptopsy's second studio album remains, nearly three decades later, one of the most technically demanding drum performances ever committed to tape. Flo Mounier was 22 years old when he recorded it, and he created a blueprint that drummers still study today. Victor Studio in Montreal provided the setting for what would become a death metal landmark. Producer Pierre Rémillard captured Flo's playing with remarkable clarity — essential given the complexity and speed of the material. Songs like "Phobophile," "Slit Your Guts," and "Crown of Horns" feature sustained blast beats exceeding 280 BPM, polyrhythmic fills that defy physics, and a relentless intensity that left listeners stunned. What made "None So Vile" revolutionary wasn't just speed — plenty of bands could play fast in 1996. It was the musicality. Flo Mounier brought his jazz training into the death metal realm, creating patterns that were sophisticated and precise, not just brutal. His blast beats swing. His fills have melodic intent. Even at inhuman tempos, there's artistry. The album's influence on technical death metal is immeasurable. Every band in the genre since 1996 has existed in its shadow. And at its core is Flo Mounier's drumming — a performance that proved extreme metal could achieve virtuosity without sacrificing brutality. This article breaks down the gear behind the legend: the drums, the cymbals, the techniques, and the recording methods that captured lightning in a bottle. ## Gear Breakdown - **Drums:** Pearl Pearl MX Series (Black finish) - **Snare:** Pearl Pearl Steel Snare, 14" x 5.5" - **Cymbals:** Sabian — Sabian AA Series - **Hardware / Pedals:** Pearl P-2002C PowerShifter Eliminator; Pearl H-2000 Hi-Hat Stand; Pearl D-1500S Roadster; Vic Firth 5A - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant) - **Snare tuning:** Very high tension, extremely tight snare wires for maximum articulation ### Flo's 1996 Arsenal: Pearl MX Series In 1996, before his endorsement with Tama, Flo Mounier recorded "None So Vile" on a Pearl MX Series kit. This mid-range professional kit was chosen for its clarity and response — essential qualities for the extreme speeds Flo demanded. The single 22" x 18" bass drum might seem modest for death metal, but Flo's technique made dual bass drums unnecessary. His single-pedal speed and double bass work (using a twin pedal) achieved velocities that most drummers couldn't reach with two separate drums. The maple shells provided the articulation needed for Flo's complex patterns. At 280 BPM, every stroke must be distinct. The Pearl MX's focused tone ensured that even the fastest passages retained clarity, preventing the "mush" that plagues poorly-recorded extreme metal. The compact rack tom configuration (10" and 12") allowed for quick navigation during fills. Flo's approach treats toms melodically — they're pitched instruments in his vocabulary, not just noise makers. The smaller sizes enhanced speed and response. The floor toms at 14" and 16" anchored the sound when needed, though they're used sparingly on the album. Flo's playing centers on hi-hat, snare, and bass drum precision — the toms are accent instruments, deployed strategically for maximum impact. ### The Blast Beat Engine: Pearl Steel Snare The snare drum sound on "None So Vile" is a clinic in clarity. For the sustained blast beats that define the album, every single stroke must be perfectly articulated. Flo achieved this with a Pearl Steel snare, tuned high with tight snare wires. The steel shell provided the cutting attack needed to slice through Cryptopsy's wall of distorted guitars. Unlike warmer wood snares, the metal shell's brightness ensured the snare remained audible even in the densest sections. At 14" x 5.5", the dimensions are standard, but Flo's tuning was anything but. He cranked the tension high — almost to the point of choking the drum — to maximize attack and minimize sustain. This prevented individual strokes from bleeding into each other during blast beats at 280 BPM. The snare wires were set extremely tight, further reducing sustain and increasing sensitivity. Every stroke, whether at pianissimo or fortissimo, triggered a consistent, cutting response. This reliability was crucial for Flo's demanding patterns. Producer Pierre Rémillard placed microphones carefully to capture both the attack (top mic) and the wire response (bottom mic), blending them for the album's signature snare sound — crisp, powerful, and relentlessly precise. ### The Sabian Foundation Flo's cymbal setup for "None So Vile" was built around Sabian's AA series — bright, cutting cymbals that could project through Cryptopsy's dense mix. The AA's shimmer and clarity were essential for translating Flo's complex patterns to tape. The 14" AA Regular Hi-Hats were the foundation of Flo's playing. At the speeds he performed, hi-hat clarity is non-negotiable. Every stroke of the stick must produce a distinct sound. The AA's bright, focused tone delivered exactly that. For crashes, Flo used a combination of 16" and 18" AA cymbals. The smaller crash provided quick, explosive accents, while the larger handled broader moments. At extreme tempos, fast decay is essential — the AA's characteristics prevented wash buildup. The 20" AA Metal Ride gave Flo the stick definition needed for his intricate ride patterns. He often played complex patterns on the ride that would blur on a larger, darker cymbal. The AA's brightness cut through the mix. The 18" AA Chinese added the aggressive, trashy accents that punctuate the album's most intense moments. Flo deployed it strategically — marking section changes and amplifying dramatic moments with its explosive attack. ## Key Facts - Recorded at Victor Studio, Montreal in early 1996 - Producer Pierre Rémillard captured clarity within chaos - Flo Mounier was only 22 years old during recording - Features blast beats sustained at 280+ BPM - "Phobophile" remains a benchmark for technical death metal drumming - Pearl MX Series — professional quality, affordable price - Single bass drum with twin pedal for double bass work - Maple shells for attack and articulation - Compact configuration optimized for speed - Tight, high tuning to maximize note definition - Estimated kit value: $2,000-3,000 (1996 prices) - Estimated snare value: $200-300 (1996) **Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/none-so-vile-drum-setup **More LLM resources:** [Site index](/llms.txt) · [Full database](/llms-full.txt) · [Master FAQ](/llms/faq.md) · [Drummer index](/llms/index.md) *Last updated: 2026-06-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*