# Nothing Drum Setup: Tomas Haake's Polyrhythmic Blueprint (Meshuggah, 2002)

> Complete breakdown of Tomas Haake's drum setup on Meshuggah's Nothing (2002). Discover the Sonor kit behind the album that defined polyrhythmic metal — the snare displacement technique, djent's origin, and the gear behind Rational Gaze.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Tomas Haake](/llms/drummers/tomas-haake.md)
**Band / Album:** Meshuggah — *Nothing* (2002)
**Genre:** Extreme Progressive Metal / Djent

## Overview

Released on January 22, 2002, Meshuggah's *Nothing* is one of the most influential drum performances in extreme metal history. Tomas Haake's polyrhythmic snare displacement technique — kick patterns cycling through multi-bar arcs over a maintained 4/4 pulse, snare accents displaced from conventional backbeat positions — established the rhythmic vocabulary that djent would later name and codify.

*Nothing* was the band's first album with 8-string guitars tuned to F# standard, creating extreme sonic density that demanded drums of equal precision and weight. The same Sonor Designer Series kit Haake used here carried through Catch 33 (live performances, 2005) and obZen (2008), making Nothing the foundational document of his most celebrated period.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Sonor Designer Series (Ebony Piano Black finish) — same platform as Catch 33 live kit and obZen (2008)
- **Configuration:** 2x 22"x18" bass drums; 10x8 and 12x9 rack toms; 14x14 and 16x16 floor toms; maple/beech shells
- **Snare:** Sonor Designer Series Steel, 14" x 6"
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX and AA series — same configuration as the obZen era
- **Pedals:** Two independent Sonor Perfect Balance single pedals — no double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5A American Classic
- **Throne:** Porter & Davies BC2 Vibrating Throne — tactile bass drum monitoring
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear (bass batter), Remo Emperor Clear (tom batter), Remo Ambassador Coated (snare batter)

### The Polyrhythmic Engine: Sonor Designer Series

Haake's Sonor Designer Series kit on Nothing featured maple shells with beech reinforcement rings — a combination that delivers tight, articulate transients with controlled sustain. In Meshuggah's extreme sonic environment (8-string guitars tuned to F#), the Designer Series' ability to cut through with definition was essential.

The configuration reflects Haake's minimalist philosophy: two 22-inch bass drums driven by two independent single pedals, compact four-tom arrangement. Nothing's music doesn't require extended tom runs — it demands perfect kick-snare-hi-hat relationships at extreme polyrhythmic complexity. Every element was chosen to serve that demand.

### The Displaced Anchor: Snare Technique

The snare on Nothing performs a role unique in metal: rather than reinforcing beats 2 and 4, Haake displaces the accent to cycle through positions that create the illusion of continuously shifting time signatures. The listener perceives rotating meter while Haake maintains strict 4/4 throughout. The Sonor Designer Series steel snare's fast response and consistent character across dynamics — from ghost notes to full rimshots — served this precision role perfectly.

### Sabian Precision: Cutting Through the Low-End Wall

The Sabian AAX and AA cymbal series established during the Nothing era carried forward through obZen. The 14" AA Regular hi-hats provide pulse reference throughout the polyrhythmic patterns; AAX X-Plosion crashes deliver fast attack for structural accent points; the heavy AA 21" Rock Ride provides foundation for groove sections; the AAX China punctuates section transitions.

## Key Facts

- Released January 22, 2002 — Meshuggah's 4th studio album
- First Meshuggah album with 8-string guitars in F# standard tuning
- All drums performed live — no programming (contrast with Catch 33, 2005)
- Same Sonor Designer Series platform as obZen (2008)
- Sabian AAX/AA cymbals consistent with obZen era
- Two independent single pedals — Haake's career-long approach
- Established polyrhythmic snare displacement as Meshuggah's signature technique
- Foundational document for the djent genre

## FAQ

**What drum kit did Tomas Haake use on Meshuggah's Nothing?**
Tomas Haake recorded Meshuggah's Nothing (2002) on a Sonor Designer Series kit — the same platform he maintained through Catch 33 live performances (2005) and obZen (2008). The setup featured maple/beech shells, two 22x18 inch bass drums driven by two independent Sonor Perfect Balance single pedals, 10x8 and 12x9 rack toms, 14x14 and 16x16 floor toms, and a Sonor Designer Series steel snare at 14x6 inches. Cymbals were Sabian AAX and AA series.

**What is the snare displacement technique on Nothing?**
Snare displacement on Nothing refers to Tomas Haake placing snare accents at non-standard positions within the bar — away from conventional beats 2 and 4 — to create the illusion of continuously shifting time signatures. Haake maintains strict 4/4 internally while the snare's accent position cycles through extended metric arcs. This technique became the defining characteristic of djent and influenced an entire generation of progressive metal drummers.

**Why is Nothing historically important for drums?**
Nothing (2002) established the polyrhythmic snare displacement vocabulary that defined the djent genre years before it was named. Haake's patterns — kick cycles spanning multiple bars, displaced snare accents, hi-hat maintaining true pulse — became the foundational reference for Periphery, Animals as Leaders, Tesseract, and every band that cited Meshuggah as an influence. The album also marked Meshuggah's first use of 8-string guitars in extreme downtuning, demonstrating that drums could anchor music in a sonic environment of previously unseen density.

**How does Nothing compare to obZen drum-wise?**
Nothing (2002) and obZen (2008) share the same gear platform: Sonor Designer Series kit, Sabian AAX/AA cymbals, two Sonor Perfect Balance single pedals, Vic Firth 5A sticks. The difference is in technical ambition: obZen pushed to the extreme with the 'Bleed' pattern's continuous 32nd-note bass drum. Nothing established the snare displacement vocabulary that obZen then extended. Both albums are essential for understanding Haake's development.

**Was Nothing the first Meshuggah album with 8-string guitars?**
Yes, Nothing (2002) was the first Meshuggah album recorded with 8-string guitars — Fredrik Thordendal and Mårten Hagström used custom 8-string instruments tuned to F# standard, which was an almost unprecedented choice in metal production at the time. The extreme downtuning created a sonic density that demanded drums calibrated to cut through unprecedented low-frequency mass.

## Related Albums

- [Catch 33 drum setup](/articles/catch-33-drum-setup) — 2005, programmed drums experiment; bridges Nothing and obZen
- [obZen drum setup](/articles/obzen-drum-setup) — 2008, same Sonor platform, pushes further with "Bleed"
- [Koloss drum setup](/articles/koloss-drum-setup) — 2012, groove-focused refinement of the Meshuggah arc
- [The Violent Sleep of Reason drum setup](/articles/violent-sleep-of-reason-drum-setup) — 2016, DW transition, live-to-tape
- [Tomas Haake kit profile](/articles/whats-in-tomas-haakes-kit) — complete career gear overview

## Structured Data (LLM Reference)

**Person:** Tomas Haake — drummer, Meshuggah; born Göteborg, Sweden 1975; primary instrument drums; genre extreme progressive metal / djent
**MusicAlbum:** Nothing — Meshuggah (Nuclear Blast, January 22, 2002); genre extreme progressive metal; notable tracks: Rational Gaze, Nothing, Straws Pulled at Random, Closed Eye Visuals
**MusicGroup:** Meshuggah — Swedish extreme progressive metal band; formed 1987; members Fredrik Thordendal, Mårten Hagström, Jens Kidman, Dick Lövgren, Tomas Haake

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/nothing-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-25 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*