# Persistence of Time Drum Setup: Charlie Benante's 1990 Anthrax Gear Breakdown

> Complete breakdown of Charlie Benante's drum setup on Anthrax's Persistence of Time (1990). Tama Artstar Custom kit, Sabian AA/HH cymbals, HP35 Camco pedals — the final Joey Belladonna-era album that went Platinum in the US.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Charlie Benante](/llms/drummers/charlie-benante.md)
**Band / Album:** Anthrax — *Persistence of Time* (1990)
**Genre:** Thrash Metal

## Overview

Released on August 7, 1990, Persistence of Time was Anthrax's sixth studio album, the final record of their first era with Joey Belladonna, and the band's most commercially successful release to that point. It debuted at #24 on the Billboard 200 — their highest chart position at the time — and became the first Anthrax album to go Platinum in the United States. At its center was Charlie Benante, five years into the classic lineup and playing with the authority of a drummer who had spent those years becoming one of the most technically complete practitioners in thrash metal.

Produced by Mark Dodson (same team as [State of Euphoria, 1988](/articles/state-of-euphoria-drum-setup)) at Bearsville Studios in upstate New York, the album was darker and more deliberate than its predecessors — longer songs, heavier riffs, and a drum sound built for greater weight and physical impact. 'Got the Time' (a Joe Jackson cover) transformed into a 90-second thrash sprint remains one of the most studied drum recordings in thrash history. 'In My World,' 'Blood,' and the epic title track showcased the album's broader ambitions. This article documents every piece of equipment Charlie used at Bearsville and how it connects to [Sound of White Noise (1993)](/articles/sound-of-white-noise-drum-setup) and the John Bush era that followed.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Artstar Custom (Black finish)
- **Bass Drums:** 22" x 16" Bass Drum (x2) — two separate kicks, not a double pedal
- **Toms:** 10", 12", 13" rack toms; 16" floor tom — birch shells with die-cast hoops
- **Snare:** Tama Artstar Custom Brass Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AA / HH series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama HP35 Camco (year six of a 26-year relationship); Tama Titan Hi-Hat Stand; Tama Titan / Stage Master stands; Tama 1st Chair throne; Pro-Mark Hickory 2B sticks
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 Clear (bass batter); Remo Emperor Clear (tom batter), Remo Ambassador Clear (tom resonant); Remo Emperor Coated (snare batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension for balanced crack and body

### Benante's 1990 Tama Artstar Custom Configuration

By Persistence of Time, Charlie Benante's Tama Artstar Custom kit was the fully refined version of the configuration he had been developing since Spreading the Disease (1985). The birch shells delivered the punchy, upper-midrange-forward attack that distinguished Anthrax's recordings from the maple-heavy sounds becoming fashionable in early-90s production. Dual 22" bass drums remained non-negotiable — after five years of touring and recording, the physical and tonal consistency of two matched kick drums was entirely part of his physical vocabulary.

### Sabian AA / HH — The Fully Developed Classic-Era Setup

By 1990, Charlie Benante's Sabian endorsement was thoroughly established. He had switched from Paiste to Sabian before State of Euphoria (1988), and the AA/HH combination was fully integrated into his playing. The 14" AA Rock Hi-Hats served the album's broad tempo range — from the 230 BPM sprint of 'Got the Time' to the measured weight of the title track. Tiered crashes (16", 17", 18" AA) gave him calibrated accent weight, and the 21" AA Rock Ride delivered controlled wash and bell definition across all song sections.

### Tama HP35 Camco — Year Six of 26

By Persistence of Time, Benante had been using the HP35 Camco pedals for six years. The mechanical feel was simply part of his body. On 'Got the Time' — running at approximately 230 BPM — the Camco's reliability and consistency were essential. The pedals would continue to serve him through another 20 years of Anthrax recordings and tours before Tama discontinued the line in 2010.

## Key Facts

- Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York in 1990
- Produced by Mark Dodson with Anthrax — same production team as State of Euphoria
- Debuted at #24 on the Billboard 200 — Anthrax's highest chart position at the time
- First Anthrax album to go Platinum in the United States
- Final studio album with Joey Belladonna before John Bush joined for Sound of White Noise (1993)
- 'Got the Time' (Joe Jackson cover) — one of thrash metal's most studied drum performances
- Tama Artstar Custom birch kit with dual 22" bass drums
- Sabian AA / HH cymbals — fully established endorsement
- Tama HP35 Camco pedals (year 6 of a 26-year relationship)
- Estimated kit value: $2,500-3,500 (1990 era)

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit did Charlie Benante use on Persistence of Time?**
A: Charlie Benante used a Tama Artstar Custom kit on Persistence of Time (1990), with dual 22" x 16" bass drums, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and a 16" floor tom — all birch shells. This was the mature endpoint of the classic-era Tama configuration before he switched to DW Collector's Series for Sound of White Noise (1993).

**Q: What is Charlie Benante's drum setup on 'Got the Time'?**
A: On 'Got the Time,' Benante used his Persistence of Time setup: Tama Artstar Custom birch kit with dual 22" bass drums, Sabian AA 14" Rock Hi-Hats, and Tama HP35 Camco pedals. The track runs at approximately 230 BPM, and the double-bass patterns in the opening riff represent the HP35 Camco at the outer limits of pedal speed. The performance remains one of the most studied recordings in thrash drumming history.

**Q: What cymbals did Charlie Benante use on Persistence of Time?**
A: Charlie used Sabian AA and HH cymbals: 14" AA Rock Hi-Hats, 16"/17"/18" AA crashes, a 21" AA Rock Ride, and an 18" AA Chinese. His Sabian endorsement had been fully established since State of Euphoria (1988), and the AA/HH combination was thoroughly integrated into his playing by 1990.

**Q: Why is Persistence of Time important in Anthrax history?**
A: Persistence of Time was Anthrax's first Platinum album in the US, their highest-charting album to date (#24 Billboard 200), and the final studio record with the classic Joey Belladonna lineup before John Bush replaced him for Sound of White Noise (1993). For drummers, it represents Charlie Benante's most mature expression of the thrash technique developed since Spreading the Disease in 1985.

**Q: How does Persistence of Time fit between State of Euphoria and Sound of White Noise?**
A: Persistence of Time is the natural evolution of the State of Euphoria (1988) recording approach — same producer (Mark Dodson), same Tama/Sabian/HP35 Camco configuration, but with greater low-end weight and ambition. Sound of White Noise (1993) then represents a near-complete reinvention: DW drums instead of Tama, DW pedals instead of HP35 Camco, and Dave Jerden's organic production instead of Dodson's tight thrash approach.

## Related Content

- [State of Euphoria Drum Setup (1988)](/articles/state-of-euphoria-drum-setup) — the immediately preceding album
- [Sound of White Noise Drum Setup (1993)](/articles/sound-of-white-noise-drum-setup) — the John Bush-era evolution
- [Charlie Benante — Among the Living Drum Setup (1987)](/articles/charlie-benante-among-the-living-drum-setup) — the peak thrash-era statement
- [What's in Charlie Benante's Kit](/articles/whats-in-charlie-benantes-kit) — complete modern gear breakdown

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/persistence-of-time-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-29 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*