# Scott Travis's Drum Setup on Judas Priest's Redeemer of Souls (2014)

> Complete breakdown of Scott Travis's drum setup on Judas Priest's Grammy-nominated Redeemer of Souls (2014) — UK #3, US #6, "Halls of Valhalla" nominated Best Metal Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards (2015). The first JP album with Richie Faulkner replacing KK Downing, produced by Andy Sneap.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Scott Travis](/llms/drummers/scott-travis.md)
**Band / Album:** Judas Priest — *Redeemer of Souls* (2014)
**Genre:** Heavy Metal / Power Metal

## Overview

Released on July 8, 2014 through Epic Records, Judas Priest's eighteenth studio album *Redeemer of Souls* arrived under circumstances that would have sunk many bands. Founding guitarist K.K. Downing had departed in 2011 after 40 years with the band, replaced by Richie Faulkner. When *Redeemer of Souls* landed at #3 in the UK and #6 in the US, the skeptics were silenced. The album's lead single, "Halls of Valhalla," earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015 — Judas Priest's first major award nomination in years.

For Scott Travis, *Redeemer of Souls* represented a return to direct, unambiguous Priest metal after the orchestral complexity of *Nostradamus* (2008). The album is 13 tracks of traditional heavy metal and power metal built around strong riffs, Rob Halford's undimmed voice, and Travis's dependable engine room.

*Redeemer of Souls* was produced by Andy Sneap — his first Priest production credit, and the beginning of the modern Sneap-era sound that would continue on *Firepower* (2018). Sneap's approach was drier, more precise, and more present than the Roy Z productions on the previous two Priest albums. Travis's Pearl Reference Series kit responded well to that treatment, and the album's drum sound is among the clearest in his Priest catalogue.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series (Piano Black finish) — 22"x18" bass drums (x2 independent), 10"x8" and 12"x9" rack toms, 14"x14" and 16"x16" floor toms, hybrid maple/birch/mahogany shells
- **Snare:** Pearl Reference Brass, 14" x 6.5", beaded brass with die-cast hoops
- **Cymbals:** Sabian HHX/AA transitional — 14" HHX Stage Hi-Hats, HHX Evolution Crashes 18/19", AA crashes 16/20", HHX Groove Ride 21", HHX Chinese 18"
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Pearl Demon Drive (x2 independent pedals — one per bass drum, no connected double-pedal); Pearl Eliminator Hi-Hat Stand; Pearl Roadster D-2500 Round throne; Vater Scott Travis Signature sticks
- **Heads:** Evans EMAD2 Clear (kick batter), Evans EC2 Clear (tom batter), Evans HD Dry (snare batter)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension, tight snare wires — Sneap's dry production favors maximum snap

### Pearl Reference: The 2014 Configuration

By 2014 Travis had been in his Pearl Reference Series era for nearly a decade, continuing the same platform from *Angel of Retribution* (2005) and *Nostradamus* (2008). The Reference shells' focused, controlled resonance translated well to Sneap's tight, upfront production philosophy — kick drums sit forward and punchy, toms are clear and percussive, snare cuts without ringing excessively.

Travis maintained his standard four-tom layout (10/12 rack, 14/16 floor) and dual 22"x18" independent bass drums — the same configuration since *Angel of Retribution*. The 22"x18" depth (two inches deeper than the *Painkiller* 1990 setup) provides the low-end authority the songs demand while staying controlled enough for Sneap's dry production approach.

### Grammy-Nominated Snare: Pearl Reference Brass

The Pearl Reference Brass 14"x6.5" snare anchors "Halls of Valhalla" — the Grammy-nominated lead single. Brass shells deliver a character between steel and bronze: more low-mid body than steel, more crack than bronze. Sneap positioned the snare aggressively forward in the *Redeemer of Souls* mix, foreshadowing the even more prominent snare placement on *Firepower* (2018).

### Cymbal Transition: From HH/AA Toward HHX

*Redeemer of Souls* marks the midpoint of Travis's cymbal evolution from the HH/AA hybrid of the Roy Z era toward the full HHX setup on *Firepower*. Hi-hats had upgraded to HHX Stage models (brighter, more suited to Sneap's cutting production); HHX Evolution crashes replaced AA models in the primary crash positions; the 21" HHX Groove Ride is the same model used on *Firepower*. AA models remained in supporting roles. By 2018, the transition to full HHX would be complete.

## Key Facts

- Grammy nomination — "Halls of Valhalla" up for Best Metal Performance, 57th Grammy Awards (2015)
- UK #3, US #6 — strongest Priest chart performance since *Painkiller* (1990) until *Firepower* (2018)
- First Judas Priest album with Richie Faulkner replacing founding guitarist K.K. Downing (departed 2011)
- First Andy Sneap production credit on a Priest studio album — preview of the *Firepower* partnership
- Return to direct heavy metal after *Nostradamus* (2008)'s orchestral concept album ambitions
- Bridges the arc: [Nostradamus (2008)](/articles/nostradamus-drum-setup) → Redeemer of Souls (2014) → [Firepower (2018)](/articles/firepower-drum-setup)
- Pearl Reference Series — same platform as 2005 and 2008; final Pearl-era Priest studio album before Tama Starclassic on *Firepower*
- Travis still runs two independent bass drum pedals — no connected double pedal, consistent since *Painkiller* (1990)
- Estimated kit value: $4,500-6,500 (2014)

**See also:** [Scott Travis drummer profile](/drummer/scott-travis) · [Firepower drum setup](/articles/firepower-drum-setup) · [Nostradamus drum setup](/articles/nostradamus-drum-setup) · [Angel of Retribution drum setup](/articles/angel-of-retribution-drum-setup)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/redeemer-of-souls-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: 2026-06-27 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*