# Ryan Van Poederooyen Drum Setup — Devin Townsend Project's Rhythmic Powerhouse

> Ryan Van Poederooyen uses Pearl Reference kits as drummer for Devin Townsend Project. Explore his complete gear setup, double bass configuration, and approach to prog-metal drumming across a 25+ year collaboration with Devin Townsend.

**Type:** Kit Breakdown
**Drummer(s):** [Ryan Van Poederooyen](/llms/drummers/ryan-van-poederooyen.md)
**Band / Album:** Devin Townsend Project / Devin Townsend Band
**Genre:** Progressive Metal

## Overview

Ryan Van Poederooyen is the Canadian drummer who has anchored Devin Townsend's musical universe since 1999 — one of the longest-running drummer-artist partnerships in progressive metal. His Pearl Reference series kit, Sabian AAX and HHX cymbals, and Tama Iron Cobra or DW 9000 double bass pedals form the foundation of a setup optimized for the extreme dynamic range that Devin Townsend's catalogue demands.

Van Poederooyen's versatility is his defining quality: from the brutal extreme metal of *Deconstruction* (2011) to the near-inaudible ambience of *Ghost* (2011), his setup and technique serve every direction Townsend's music travels. His double bass approach prioritizes forward rhythmic drive over maximum speed — the goal is physical impact and groove, not blast-beat tempos.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series (maple/mahogany hybrid construction)
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating or Sensitone, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX / HHX Series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra Double Bass Pedal or DW 9000 Series Double Bass Pedal; Vic Firth sticks
- **Heads:** Evans EMAD or Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass, batter); Evans EC2 or Remo Emperor Coated (toms, batter)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium to medium-bright for versatility across Townsend's extreme dynamic range

### Pearl Reference Setup: Built for Prog-Metal Versatility

Pearl's Reference series uses a hybrid maple and mahogany shell construction that delivers the versatility Van Poederooyen needs for Devin Townsend's genre-spanning catalogue. Maple provides immediate attack and clear high-frequency transient response; mahogany adds warmth and low-end body. The result is a kit that performs equally well in the controlled studio environments Townsend's layered productions require and the large-venue touring that follows.

Van Poederooyen's double bass configuration — two 22" x 18" Pearl Reference kick drums — provides the sub-bass mass for the double kick patterns on heavier DTP material. At 22" diameter and 18" depth, each kick generates both attack speed and low-frequency resonance: felt in the chest on *Deconstruction*'s crushing sections, articulate and controlled on the groove-focused passages of *Epicloud* and *Transcendence*.

The tom configuration (10", 12" rack toms; 16", 18" floor toms) spans the range DTP's compositional style requires — sufficient spread for transitional fills and melodic tom work without overcomplicating the physical setup.

### Sabian AAX/HHX: Musical Character for Prog-Metal

Van Poederooyen's Sabian cymbal setup bridges the tonal extremes of Devin Townsend's music. The AAX line — machine-hammered B20 bronze — produces focused, bright instruments with fast attack and controlled decay: the right tool for articulation in dense metal arrangements. The HHX series adds darker, more complex tonal character suited to the atmospheric and progressive dimensions of Townsend's catalogue.

**Cymbal configuration:**
- 14" AAX Hi-Hats — fast, versatile response for both driving metal pulse and delicate ambient work
- 16" AAX Crash — quick decay for accent work in DTP's densely arranged passages
- 18" HHX Crash — darker, fuller tone for section transitions and climactic moments
- 20" HHX Ride — complex wash and defined bell for extended progressive passages
- 18" AAX China — aggressive trash accent for DTP's heaviest sections

### Double Bass Configuration

Van Poederooyen uses a true double bass drum setup — two independent 22" x 18" Pearl Reference kick drums rather than a single drum with a double pedal. His double pedal of choice is either the Tama Iron Cobra (power cam system for driving, consistent stroke) or the DW 9000 (smooth direct-drive feel for controlled acceleration at sustained tempos).

His double bass approach is powerful and groove-focused rather than speed-maximizing. The double kick provides the forward momentum and physical presence that DTP's heavier material requires — "Kingdom," "Decimator," and *Deconstruction*'s extreme passages — without sacrificing the musical control needed when the same setlist turns ambient and textural.

## Career Overview

Ryan Van Poederooyen has been Devin Townsend's drummer since 1999 — over 25 years of collaboration spanning:

- **Devin Townsend Band era (1999–2008):** Physicist, Terria, Accelerated Evolution, Ziltoid the Omniscient
- **Devin Townsend Project (2009–2018):** Ki, Addicted, Deconstruction, Ghost, Epicloud, Z², Transcendence
- **Solo era (2019–present):** Empath, Lightwork, global touring

*Deconstruction* (2011) is widely cited among prog-metal drummers as one of the most demanding drum performances in the genre. The simultaneous release of *Deconstruction* and *Ghost* on the same day — one a brutal extreme metal opus, the other an ambient near-acoustic record — documents Van Poederooyen's range more completely than any single album could.

## Key Facts

- Current drums: Pearl Reference Series (maple/mahogany hybrid)
- Current cymbals: Sabian AAX and HHX series
- Double pedals: Tama Iron Cobra or DW 9000 Series
- Double bass configuration: Two 22" x 18" Pearl Reference kick drums
- DTP drummer since 1999 — 25+ year collaboration
- Key albums: Terria, Deconstruction, Ghost, Empath, Lightwork
- Dynamic range: ambient near-silence to full extreme metal intensity
- Canadian drummer based in Vancouver area
- Estimated kit value: $3,500–6,500 (Pearl Reference shell pack)

## FAQ

**What drum kit does Ryan Van Poederooyen use?**
Ryan Van Poederooyen plays Pearl Reference series drums. His configuration includes a double bass drum setup with two 22" x 18" kick drums, two rack toms (10" and 12"), and two floor toms (16" and 18"). The Pearl Reference series uses a maple and mahogany hybrid shell construction delivering the versatility needed for Devin Townsend's extreme dynamic range — from the brutal heaviness of *Deconstruction* to the ambient minimalism of *Ghost*. See the full [Ryan Van Poederooyen profile at MetalForge](/drummers/ryan-van-poederooyen) for complete career and gear details.

**What cymbals does Ryan Van Poederooyen play?**
Ryan Van Poederooyen plays Sabian cymbals from the AAX and HHX series. His setup includes Sabian 14" AAX hi-hats, a 16" AAX crash, an 18" HHX crash, a 20" HHX ride, and an 18" AAX china cymbal. The combination of AAX (bright, focused, fast-attacking) and HHX (darker, more complex tonal character) reflects the sonic breadth of Devin Townsend's music. The AAX line provides projection and articulation for heavy sections; the HHX adds musical depth for progressive and ambient dimensions.

**What's Ryan Van Poederooyen's double bass setup?**
Ryan Van Poederooyen uses a true double bass drum setup with two 22" x 18" Pearl Reference kick drums, driven by either a Tama Iron Cobra or DW 9000 series double bass pedal (depending on touring period). His double bass approach prioritizes rhythmic drive and groove over maximum speed — the goal is forward momentum and physical impact for Devin Townsend's heavier material. For more on double bass setup and technique: [double-bass drumming at MetalForge](/technique/double-bass-drumming).

**How long has Ryan Van Poederooyen played with Devin Townsend?**
Ryan Van Poederooyen has been Devin Townsend's drummer since 1999 — over 25 years, making it one of the longest and most consistent drummer-artist partnerships in progressive metal history. He has appeared on nearly every Devin Townsend solo and band record since *Physicist* (2000), including the complete Devin Townsend Project discography and recent solo albums *Empath* (2019) and *Lightwork* (2022).

**What albums has Ryan Van Poederooyen recorded?**
Van Poederooyen's recorded output with Devin Townsend spans: Physicist (2000), Terria (2001), Accelerated Evolution (2003), Ziltoid the Omniscient (2007), Ki (2009), Addicted (2009), Deconstruction (2011), Ghost (2011), Epicloud (2012), Z² (2014), Transcendence (2016), Empath (2019), and Lightwork (2022). *Deconstruction* is widely cited as one of the most demanding drum performances in progressive metal.

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/ryan-van-poederooyen-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*