# The Hunter Drum Setup: Brann Dailor's Kit on Mastodon's 2011 Album

> Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Brann Dailor used to record Mastodon's Grammy-winning The Hunter (2011). Full breakdown of the Tama Starclassic Maple kit, Meinl Byzance cymbals, Iron Cobra single pedal, and the groove-forward approach behind Mastodon's most commercially accessible album.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Brann Dailor](/llms/drummers/brann-dailor.md)
**Band / Album:** Mastodon — *The Hunter* (2011)
**Genre:** Progressive Metal / Hard Rock

## Overview

Released on September 27, 2011, Mastodon's *The Hunter* was the album that introduced the band's music to its widest mainstream audience. Produced by Mike Elizondo — known primarily for his work with Dr. Dre and Eminem — the album marked a deliberate pivot from the sprawling concept-album architecture of [Crack the Skye](/articles/crack-the-skye-drum-setup) (2009) toward shorter, more direct song structures with accessible hooks and commercial production polish.

For [Brann Dailor](/drummer/brann-dailor), *The Hunter* represented the beginning of his groove-era: single-kick, direct, song-serving drumming that redirected the melodic intelligence developed on *Crack the Skye* into a more commercially accessible context. The album won Mastodon their first Grammy Award — **"Black Tongue" took Best Metal Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards (2013)** — confirming that the commercial pivot had not come at the cost of quality. Dailor's drumming on "Black Tongue" is a masterclass in groove-focused performance within a radio-ready metal context.

The album bridges two significant chapters of Mastodon's career: the progressive complexity of [Crack the Skye](/articles/crack-the-skye-drum-setup) and the emotionally sophisticated groove approach of [Emperor of Sand](/articles/emperor-of-sand-drum-setup). Understanding *The Hunter* is essential for understanding how Dailor's playing style evolved from polyrhythmic architecture to musical storytelling.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (custom wrap finish)
- **Snare:** Tama Starphonic or Artstar Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Traditional Series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra Single Pedal; Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand; Roc-N-Soc Nitro Throne; Meinl Stick & Brush
- **Heads:** Evans UV1 Coated (batter), Evans Hazy 300 (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension — punch and attack, commercial clarity with ghost note sensitivity

### The Tama Starclassic Maple: Expanded Groove Platform

For *The Hunter* sessions, Brann Dailor used his Tama Starclassic Maple kit — the warm, resonant platform he had been developing across the *Crack the Skye* touring cycle. The Starclassic Maple is Tama's flagship maple-shell series, featuring 100% pure maple shells with the Star-Cast mounting system that allows shells to vibrate freely without restriction from traditional lug mounting.

The *Hunter* configuration featured an expanded tom setup compared to earlier Mastodon recordings — an additional floor tom extending the lower register of Dailor's melodic palette and enabling tom sequences that traversed a broader pitch span. This expansion reflected the album's sonic ambition: bigger, bolder arrangements designed to reach audiences beyond the progressive metal underground.

The single bass drum configuration continued the transition away from the double-kick architecture of [Crack the Skye](/articles/crack-the-skye-drum-setup). On *The Hunter*, the single 22" kick drives all bass drum work with a round, full fundamental that anchors the album's groove-oriented playing. Single kick forces every bass drum placement to be a deliberate musical decision rather than a textural one — a constraint that produces more intentional, more musical foot patterns.

### The Snare: Punch and Projection for Radio-Ready Metal

Mike Elizondo's hip-hop production background shaped a punchier, more defined drum sound than Mastodon's previous records. The Tama snare on *The Hunter* — 14" x 6.5", tuned to medium-high tension — delivers sharp attack and clean definition alongside the sensitivity that Dailor's ghost note-dense playing requires.

The 6.5" shell depth provides a full, authoritative backbeat suitable for the album's commercial context. On Grammy-winning "Black Tongue" and lead single "Curl of the Burl," the snare locks in the groove with commercial conviction. Ghost notes remain woven through even *The Hunter*'s most direct material — the medium-high tension tuning allows them to register as intentional rhythmic texture rather than disappearing into the mix.

Tama's snare construction — steel or aluminium shell, matched to the Starclassic aesthetic — provided the combination of authority and sensitivity that bridged Elizondo's punchy production approach and Dailor's musicality-first tuning philosophy.

### Meinl Byzance: Carrying the Dark Palette Forward

Brann Dailor's Meinl Byzance cymbal palette on *The Hunter* carried forward the dark, complex B20 bronze setup established on [Crack the Skye](/articles/crack-the-skye-drum-setup). The Byzance series — hand-hammered using traditional Turkish techniques — produces cymbals with warm, blooming character that distinguishes them from the bright, cutting alternatives common in commercial metal.

The 14" Traditional hi-hats provided the intricate open-close variations that Dailor's groove-oriented playing demands. Even on *The Hunter*'s most direct songs, his hi-hat work retains the musical complexity and warmth of the Byzance character — patterns that groove with clarity rather than mechanical noise.

The crashes bloom rather than slash — important in the context of shorter songs where each cymbal accent carries more structural weight. A bright, aggressive cymbal would have dominated the mix in Elizondo's punchy production; the Byzance's dark, blooming character added emotional colour without imposing aggression. The 22" Traditional ride's washy body and complex bell served the album's more expansive passages, adding textural depth where Dailor moved from groove playing to the melodic, atmospheric drumming that had defined *Crack the Skye*.

### Hardware, Pedals, and Sticks

- **Tama Iron Cobra Single Pedal:** Chain drive mechanism for smooth, responsive action; linear cam drive suited to groove-forward playing style
- **Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand:** Matched hardware series for consistent feel and stability
- **Roc-N-Soc Nitro Throne:** Comfort and stability across studio sessions and the subsequent world tour
- **Meinl Stick & Brush:** Part of Dailor's broader Meinl relationship alongside the Byzance cymbal setup
- **Evans UV1 Coated heads:** Warm, consistent tone on batter surfaces across the Starclassic maple shells

## Key Facts

- Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards (2013) for "Black Tongue" — Mastodon's first Grammy win
- Produced by Mike Elizondo — hip-hop production sensibility (Dr. Dre, Eminem) applied to progressive metal
- First Reprise Records album with deliberately commercial, accessible direction
- Tama Starclassic Maple — 100% maple shells, Star-Cast mounting system, expanded tom configuration
- Single 22" bass drum — transition from double-kick complexity of Crack the Skye
- Meinl Byzance Traditional series — dark B20 bronze, hand-hammered, Turkish technique
- Three rack toms (10", 12", 13") plus expanded floor tom setup for wider melodic range
- Tama Iron Cobra single pedal — groove-forward approach suited to compact song structures
- Recorded at Doppler Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
- Bridges the polyrhythmic complexity of Crack the Skye and the mature groove approach of Emperor of Sand
- Estimated kit value: $3,500–5,500 (Tama Starclassic Maple shell pack)
- Estimated cymbal value: $1,800–2,500 (Meinl Byzance setup)

## FAQ

**Q: What drums does Brann Dailor use on The Hunter?**
A: Brann Dailor recorded The Hunter (2011) using a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with a single 22" bass drum, three rack toms at 10", 12", and 13", plus an expanded floor tom configuration. The Tama Starclassic Maple's 100% maple shells produce the warm, resonant tone that gives Dailor's melodic tom patterns their musical character.

**Q: Did Mastodon win a Grammy for The Hunter?**
A: Yes. "Black Tongue" from The Hunter won Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards (2013). This was Mastodon's first Grammy win, confirming the commercial and critical success of the album's more accessible direction.

**Q: How does The Hunter differ from Crack the Skye in terms of drumming?**
A: The Hunter transitions from Crack the Skye's double-kick polyrhythmic complexity to a single-kick groove approach. Shorter song structures demanded directness over extended polyrhythmic development. Mike Elizondo's hip-hop-influenced production created a punchier, more defined drum sound versus Brendan O'Brien's atmospheric approach on Crack the Skye.

**Q: What cymbals does Brann Dailor use on The Hunter?**
A: On The Hunter (2011), Brann Dailor used Meinl Byzance Traditional series cymbals — 14" hi-hats, 18" thin crash, 20" medium crash, 22" ride, 18" China, and a 10" splash. The dark, hand-hammered B20 bronze Byzance palette was carried forward from Crack the Skye, providing musical warmth within Elizondo's commercial production context.

**Q: Who produced The Hunter by Mastodon?**
A: The Hunter was produced by Mike Elizondo, departing from Brendan O'Brien who had produced Crack the Skye. Elizondo's background in hip-hop production with Dr. Dre and Eminem brought a punchier, more defined drum sound and tighter commercial arrangements that suited the album's accessible direction.

**Q: What album came after Crack the Skye?**
A: The Hunter (2011) was the album that followed Crack the Skye (2009). It marked a deliberate stylistic pivot toward shorter, more commercially accessible song structures, while retaining Mastodon's technical prowess. After The Hunter came Once More 'Round the Sun (2014), then Emperor of Sand (2017).

## Related Resources

- **Full drummer profile**: [Brann Dailor at MetalForge](/drummer/brann-dailor)
- **Previous album**: [Crack the Skye Drum Setup](/articles/crack-the-skye-drum-setup)
- **Next album**: [Once More 'Round the Sun Drum Setup](/articles/once-more-round-the-sun-drum-setup)
- **Later career peak**: [Emperor of Sand Drum Setup](/articles/emperor-of-sand-drum-setup)
- **Kit overview**: [What's In Brann Dailor's Kit](/articles/whats-in-brann-dailors-kit)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/the-hunter-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-28 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*