# The Way of All Flesh Drum Setup: Mario Duplantier's Death Metal Odyssey > Complete drum gear breakdown for Gojira's masterpiece The Way of All Flesh. Discover Mario Duplantier's 2008 kit, recording techniques, and the drumming behind 'The Art of Dying' and 'Oroborus.' **Type:** Album Drum Setup **Drummer(s):** [Mario Duplantier](/llms/drummers/mario-duplantier.md) **Band / Album:** Gojira — *The Way of All Flesh* (2008) **Genre:** Progressive Death Metal ## Overview Released on October 13, 2008, "The Way of All Flesh" is the album that transformed Gojira from underground heroes into global metal icons. Following the breakthrough success of "From Mars to Sirius," the Duplantier brothers faced the daunting challenge of surpassing themselves — and they succeeded beyond all expectations. Mario Duplantier's drumming on this record represents the apex of progressive death metal percussion. While "From Mars to Sirius" introduced Gojira's environmental themes and massive sound, "The Way of All Flesh" expanded everything: the compositions grew more complex, the dynamics more extreme, the technical demands almost superhuman. Songs like "The Art of Dying," "Oroborus," and the epic title track showcase a drummer operating at the absolute peak of his abilities. The album was recorded at Studio Château de Beaulieu in France, with additional tracking at the Duplantiers' own facility in Bayonne. Once again self-produced, Gojira maintained complete control over their sound, pushing Mario's drums to the forefront of a mix that balances crushing heaviness with progressive ambition. Thematically, the album confronts mortality, consciousness, and transformation. The title — borrowed from Samuel Butler's 1903 novel — suggests that all physical things must eventually decay and die. This philosophical depth is reflected in Mario's drumming: patterns that ebb and flow like breathing, explosive passages that suggest death's violence, and tribal grooves that connect to ancient human ritual. "The Way of All Flesh" earned universal critical acclaim, topped metal charts worldwide, and cemented Gojira's status as one of the most important bands in contemporary heavy music. Mario's performance on this record remains a benchmark for progressive death metal drumming. ## Gear Breakdown - **Drums:** Tama Tama Starclassic Bubinga (Piano Black finish) - **Snare:** Tama Tama S.L.P. G-Maple, 14" x 6.5" - **Cymbals:** Zildjian — Zildjian K Custom / A Custom - **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide (x2 single pedals); Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand; Tama 1st Chair Ergo-Rider; Zildjian 5A Wood Tip; Individual stands (no rack) - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant) - **Snare tuning:** Medium tension for balance of crack and body; responsive for ghost notes ### Mario's 2008 Arsenal: Evolution of the Tama Sound For "The Way of All Flesh," Mario Duplantier upgraded to Tama's Starclassic Bubinga line — a significant evolution from the Performer series used on "From Mars to Sirius." The Bubinga shells provided even more warmth and low-end punch while maintaining the attack needed for death metal intensity. The dual 22" x 18" bass drums remained essential to Mario's visual and sonic identity. Unlike drummers who use a single kick with a double pedal, Mario insists on two separate drums. The visual symmetry on stage is striking, and sonically, each drum has its own microphone placement and tonal character. This setup allows for more precise mixing and a wider, more impactful sound. The Bubinga wood — an African species known for its density and warmth — adds a dimension that birch alone cannot achieve. The low-end from these drums is massive yet articulate, essential for the palm-muted guitar grooves that define Gojira's sound. When Mario's kicks lock in with Joe's rhythm guitar on songs like "Toxic Garbage Island," the result is seismic. The tom configuration remained consistent with his earlier work: two rack toms and two floor toms. Mario uses his toms melodically, not just for fills. Listen to the tribal patterns in "Adoration for None" — those toms sing specific phrases that are as composed as the guitar riffs. The shells were tuned slightly lower than "From Mars to Sirius" to match the album's darker themes. Where the previous record had moments of brightness and hope (the whales, the journey to Sirius), "The Way of All Flesh" deals with mortality directly. The drum tones reflect this gravity. ### The Crack of Mortality Mario's snare sound on "The Way of All Flesh" is one of the most distinctive in modern metal. The Tama S.L.P. G-Maple provides a perfect balance: enough crack to cut through Gojira's dense guitar wall, enough body to support the tribal grooves, and enough sensitivity for the dynamic ghost notes that fill his patterns. The 6.5" depth gives the drum authority — essential when competing with two of metal's heaviest guitar tones (Joe Duplantier and Christian Andreu). But Mario doesn't just bash; his snare work is nuanced, with ghost notes and rim clicks adding texture even in the heaviest passages. The G-Maple's single-ply maple shell produces a warm, rounded tone that complements the Bubinga kick drums. Unlike the brightness of steel or bronze snares, this maple warmth helps the snare sit in the mix rather than sit on top of it. It's present without being harsh. Die-cast hoops contribute to the drum's focused attack. On songs like "The Art of Dying," where Mario plays extended blast beat sections, the consistent response of die-cast hoops (versus triple-flanged) provides the reliability needed for precision at extreme tempos. Engineer and co-producer Joe Duplantier placed the snare mic carefully to capture both the crack of direct hits and the resonance of the shell. The result is a snare that sounds natural and alive — not the sampled, triggered sound that dominated metal production in 2008. ### The Zildjian Arsenal Mario's Zildjian cymbal setup for "The Way of All Flesh" represents a mature evolution of his sound. The combination of K Custom (darker, more complex) and A Custom (brighter, more cutting) cymbals gives him a palette that matches the album's dynamic range. The 14" K Sweet Hi-Hats are central to Mario's playing style. Unlike the bright, aggressive hi-hats many metal drummers prefer, the K Sweets have warmth and complexity. They respond to velocity changes, allowing Mario's intricate hi-hat patterns to breathe. Listen to the verses of "Toxic Garbage Island" — those hi-hats are working hard, but they never become harsh. For crashes, Mario uses a range from 18" to 20", mixing A Custom brightness with K Custom darkness. The A Custom cuts through for accents, while K Custom crashes add atmosphere and sustain. This variety lets him match the cymbal to the musical moment. The 21" A Custom Mega Bell Ride is a distinctive choice. The massive bell provides aggressive accents that punctuate Gojira's riffs — listen to how Mario uses it in "Oroborus." But the bow is still musical enough for riding when needed. It's a versatile workhorse that suits Gojira's heavy-yet-progressive approach. The China cymbal (18" A Custom China) provides the trashy accents that punctuate transitions. Mario uses it sparingly but effectively — never a wall of China noise, but surgical strikes that emphasize key moments. ## Key Facts - Recorded at Studio Château de Beaulieu and Duplantier Studios - Self-produced by Joe and Mario Duplantier - Features "The Art of Dying" — considered one of the greatest death metal songs ever - Themes of death, transformation, and consciousness - Topped metal charts worldwide upon release - Established Gojira as global headliners - Mario was 27, at the peak of his technical and creative powers - Upgraded to Bubinga shells for increased warmth and punch - Dual bass drums for visual and sonic impact - Lower tuning to match darker thematic content - Toms used melodically, not just for fills - African Bubinga wood adds unique low-end character - Die-cast hoops for consistent tuning and sustain control - Estimated kit value: $4,500-6,500 (2008) / $6,000-9,000 (collector value today) - Estimated snare value: $500-700 (2008) **Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/the-way-of-all-flesh-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: 2026-06-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*