# The Sin and the Sentence Drum Setup: Alex Bent's Trivium Debut (2017)

> Complete gear breakdown for Alex Bent's first album with Trivium, The Sin and the Sentence (2017). Pearl Reference kit, Meinl Byzance cymbals, Axis pedals, and the Grammy-nominated record that introduced a tech-death drummer to arena metal.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Alex Bent](/llms/drummers/alex-bent.md)
**Band / Album:** Trivium — *The Sin and the Sentence* (2017)
**Genre:** Metalcore / Progressive Metal

## Overview

Trivium confirmed Alex Bent as their new full-time drummer in early 2017, closing out a lineup search that followed the departures of Nick Augusto and Mat Madiro. Bent arrived with a resume built almost entirely in the technical death metal underground — Brain Drill, Arkaik, Battlecross, and a run filling in for Gene Hoglan on Testament tour dates — a background that had little to do with Trivium's melodic metalcore roots on paper, but proved to be exactly what the band needed.

"The Sin and the Sentence," released October 20, 2017 on Roadrunner Records, is Trivium's eighth studio album and Bent's recording debut with the band. It was tracked at Hybrid Studios in Santa Ana, California with producer Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Gojira, Megadeth), who pushed the band back toward a heavier, more direct sound after the more melodic "Silence in the Snow" (2015).

The album's second single, "Betrayer," earned Trivium their first Grammy nomination — Best Metal Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019, ultimately losing to High on Fire's "Electric Messiah." It was a watershed moment for a band that had spent over a decade grinding through lineup changes and genre shifts, and it happened on the first album featuring their new drummer.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series (Matte Black), double 22" x 18" bass drums, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms
- **Snare:** Pearl Reference Snare, 14" x 6.5", maple/birch hybrid shell
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Brilliant — 14" Medium Hi-Hats, 16"/18" Medium Thin Crashes, 21" Medium Ride, 18" China
- **Pedals:** Axis A21 Longboard Double Pedal
- **Heads:** Evans EMAD/EQ3 (kick), Evans G2/G1 Clear (toms), Evans EC Reverse Dot/Hazy 300 (snare)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension for articulation at speed

### Introducing the Pearl Reference Series

For his first Trivium session, Alex Bent brought in a Pearl Reference Series kit in matte black — the setup that would remain essentially unchanged for the rest of his tenure with the band. The double 22" x 18" bass drum configuration reflects his tech-death background: rather than a single kick and a double pedal, Bent preferred two independent bass drums for maximum consistency at the extreme speeds his prior bands demanded.

The tom configuration is compact by design — just a 10" and 12" rack tom paired with 14" and 16" floor toms — favoring quick movement around the kit over a sprawling melodic array. The maple/birch hybrid shells gave Josh Wilbur a drum tone with both warmth and cut, translating well against Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu's dense, downtuned guitar tracking.

### The Reference Snare's First Trivium Outing

Bent paired his kit with a 14" x 6.5" Pearl Reference snare, tuned on the higher side for articulation at speed — a tuning philosophy carried over directly from his technical death metal background. On "Betrayer" and the title track, the snare cuts cleanly through Wilbur's dense guitar mix without needing to be pushed hard in the console.

### Meinl Byzance Brilliant Debut

Bent's Meinl Byzance Brilliant setup made its Trivium debut on this record. The Brilliant finish's polished, articulate tone was a deliberate fit for Wilbur's production — bright enough to cut through the album's thick guitar tracking without sounding harsh, and clean enough to handle the technical hi-hat and ride work Bent brought from his tech-death background.

## Key Facts

- Alex Bent's studio debut with Trivium after being confirmed as full-time drummer in early 2017
- Trivium's eighth studio album, released October 20, 2017 on Roadrunner Records
- Recorded at Hybrid Studios, Santa Ana, CA with producer Josh Wilbur
- "Betrayer" earned Trivium's first Grammy nomination — Best Metal Performance, 61st Grammy Awards (2019)
- Bent's technical death metal background (Brain Drill, Arkaik, Battlecross) reshaped Trivium's rhythmic vocabulary
- First appearance of the double-bass-driven, Pearl/Meinl/Axis setup that carried through his Trivium tenure
- Estimated kit value: $5,000-8,000 (2017)

## FAQ

**What drum kit did Alex Bent use on The Sin and the Sentence?**
Alex Bent recorded The Sin and the Sentence (2017) on a Pearl Reference Series kit in a matte black finish, featuring double 22" x 18" bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. The maple/birch hybrid shells gave producer Josh Wilbur a drum tone with both warmth and cut. This exact configuration became the foundation for Bent's entire Trivium tenure.

**Who is Alex Bent and how did he join Trivium?**
Alex Bent (born January 31, 1993, in Oakland, California) is an American drummer confirmed as Trivium's full-time drummer in early 2017, following the departures of Nick Augusto and Mat Madiro. Before joining, he built a reputation in the technical death metal underground with Brain Drill, Arkaik, and Battlecross, and had filled in for Gene Hoglan on Testament tour dates.

**Did The Sin and the Sentence receive a Grammy nomination?**
Yes. "Betrayer," a single from The Sin and the Sentence, earned Trivium their first Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019. The award ultimately went to High on Fire for "Electric Messiah."

**What cymbals does Alex Bent play?**
On The Sin and the Sentence, Alex Bent played Meinl Byzance Brilliant series cymbals: 14" Medium Hi-Hats, 16" and 18" Medium Thin Crashes, a 21" Medium Ride, and an 18" China, paired with an Axis A21 Longboard double pedal.

**Where was The Sin and the Sentence recorded?**
The Sin and the Sentence was recorded at Hybrid Studios in Santa Ana, California, with producer Josh Wilbur. It was released October 20, 2017 on Roadrunner Records as Trivium's eighth studio album, and the first to feature new drummer Alex Bent.

## Related Albums

- [Shogun drum setup](/articles/shogun-drum-setup) — 2008, Nick Augusto's Trivium debut era
- [Nick Augusto drum setup](/articles/nick-augusto-drum-setup) — In Waves / Vengeance Falls era, Bent's Trivium predecessor
- [What the Dead Men Say drum setup](/articles/trivium-what-the-dead-men-say-drum-setup) — 2020, Bent's second Trivium album
- [Alex Bent kit profile](/articles/whats-in-alex-bents-kit) — complete career gear overview

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/trivium-sin-and-the-sentence-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*