# What's In Alex Bent's Trivium Arsenal: Complete Gear Breakdown > Discover the drums, cymbals, and gear Alex Bent used during his legendary run with Trivium (2017-2025). Technical death metal precision meets arena-ready power. **Type:** Kit Breakdown **Drummer(s):** [Alex Bent](/llms/drummers/alex-bent.md) **Band / Album:** Trivium **Genre:** Modern Metal / Technical Death Metal ## Overview When Trivium announced Alex Bent as their new drummer in early 2017, many fans wondered: who is this guy? The answer came crushing down the moment they heard "The Sin and the Sentence." Here was a drummer who could execute the most demanding technical death metal patterns while never losing sight of the groove—a perfect fit for a band that had always pushed metal's boundaries. Born January 31, 1993, in Oakland, California, Alex Bent was only 24 when he joined Trivium. But his resume was already stacked with tech-death credentials: Brain Drill, Arkaik, Battlecross, and even filling in for the legendary Gene Hoglan on Testament tour dates. Producer Mark Lewis recommended him to Trivium, and the rest is history. Over eight years and four albums—"The Sin and the Sentence" (2017), "What the Dead Men Say" (2020), "In the Court of the Dragon" (2021), and "Struck Dead" (2025)—Bent elevated Trivium's rhythmic complexity while maintaining the accessibility that made them one of metal's biggest acts. His departure in October 2025 marked the end of an era. This article breaks down the gear that powered Alex Bent's Trivium years: the drums, cymbals, pedals, and techniques that allowed a technical death metal prodigy to dominate festival stages and arenas worldwide. ## Gear Breakdown - **Drums:** Pearl Pearl Reference Series (Custom Matte Black finish) - **Snare:** Pearl Pearl Reference Snare, 14" x 6.5" - **Cymbals:** Meinl — Meinl Byzance Series - **Hardware / Pedals:** Axis A21 Longboard Double Pedal; Pearl H-2050 Eliminator; Pearl D-3500BR Roadster; Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Evans EC Reverse Dot (batter), Evans Hazy 300 (resonant) - **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension for articulation at speed ### Alex's Trivium-Era Pearl Setup Alex Bent's kit setup for Trivium was built for one purpose: translating technical death metal precision to arena-scale power. His Pearl Reference Series configuration balanced the attack needed for intricate patterns with the projection required for festival stages and 10,000+ capacity venues. The double bass drum setup—two 22" x 18" kick drums—provided the foundation for Alex's blistering footwork. Unlike drummers who trigger bass drums to the point of sounding mechanical, Bent used triggers primarily for consistency at extreme speeds while preserving the acoustic character. The deep 18" shells delivered low-end punch that translated well through massive PA systems. The rack tom configuration is notably minimalist for a drummer of Bent's technical abilities: just 10" and 12" mounted toms. This keeps the setup focused and efficient, allowing faster transitions between playing surfaces. Combined with 14" and 16" floor toms, the kit provides enough voice variety without becoming cumbersome. The Reference Series shells—with their maple/birch hybrid construction—deliver the best of both worlds: maple's warmth and sustain combined with birch's attack and cut. This was essential for Trivium's sound, which ranges from intricate progressive passages to crushing groove sections. ### The Cutting Edge Alex's snare drum choice reflects his approach to the instrument: versatility without compromise. The 14" x 6.5" Pearl Reference snare provides the crack and projection needed to cut through Trivium's dense guitar arrangements while offering enough body for groove-heavy passages. The hybrid maple/birch shell construction is key. Maple provides warmth and sustain for slower, more dynamic sections—crucial for songs like "Beyond Oblivion" or "The Sin and the Sentence." Birch contributes attack and cut for the faster, more aggressive passages where the snare needs to punch through walls of down-tuned guitars. Bent typically tuned the snare on the higher side—not as extreme as some death metal drummers, but tight enough to ensure articulation at high tempos. This tuning, combined with tighter snare wire tension, gave him the response needed for ghost notes and intricate patterns inherited from his tech-death background. ### Meinl Precision Alex Bent's cymbal setup evolved during his Trivium tenure, but the core philosophy remained consistent: Meinl Byzance cymbals that could handle extreme metal intensity while maintaining musical tone. The Byzance Brilliant series was ideal for Bent's style. Unlike the raw, trashy sound of some extreme metal cymbals, the Byzance Brilliants offer a more refined tone with excellent stick definition. This was crucial for translating Bent's intricate hi-hat work and ride patterns to live settings where clarity matters. The 14" Medium Hi-Hats struck a balance between heaviness for chick work and responsiveness for fast patterns. Multiple crashes (16", 18", 19") provided tonal variety for Trivium's dynamic arrangements. The 18" China cymbal added the aggressive edge needed for heavier passages. ## Key Facts - Joined Trivium in 2017 at producer Mark Lewis's recommendation - Technical death metal background (Brain Drill, Arkaik, Battlecross) - Filled in for Gene Hoglan on Testament dates before Trivium - Axis Percussion endorser—known for extreme pedal speed - Departed Trivium in October 2025 after four acclaimed albums - Double bass drum setup for acoustic power + trigger consistency - Minimalist tom configuration for efficient movement - Reference Series shells chosen for versatility across Trivium's dynamic range - Matte black finish maintained the band's visual aesthetic - Deep shells provide the projection for arena/festival settings - Estimated kit value: $5,000-8,000 (Pearl Reference Series configuration) - Estimated snare value: $500-700 **Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/whats-in-alex-bents-kit **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)*