# When Legends Rise Drum Setup: Shannon Larkin's Pearl Reference Pure Gear on Godsmack's #1 Rock Album (2018)

> Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and pedals Shannon Larkin used on Godsmack's When Legends Rise (2018) — #4 Billboard 200, #1 Mainstream Rock chart (7 weeks). Pearl Reference Pure drums, Sabian HHX/AAX cymbals, DW 9000 pedals, and the most polished studio performance of Larkin's Godsmack career.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Shannon Larkin](/llms/drummers/shannon-larkin.md)
**Band / Album:** Godsmack — *When Legends Rise* (2018)
**Genre:** Hard Rock
**Label:** BMG

## Overview

Released on April 27, 2018, *When Legends Rise* is Godsmack's seventh studio album and their most commercially polished release to date. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and hit #1 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. The title track "When Legends Rise" spent seven consecutive weeks at #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart — the longest chart-topping run of the band's career — while "Bulletproof" and "Under Your Scars" both reached the top five. For Shannon Larkin, this is the peak of his Godsmack studio production work: a performance defined by clarity, precision, and deliberate gear choices tuned to the album's radio-ready aesthetic.

By 2018, Larkin had refined his setup once more from the Oracle-era configuration. The Pearl Reference Series gave way to the Pearl Reference Pure — Pearl's redesigned flagship featuring pure maple shells for maximum warmth and sustained fundamental. His Sabian cymbal configuration received a targeted update: Sabian AAX hi-hats replaced his previous HH configuration, providing a brighter, more cutting chick character suited to *WLR*'s polished production. His pedal setup returned to the DW 9000 double bass pedal, consistent with the Oracle era, delivering the smooth spring-loaded precision that groove-forward material demands.

*When Legends Rise* closes Godsmack's post-2000 studio arc: *Faceless* (2003) established Larkin's Godsmack voice, *IV* (2006) drove toward heavier territory, and *When Legends Rise* represents the fully realized, production-polished destination.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure (pure maple shells, double 22" bass drums, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms)
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating 14" x 6.5" Brass
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX 14" Stage Hi-Hats / Sabian HHX 17" & 19" Evolution Crashes / Sabian HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride / Sabian HHX 18" Chinese
- **Pedals:** DW 9000 Double Bass Pedal
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter toms), Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)

### Pearl Reference Pure: Pure Maple Flagship

The Pearl Reference Pure represents Pearl's return to single-species maple shell construction at the flagship tier. Where the original Pearl Reference Series used a hybrid maple/birch shell for a more attack-forward, punchy character, the Reference Pure's all-maple construction delivers maximum warmth and sustained fundamental — a fuller resonance that sits precisely in *WLR*'s polished studio production. The double 22" kick configuration and four-tom spread (10", 12", 14", 16") are constants Larkin has maintained across every Godsmack studio album.

### Sabian HHX / AAX: Hybrid Configuration for Radio-Ready Production

The defining cymbal update for *When Legends Rise*: Sabian AAX hi-hats replace Larkin's earlier HH configuration. The AAX line's machine-hammered construction delivers the bright, cutting chick that projects clearly through *WLR*'s polished mix — the most-heard element of Larkin's groove voiced for maximum definition. The HHX Evolution Crashes (17" and 19") and HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride continue as signature accent and time-keeping voices, their hand-hammered complexity adding musical depth to the arrangements. The HHX 18" Chinese provides dark trash accents for "Bulletproof" and "Say My Name."

### DW 9000 Double Bass Pedal

The DW 9000 is Shannon Larkin's Oracle-era pedal of choice, returning for *When Legends Rise*. Its spring-loaded cam system and direct-drive chain mechanism deliver the smooth, reliable double-kick feel that *WLR*'s groove-forward material demands. The DW 9000's precision engineering — developed and refined over decades of professional hard rock and metal application — makes it one of the most trusted flagship double pedals in the industry.

## Key Facts

- *When Legends Rise* debuted #4 on Billboard 200 (April 2018) and #1 on Billboard Top Rock Albums
- "When Legends Rise" spent 7 weeks at #1 on Mainstream Rock — longest chart run of Godsmack's career
- Pearl Reference Pure — pure maple shells replacing the hybrid Reference Series construction
- Sabian AAX hi-hats: targeted update for brighter, more cutting groove definition in polished production
- DW 9000 Double Bass Pedal — spring-loaded precision for groove-forward hard rock drumming
- *When Legends Rise* closes Godsmack's post-2000 studio arc (Faceless → IV → Oracle → WLR)
- Estimated kit value: $4,000–7,000 (Pearl Reference Pure shell pack, 2018 era)

## FAQ

**What drums does Shannon Larkin use on When Legends Rise?**
Pearl Reference Pure drums — double 22" bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, 14" and 16" floor toms. The Reference Pure features pure maple shells for maximum warmth and sustain, an evolution from the hybrid maple/birch Reference Series used on Godsmack IV (2006).

**What cymbals does Shannon Larkin play on When Legends Rise?**
A hybrid Sabian setup: AAX 14" Stage Hi-Hats for bright, cutting groove definition, plus Sabian HHX Evolution Crashes (17" and 19"), HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, and HHX 18" Chinese for accent and time-keeping voices. The AAX hi-hat update distinguishes this from his earlier Oracle-era all-HHX configuration.

**What pedals does Shannon Larkin use live with Godsmack?**
DW 9000 Double Bass Pedals — on *When Legends Rise* (2018) and throughout his Oracle-era setups. The DW 9000's spring-loaded cam system delivers the smooth, consistent feel his groove-forward hard rock drumming requires. The DW 9000 is one of the most trusted flagship double pedals in professional rock and metal.

**How does When Legends Rise compare to Godsmack IV for drumming?**
*When Legends Rise* (2018) is a more polished, production-focused performance than *IV* (2006). The Pearl Reference Pure replaces the hybrid Reference Series (pure vs. maple/birch shells), the hi-hats shifted from HH to AAX for brighter projection, and the DW 9000 pedals replace the Pearl Eliminator. Both albums use the same fundamental configuration (double 22" kicks, four toms), but *WLR*'s sound is warmer and more radio-ready where *IV* was harder-hitting.

## Related Content

- [Shannon Larkin drummer profile](/drummer/shannon-larkin)
- [Shannon Larkin complete gear guide](/articles/shannon-larkin-drum-setup)
- [Godsmack IV drum setup (2006)](/articles/godsmack-iv-drum-setup) — the Pearl Reference Series era
- [Faceless drum setup (2003)](/articles/faceless-drum-setup) — the Tama Starclassic Maple origin
- [Browse all drummers](/drummers)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/when-legends-rise-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-27 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*