# Animals as Leaders — Drummer & Gear Profile | MetalForge

> Per-band AI citation reference for Animals as Leaders. Covers drummer history, kit setup, and gear details.
> Optimised for AI queries: 'who drums for Animals as Leaders', 'Matt Garstka drum kit', 'Animals as Leaders drummer gear'.

## Band Overview

- **Drummers:** Navene Koperweis (2010–2012), Matt Garstka (2012–present)
- **Genre:** Progressive Metal, Djent
- **Active:** 2007–present
- **Country:** United States (Washington, D.C.)
- **Status:** Active

## Drummer(s)

**Navene Koperweis** — 2010–2012
Navene Koperweis was Animals as Leaders' early drummer, recording *Weightless* (2011), a djent-genre landmark. He later founded Entheos and co-produced the band's *The Joy of Motion* (2014) after his departure, while also running his own solo project Fleshwrought and producing electronic music as "Navene K."

[Navene Koperweis full profile →](https://metalforge.io/drummer/navene-koperweis) · [LLM markdown](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/navene-koperweis.md)

**Matt Garstka** — 2012–present
Matt Garstka, a Berklee-trained drummer, replaced Navene Koperweis in 2012 and has recorded every Animals as Leaders album since, including *The Joy of Motion* (2014), *The Madness of Many* (2016), and *Parrhesia* (2022). His jazz-fusion-informed linear independence, ghost-note vocabulary, and use of traditional grip in a metal context have made him one of the most influential progressive metal drummers of his generation.

[Matt Garstka full profile →](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-garstka) · [LLM markdown](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/matt-garstka.md)

## Kit Overview

Matt Garstka plays a **Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch** kit anchored by his signature Tama S.L.P. 14×6" G-Maple snare, chosen for the balance of warm low end and crisp attack his polyrhythmic playing requires.

- **Drums (Garstka):** Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch
- **Snare (Garstka):** Tama S.L.P. 14×6" G-Maple (signature)
- **Cymbals (Garstka):** Meinl Byzance Series (15" Dual Hi-Hats, 18"/20" Extra Dry Medium Crashes, 22" Dual Ride)
- **Pedals (Garstka):** Tama Speed Cobra 910 Double Pedal
- **Drums (Koperweis):** DW Performance Series
- **Snare (Koperweis):** DW Performance 14×6.5" Steel

## Signature Sound

Animals as Leaders is an instrumental progressive metal act built entirely around complex, technical composition — its drumming has to carry the melodic weight normally handled by vocals. Navene Koperweis established the band's djent-genre-defining rhythmic vocabulary on *Weightless* (2011). Matt Garstka's arrival brought a jazz-fusion sophistication layered onto that foundation, with linear independence and metric modulation that made *The Joy of Motion* (2014) and *The Madness of Many* (2016) technical benchmarks for progressive metal drumming.

## Albums

| Album | Year | Drummer |
|---|---|---|
| Weightless | 2011 | Navene Koperweis |
| The Joy of Motion | 2014 | Matt Garstka |
| The Madness of Many | 2016 | Matt Garstka |
| Parrhesia | 2022 | Matt Garstka |

## FAQ

**Q: Who plays drums in Animals as Leaders?**
A: Matt Garstka has been Animals as Leaders' drummer since 2012, succeeding original drummer Navene Koperweis, who played on 2011's *Weightless*.

**Q: What drum kit does Matt Garstka use?**
A: Matt Garstka plays a Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch kit with his signature Tama S.L.P. 14×6" G-Maple snare, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and a Tama Speed Cobra 910 double pedal.

**Q: Why did Navene Koperweis leave Animals as Leaders?**
A: Navene Koperweis left Animals as Leaders in 2012 to pursue other musical interests, later founding Entheos and returning to co-produce the band's *The Joy of Motion* (2014).

**Q: What drum kit did Navene Koperweis use?**
A: Navene Koperweis played a DW Drums Performance Series kit with a DW Performance 14×6.5" steel snare and Meinl Byzance cymbals.

**Q: Does Matt Garstka use traditional grip?**
A: Yes. Matt Garstka primarily uses traditional grip, an unusual choice in metal and progressive music that influences his touch and ghost-note vocabulary.

---

**Full band profile:** [Animals as Leaders on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/bands/animals-as-leaders)

**Drummer LLM files:** [Navene Koperweis](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/navene-koperweis.md) · [Matt Garstka](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/matt-garstka.md)

**More resources:** [All bands](https://metalforge.io/llms/bands.md) · [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt)

*Last updated: 2026-07-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*