--- name: "Arin Ilejay" band: "Avenged Sevenfold" page_type: "gear_evolution" profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/arin-ilejay" evolution_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummers/arin-ilejay/evolution" source: "https://metalforge.io" last_updated: "2026-07-04" --- # Arin Ilejay Drum Kit Evolution — Complete Timeline Arin Ilejay went from the Orange County post-hardcore club circuit with Confide to the drum stool vacated by Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, recording Avenged Sevenfold's chart-topping "Hail to the King" (2013) on a Mapex Saturn Series / Zildjian A Custom rig before a 2015 split sent him into Islander and session work. See also: [Arin Ilejay drummer profile](/llms/drummers/arin-ilejay.md) · [Arin Ilejay gear history](/llms/gear-history/arin-ilejay.md) --- ## Confide & Pre-A7X Years (2007–2010) **Albums:** Confide: Recover (2007), Confide: This Life (2009) **Tours:** Confide Southern California club circuit (2007–2010) Ilejay cut his teeth drumming for Orange County post-hardcore act Confide starting in 2007, touring the Southern California club circuit and building the powerful, straight-ahead playing style that would later suit Avenged Sevenfold's classic-metal turn. As with most unsigned club-circuit acts of the era, no single fixed drum, cymbal, or stick endorsement from this period is publicly documented. - **Drums:** Various club-circuit kits — no single fixed brand documented - **Snare:** Standard steel snares, varied by gig - **Cymbals:** Varied by gig, no fixed brand documented - **Hardware:** Standard touring hardware, no fixed brand documented - **Sticks:** Standard hickory sticks, varied by gig (pre-Vic Firth era) - **Heads:** Standard club-circuit heads, varied by gig - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$1,600 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$2,300) **Key developments:** - Joined Orange County post-hardcore band Confide in 2007 - Toured the Southern California club circuit through 2010 - Built the powerful, straightforward drumming style later heard on Hail to the King - No fixed gear endorsement documented prior to his Avenged Sevenfold audition --- ## Avenged Sevenfold / Hail to the King Era (2011–2015) **Albums:** Avenged Sevenfold: Hail to the King (2013) **Tours:** Hail to the King World Tour (2013–2015) **Q: How did Arin Ilejay join Avenged Sevenfold?** A: Avenged Sevenfold announced on January 20, 2011 that "former Confide drummer" Arin Ilejay would begin touring with the band, filling the seat vacated after Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan's 2009 death and Mike Portnoy's session stint on "Nightmare" (2010). Ilejay was confirmed as a full-time member during the recording of "Hail to the King" (2013), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and he built out a Mapex Saturn Series / Zildjian A Custom Mastersound rig for the album's touring cycle before the band announced their split in July 2015. - **Drums:** Mapex Saturn Series — maple/walnut hybrid shell pack - **Snare:** Mapex Black Panther 14"x6.5" - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series — 14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" A Custom Crashes, 21" A Sweet Ride, 18" A Custom China - **Hardware:** Mapex Falcon Double Pedal, Mapex T865 Throne - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A - **Heads:** Evans - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$6,800 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$9,400) **Key developments:** - Began touring with Avenged Sevenfold in 2011 - Confirmed full-time member during Hail to the King (2013) recording sessions - Hail to the King debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 - Band announced their split with Ilejay in July 2015 --- ## Islander & Session Work (2015–Present) **Albums:** Islander: Power Under Control (2016) **Tours:** Islander touring dates (2016–present) **Q: What has Arin Ilejay done since leaving Avenged Sevenfold?** A: After Avenged Sevenfold announced their split with Ilejay in mid-2015, he joined Greenville, South Carolina rap-rock band Islander in 2016, replacing Eric Fraizer and recording the group's "Power Under Control" (2016). He has continued with solo work and session drumming in the years since, without a single publicly documented gear endorsement replacing the Mapex/Zildjian rig from his Avenged Sevenfold years. - **Drums:** Not publicly documented since the Avenged Sevenfold era - **Snare:** Not publicly documented - **Cymbals:** Not publicly documented - **Hardware:** Not publicly documented - **Sticks:** Not publicly documented - **Heads:** Not publicly documented - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$3,200 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$3,900) **Key developments:** - Avenged Sevenfold announced their split with Ilejay in July 2015 - Joined Islander in 2016, replacing Eric Fraizer - Recorded Islander's Power Under Control (2016) - Continues solo work and session drumming without a publicly documented gear endorsement --- ## Career Cost Overview | Era | Years | Kit Cost (Original) | Inflation-Adjusted | |---|---|---|---| | Confide & Pre-A7X Years | 2007–2010 | $1,600 | ~$2,300 | | Avenged Sevenfold / Hail to the King Era | 2011–2015 | $6,800 | ~$9,400 | | Islander & Session Work | 2015–Present | $3,200 | ~$3,900 | --- ## Gear Brand Partnerships Timeline - **Mapex Saturn Series (drums)** — 2011–2015 (Avenged Sevenfold era) - **Zildjian A Custom Series (cymbals)** — 2011–2015 - **Vic Firth American Classic 5A (sticks)** — 2011–2015 - **Mapex Falcon Double Pedal (hardware)** — 2011–2015 --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit did Arin Ilejay play in Avenged Sevenfold?** A: Arin Ilejay played a Mapex Saturn Series kit with a Mapex Black Panther 14"x6.5" snare, Zildjian A Custom cymbals, and a Mapex Falcon double pedal — the rig documented across Avenged Sevenfold's Hail to the King (2013) recording and touring cycle. **Q: Was Arin Ilejay in Confide before Avenged Sevenfold?** A: Yes — Ilejay drummed for the Orange County post-hardcore band Confide starting in 2007, touring the Southern California club circuit before Avenged Sevenfold announced he would begin touring with them in January 2011. **Q: Why did Arin Ilejay leave Avenged Sevenfold?** A: Avenged Sevenfold announced their split with Ilejay in July 2015, citing creative differences. He had been the band's drummer since 2011 and recorded one studio album with them, Hail to the King (2013). **Q: What has Arin Ilejay done since leaving Avenged Sevenfold?** A: Since departing Avenged Sevenfold in 2015, Ilejay joined Greenville rap-rock band Islander in 2016, recording "Power Under Control," and has continued with solo work and session drumming. **Q: Did Arin Ilejay record any albums with Avenged Sevenfold?** A: Ilejay recorded one studio album with Avenged Sevenfold, "Hail to the King" (2013), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and multiple international charts. --- ## Related Pages - [Arin Ilejay Drummer Profile](/llms/drummers/arin-ilejay.md) - [Arin Ilejay Gear History](/llms/gear-history/arin-ilejay.md) - [Metal Drumming Facts & Stats](/llms/facts.md)