--- name: "Nick Augusto" band: "Trivium" page_type: "gear_evolution" profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/nick-augusto" evolution_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummers/nick-augusto/evolution" source: "https://metalforge.io" last_updated: "2026-07-03" --- # Nick Augusto Drum Kit Evolution — Complete Timeline Nick Augusto built his technical foundation on the grindcore and thrash underground with Maruta and Metal Militia before an unlikely path into Trivium's drum chair: joining the band as its drum technician in 2009, then stepping in as a fill-in drummer when Travis Smith went on hiatus mid-tour. That fill-in role became permanent, and Augusto's Pearl Reference Pure / Sabian AAX rig — first established for his 2011 studio debut "In Waves" — carried through "Vengeance Falls" (2013) before he departed Trivium in 2014 to form Corrosion and tour with Light the Torch. See also: [Nick Augusto drummer profile](/llms/drummers/nick-augusto.md) · [Nick Augusto gear history](/llms/gear-history/nick-augusto.md) --- ## Pre-Trivium: Maruta & Metal Militia Roots (2005–2009) **Albums:** Maruta and Metal Militia session/touring work prior to joining Trivium **Tours:** Metal Militia touring lineup (alongside Paolo Gregoletto), Maruta grindcore circuit dates Before Trivium, Nick Augusto built his playing style on the technical grindcore circuit as drummer for Maruta, and separately played in Metal Militia alongside future Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto — the connection that would eventually put him in Trivium's orbit. This period gave Augusto the speed and precision that later defined his fill-in audition for Trivium, though no single fixed gear endorsement from these years is publicly documented. Working the underground grindcore circuit meant relying on whatever session-grade hardware was available at a given venue or studio rather than a dedicated touring rig, a common reality for extreme metal drummers before landing a first major-label opportunity. - **Drums:** Various grindcore/thrash-circuit kits — no single fixed brand documented - **Snare:** Standard steel snares, varied by session - **Cymbals:** Varied by session, no fixed brand documented - **Hardware:** Standard touring hardware, pedal setup varied by engagement - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic (standard models, pre-Trivium era) - **Heads:** Standard session heads, varied by engagement - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$2,200 **Key developments:** - Drummed for technical grindcore band Maruta - Played in Metal Militia alongside future Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto - Built the speed and technical precision that would define his eventual Trivium audition - No fixed gear endorsement documented prior to joining Trivium --- ## Joining Trivium & In Waves (2009–2012) **Albums:** In Waves (2011) **Tours:** In Waves World Tour 2011–2012 **Q: How did Nick Augusto join Trivium?** A: Augusto's path into Trivium began unusually: he joined the band as its drum technician in 2009, then stepped in as a fill-in drummer after founding drummer Travis Smith went on hiatus mid-tour. The fill-in role became permanent, and Augusto's studio debut came on "In Waves" (2011) — the album that established the Pearl Reference Pure / Sabian AAX rig that would define his tenure. His powerful, technically aggressive playing pushed Trivium's thrash-metalcore hybrid toward tighter, more precise execution than the band's earlier records, and "In Waves" expanded Trivium's international fanbase considerably. - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure — double-bass 6-piece, maple/birch hybrid shells; 22"x18" bass drum (x2), 10"x8"/12"x9" rack toms, 16"x16"/18"x16" floor toms - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14"x6.5" Brass - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX Series — 14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 21" Stage Ride, 18" AAXtreme China - **Hardware:** Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5B - **Heads:** Evans G2 Clear (toms), EMAD (kick), Genera HD Dry (snare) - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$9,654 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$14,062) **Key developments:** - Joined Trivium as drum technician in 2009, then stepped in as fill-in drummer for Travis Smith mid-tour - Studio debut on In Waves (2011) — first full album as Trivium's frontline drummer - Established the Pearl Reference Pure / Sabian AAX rig that defined his Trivium tenure - In Waves expanded Trivium's international fanbase considerably --- ## Vengeance Falls: Final Studio Album (2012–2014) **Albums:** Vengeance Falls (2013) **Tours:** Vengeance Falls World Tour 2013–2014 **Q: Did Nick Augusto's gear change for Vengeance Falls?** A: Augusto carried the same Pearl Reference Pure / Sabian AAX / Evans configuration into "Vengeance Falls" (2013), his second and final studio album with Trivium, produced by Gojira's Joe Duplantier. The consistency of the rig across both albums reflected Augusto's road-tested approach to gear — built for speed and power rather than studio experimentation. He departed Trivium in 2014 citing creative differences and was replaced by Mat Madiro. - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure *(unchanged from In Waves)* - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14"x6.5" Brass *(unchanged)* - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX Series *(unchanged)* - **Hardware:** Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal *(unchanged)* - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5B *(unchanged)* - **Heads:** Evans (standard package) - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$10,200 (inflation-adjusted to 2026: ~$14,700) **Key developments:** - Vengeance Falls (2013) — produced by Gojira's Joe Duplantier, Augusto's second and final Trivium album - Carried the same Pearl Reference Pure / Sabian AAX rig unchanged from In Waves - Departed Trivium in 2014, citing creative differences - Replaced by Mat Madiro on drums --- ## Post-Trivium: Corrosion & Light the Torch (2014–Present) **Albums:** Corrosion material (2014–present) **Tours:** Light the Torch touring dates (session/touring drummer) **Q: What has Nick Augusto done since leaving Trivium?** A: After leaving Trivium in 2014, Augusto formed his own band Corrosion and has continued touring with acts including Light the Torch. No single fixed gear endorsement from this period is publicly documented in the way his Trivium-era Pearl Reference Pure rig was, reflecting the more varied session and touring work of a post-major-label career rather than a dedicated single-band setup. That shift mirrors a common pattern for drummers who build their reputation inside a major touring act: the signature endorsement deal tends to follow the band's visibility rather than the individual player. - **Drums:** Varied touring/session kits — no single fixed brand documented - **Snare:** Varied by engagement, no fixed snare documented - **Cymbals:** Varied by engagement, no fixed brand documented - **Hardware:** Standard touring hardware, pedal setup varied by engagement - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5B *(unchanged since Trivium)* - **Heads:** Standard session heads, varied by engagement - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$3,000 **Key developments:** - Departed Trivium in 2014 and formed his own band, Corrosion - Continued touring with acts including Light the Torch - Moved from a single dedicated endorsement rig to varied session/touring gear - Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks remain the one documented constant since his Trivium years --- ## Career Cost Overview | Era | Years | Kit Cost (Original) | Inflation-Adjusted | |---|---|---|---| | Pre-Trivium: Maruta & Metal Militia Roots | 2005–2009 | $2,200 | ~$3,000 | | Joining Trivium & In Waves | 2009–2012 | $9,654 | ~$14,062 | | Vengeance Falls: Final Studio Album | 2012–2014 | $10,200 | ~$14,700 | | Post-Trivium: Corrosion & Light the Torch | 2014–Present | $3,000 | ~$3,000 | --- ## Gear Brand Partnerships Timeline - **Pearl Reference Pure (drums)** — 2009–2014 (Trivium tenure) - **Sabian AAX Series (cymbals)** — 2009–2014 (Trivium tenure) - **Vic Firth American Classic 5B (sticks)** — 2005–present (career-long constant) - **Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal (hardware)** — 2009–2014 --- ## FAQ **Q: When was Nick Augusto in Trivium?** A: Nick Augusto was Trivium's drummer from 2009 to 2014. He initially joined as the band's drum technician before stepping in as a fill-in drummer after Travis Smith went on hiatus mid-tour, and the role became permanent. **Q: What albums did Nick Augusto record with Trivium?** A: Nick Augusto recorded two studio albums with Trivium: "In Waves" (2011), his studio debut, and "Vengeance Falls" (2013), produced by Gojira's Joe Duplantier, before departing the band in 2014. **Q: What drum kit did Nick Augusto use in Trivium?** A: Nick Augusto played a Pearl Reference Pure kit throughout his Trivium tenure, paired with a Pearl Reference 14"x6.5" Brass snare, Sabian AAX cymbals, and a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal — a rig established for his 2011 studio debut In Waves and carried unchanged through Vengeance Falls (2013). **Q: Why did Nick Augusto leave Trivium?** A: Nick Augusto departed Trivium in 2014, citing creative differences. He was replaced by Mat Madiro and went on to form his own band, Corrosion, while continuing to tour with acts including Light the Torch. **Q: What bands did Nick Augusto play in before Trivium?** A: Before Trivium, Nick Augusto drummed for the technical grindcore band Maruta and played in Metal Militia alongside future Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto — the connection that eventually led to his fill-in role in Trivium's drum chair. --- ## Related Pages - [Nick Augusto Drummer Profile](/llms/drummers/nick-augusto.md) - [Nick Augusto Gear History](/llms/gear-history/nick-augusto.md) - [Drummers Using Pearl Reference Pure](/llms/gear-comparison/drummers-using-pearl-reference-pure.md) - [Metal Drumming Facts & Stats](/llms/facts.md)