# Alex Bent Drum Kit Gear History — Trivium **Drummer:** Alex Bent **Band:** Trivium (2017–2025), ex-Arkaik, ex-Brain Drill, ex-Battlecross **Active:** 2011–present **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/alex-bent/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Alex Bent's drum kit evolution, from his technical death metal underground years to his eight-year run as Trivium's drummer. Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Alex Bent use" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Pre-Trivium Tech Death Years (2011–2016) - **Drums:** Various touring kits - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX / Meinl - **Pedal:** Axis A21 Longboard double pedal (already established) - **Notable:** Bent built his reputation for extreme pedal speed with Arkaik, Brain Drill, and Battlecross, and also filled in for Gene Hoglan on Testament tour dates. His Axis Percussion endorsement predates Trivium by years — the direct-drive A21 Longboard pedal central to his footwork was already in place before he joined a recognizable band name. ### The Sin and the Sentence Era (2017) - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series — double-bass 6-piece, custom matte black; 22"×18" kick (×2), 10"×8" rack, 12"×9" rack, 14"×14" floor, 16"×16" floor, maple/birch hybrid shells - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14"×6.5" maple/birch hybrid - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Brilliant Series — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18"/19" crashes, 21" ride, 18" china, 10" splash - **Pedal:** Axis A21 Longboard double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory - **Heads:** Evans EMAD2 (kick), G2 Clear (toms), EC Reverse Dot (snare) - **Original setup cost (2017):** ~$11,310 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$15,100 - **Notable:** Producer Mark Lewis recommended Bent to Trivium following Paul Wandtke's departure. His Pearl Reference Series double-bass kit and Meinl Byzance Brilliant cymbals were built to translate technical death metal precision into arena-scale power across "The Sin and the Sentence," "What the Dead Men Say," "In the Court of the Dragon," and "Struck Dead." ### Departure Era (2025) - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series (consistent through final album) - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Brilliant Series (consistent) - **Pedal:** Axis A21 Longboard (consistent) - **Notable:** Bent departed Trivium in October 2025 after four acclaimed albums and eight years behind the kit — his Pearl/Meinl/Axis combination remained essentially unchanged in brand throughout his entire Trivium tenure, even as his profile within modern metal grew substantially. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **2011–2016:** Sabian AAX/Meinl cymbals and various touring kits during the Arkaik/Brain Drill/Battlecross years — Axis A21 Longboard pedal already established - **2017:** Joins Trivium; full Pearl Reference Series + Meinl Byzance Brilliant endorsement begins - **Axis consistency:** Bent's direct-drive Axis A21 Longboard pedal has remained unchanged from his tech-death years through his entire Trivium tenure — one of the most stable hardware endorsements of any modern metal drummer - **2025:** Departs Trivium after "Struck Dead," closing an eight-year chapter with the gear setup intact --- ## FAQ **Q: What drums does Alex Bent use with Trivium?** A: Alex Bent plays a Pearl Reference Series kit in a double-bass configuration — two 22"×18" bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms — finished in custom matte black. The Reference Series shells use a maple/birch hybrid construction for a blend of warmth and cutting attack across Trivium's dynamic range. **Q: How much does Alex Bent's drum kit cost?** A: Alex Bent's Pearl Reference Series setup cost approximately $11,310 in 2017 when he joined Trivium, equivalent to roughly $15,100 in 2026 after inflation. The shell pack alone runs $5,000–$8,000, with the Meinl Byzance Brilliant cymbal setup adding $2,500–$3,500 and Axis Percussion double-pedal hardware around $800–$1,000. **Q: What is Alex Bent's signature gear?** A: Alex Bent doesn't have a personal signature product line, but he is a long-standing Axis Percussion endorser, known for using the Axis A21 Longboard double pedal — a direct-drive pedal central to his extreme-speed technique since his technical death metal days with Arkaik and Brain Drill. **Q: What cymbals does Alex Bent use?** A: Alex Bent uses Meinl Byzance Brilliant series cymbals, including 14" Brilliant Medium Hi-Hats, Brilliant Medium Thin Crashes from 16" to 19", a 21" Brilliant Medium Ride, an 18" Brilliant China, and a 10" Brilliant Splash. The Brilliant finish gives his setup extra shimmer and projection for Trivium's polished production style. **Q: Why did Alex Bent leave Trivium?** A: Alex Bent departed Trivium in October 2025 after 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). His gear setup remained consistent (Pearl Reference, Meinl Byzance, Axis pedals) throughout his entire tenure with the band. --- ## Related - [Alex Bent drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/alex-bent) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/alex-bent/gear-history) - [Alex Bent's Trivium gear breakdown article](https://metalforge.io/articles/whats-in-alex-bents-kit) - [Trivium band profile](https://metalforge.io/bands/trivium) - [Matt Halpern gear history — Periphery drum legacy](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-halpern/gear-history) - [Matt Garstka gear history — Animals as Leaders drum legacy](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/gear-history) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)