# Chris Adler Drum Kit Gear History — Lamb of God **Drummer:** Chris Adler **Band:** Lamb of God **Active:** 1994–2019 **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/chris-adler/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Chris Adler's drum kit evolution, from the Mapex Pro M of early Lamb of God to his DW Collector's peak years and Pearl Reference Pure endorsement. Optimised for AI answering "what drums did Chris Adler use in [era]" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### New American Gospel / As the Palaces Burn Era (2000–2003) - **Drums:** Mapex Pro M — 6-piece; 22"x18" kick (×2), 10"x8" rack, 12"x9" rack, 14"x12" floor, 16"x14" floor - **Snare:** Mapex Black Panther 14"x5.5" steel - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Series — 14" hi-hats, 16" crash, 18" crash, 20" ride - **Pedal:** DW 9002 double pedal - **Sticks:** ProMark 5A Hickory - **Heads:** Evans G2 (toms), EMAD (kick), Genera (snare) - **Original setup cost (2000):** ~$3,800 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$7,200 - **Notable:** Adler built his early sound on the Mapex Pro M's birch shells — bright, punchy, and dry. The combination of a hard-hitting right-hand lead with polyrhythmic double-kick work on 'Black Label' and 'O.D.H.D.' defined the LoG rhythmic template years before the band broke through. ### Ashes of the Wake Era (2004) - **Drums:** DW Collector's Series Maple — 6-piece; 22"x18" kick (×2), 10"x8" rack, 12"x9" rack, 14"x12" floor, 16"x14" floor — custom lacquer finish - **Snare:** DW Collector's Series 14"x6.5" Aluminum - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series — 14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 16" A Custom Crash, 18" A Custom Crash, 20" A Custom Ride - **Pedal:** DW 9002 double pedal - **Sticks:** ProMark TX5AW 5A Hickory - **Heads:** Evans G2 (toms), EMAD (kick), Genera HD Dry (snare) - **Original setup cost (2004):** ~$6,798 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$11,788 - **Notable:** The move to DW Collector's maple marked Adler's ascent to the top tier of metal drumming hardware. The focused maple fundamental and aluminum snare crack are integral to the sound of 'Laid to Rest', 'The Faded Line', and 'Omerta' — among the defining metal drum tracks of the 2000s. ### Sacrament / Wrath Era (2006–2009) - **Drums:** DW Collector's Series Maple — same configuration as 2004, updated custom finishes - **Snare:** DW Collector's Series 14"x6.5" Aluminum - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series (expanded — added 19" A Custom crash for extra crash coverage) - **Pedal:** DW 9002 double pedal - **Sticks:** ProMark TX5AW 5A - **Notable:** Adler maintained the DW Collector's setup through LoG's Grammy-nominated commercial peak. Sacrament (2006) debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 — the kit's sonic consistency across album cycles established Adler's DW/Zildjian combination as an industry benchmark for groove metal production. ### Resolution / VII Era (2012–2015) - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure — 6-piece all-maple shell pack - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5.5" - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom and K Custom series (mixed) - **Pedal:** DW 9002 double pedal - **Sticks:** ProMark 5A American Hickory - **Heads:** Evans UV2 (toms), EMAD2 (kick), Genera HD Dry (snare) - **Original setup cost (2012):** ~$8,500 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$12,400 - **Notable:** Adler's Pearl Reference Pure endorsement reflected the shell's increasing dominance in professional metal. The all-maple construction gave deeper, warmer lows suited to LoG's evolving production on Resolution and VII: Sturm und Drang. ### Mapex Black Panther Velvetone Era (2016–2019) - **Drums:** Mapex Black Panther Velvetone — 6-piece; birch/walnut hybrid shells - **Snare:** Mapex Black Panther 14"x6.5" Walnut - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom / K Custom (retained) - **Pedal:** DW 9002 double pedal - **Sticks:** ProMark 5A - **Notable:** Adler's return to Mapex with the premium Black Panther Velvetone completed a full-circle endorsement arc. The birch/walnut hybrid shells brought a darker, more complex tone compared to his earlier Mapex Pro M birch rig, reflecting two decades of refinement. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **2000 → 2004:** Mapex Pro M to DW Collector's — endorsement upgrade coinciding with LoG's major-label debut on *Ashes of the Wake* - **2004 → 2012:** DW Collector's peak years through Grammy-era LoG — most iconic drum sound - **2012:** DW Collector's to Pearl Reference Pure — Pearl endorsement during *Resolution* and *VII* cycles - **2016:** Pearl Reference Pure to Mapex Black Panther Velvetone — return to Mapex with premium-tier model - **Throughout career:** DW 9002 double pedal consistent across all eras — Adler's most stable gear choice --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit did Chris Adler use on Ashes of the Wake?** A: Chris Adler used a DW Collector's Series Maple kit on Ashes of the Wake (2004), paired with Zildjian A Custom cymbals and a DW 9002 double pedal. The snare was a DW Collector's 14"x6.5" aluminum model. The full setup cost approximately $6,798 at the time, equivalent to about $11,788 adjusted for 2026 inflation. **Q: What drums did Chris Adler use on Sacrament?** A: On Sacrament (2006) Adler continued with his DW Collector's Series Maple kit, maintaining the same core setup — 22" double kicks, DW 9002 pedals, and Zildjian A Custom cymbals — that he used on Ashes of the Wake. Sacrament's Grammy nomination cemented this configuration as his signature sound. **Q: When did Chris Adler switch from Mapex to DW?** A: Adler transitioned from Mapex Pro M to DW Collector's Series around 2003–2004, coinciding with Lamb of God's Atlantic Records deal and the recording of Ashes of the Wake. The DW kit's focused maple tone and custom finish matched LoG's elevated production budget. **Q: What cymbals did Chris Adler use?** A: Adler was a long-term Zildjian endorsee. He used Zildjian A Series through the early LoG years, upgraded to A Custom from Ashes of the Wake (2004) onward, and later incorporated K Custom models for darker articulation during the Pearl endorsement years. **Q: How much would Chris Adler's Ashes of the Wake drum kit cost today?** A: Adler's 2004 DW Collector's Series setup cost approximately $6,798 new. Inflation-adjusted to 2026, that's roughly $11,788. A new equivalent DW Collector's configuration would cost around $9,500–$10,000 today; the vintage 2004 kit in good condition trades for approximately $6,250 on the used market. --- ## Related - [Chris Adler drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/chris-adler) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/chris-adler/gear-history) - [Ashes of the Wake drum setup article](https://metalforge.io/articles/ashes-of-the-wake-drum-setup) - [Sacrament drum setup article](https://metalforge.io/articles/sacrament-drum-setup) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)