# Art Cruz vs Jay Weinberg — Drum Kit Comparison > Side-by-side gear comparison between Art Cruz (Lamb of God) and Jay Weinberg (Suicidal Tendencies). **Category:** Alternative / Nu-Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/art-cruz-vs-jay-weinberg Lamb of God's Art Cruz vs former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg. Two modern metal drummers who each replaced a legendary predecessor — groove-first precision vs powerhouse intensity compared. --- ## Art Cruz Setup - **Drums:** Ludwig Drums - **Cymbals:** Zildjian (14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, 18" A Custom EFX, 18" A Custom Medium Crash, 19" A Custom Projection Crash, 20" A Custom Crash, 21" A Zildjian Mega Bell Ride, 19" A Ultra Hammered Chinas, 17" K China w/ EFX Holes, 9" FX Trash Splashes, FX Blast Bell) - **Snare:** Ludwig 14x6.5" Black Beauty - **Pedals/Hardware:** Trick Pro 1-V Double Pedal, Gibraltar Hardware, Ludwig Atlas Throne - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5B ## Jay Weinberg Setup - **Drums:** SJC Custom Drums (OBEY x ST Collaboration Kit) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian (14" A New Beat Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" A Custom Crashes, 21" K Custom Ride, 19" K China, 7" FX Break Bell) - **Snare:** SJC Jay Weinberg "The Crucible" 14x6.5" 48-ply Brass - **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 Series Double Pedal, DW 9100 Throne - **Sticks:** Vater Jay Weinberg 908 Signature ## Playing Style Art Cruz became Lamb of God's drummer in 2019, stepping into one of groove metal's most demanding drum chairs after Chris Adler's departure — a transition that began when Cruz filled in for Adler on Lamb of God's 2018 tour supporting Slayer's farewell run. Before that, Cruz built his reputation across Winds of Plague and Prong, developing a reputation as a hard-hitting, reliable drummer capable of handling diverse metal styles. Jay Weinberg joined Slipknot in December 2014, replacing founding drummer Joey Jordison and spending nine years (2014–2023) as the band's drummer #1, honoring Jordison's blast-beat-driven legacy on ".5: The Gray Chapter," "We Are Not Your Kind," and "The End, So Far" before departing in November 2023 and joining Suicidal Tendencies in 2024. ## Technique Cruz favors powerful, groove-oriented double bass patterns that complement Randy Blythe's vocals while faithfully replicating Chris Adler's notoriously complex parts, bringing consistency and relentless energy to Lamb of God's live show. Weinberg combines the professional discipline instilled by his father, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, with sustained blast beats and powerful double bass work — a hybrid of technical precision and hardcore-punk-influenced aggression developed through early stints with Against Me! and Madball before he mastered Slipknot's nine-piece percussion arrangement. ## Key Differences Art Cruz endorses Ludwig Drums with a Ludwig 14"x6.5" Black Beauty snare and an extensive Zildjian cymbal setup (14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, multiple A Custom crashes, a 21" A Zildjian Mega Bell Ride, and K China and FX cymbals for texture), driven by a Trick Pro 1-V double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks. Jay Weinberg played an SJC Custom Drums kit with his signature SJC "The Crucible" 14"x6.5" 48-ply brass snare and Zildjian cymbals (14" A New Beat Hi-Hats, A Custom crashes, a 21" K Custom Ride, and a 19" K China), powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal and his signature Vater Jay Weinberg 908 sticks. Cruz favors powerful, groove-oriented double bass patterns that complement Randy Blythe's vocals while faithfully replicating Chris Adler's notoriously complex parts, bringing consistency and relentless energy to Lamb of God's live show. Weinberg combines the professional discipline instilled by his father, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, with sustained blast beats and powerful double bass work — a hybrid of technical precision and hardcore-punk-influenced aggression developed through early stints with Against Me! and Madball before he mastered Slipknot's nine-piece percussion arrangement. ## Influence & Legacy Both drummers inherited massive legacy-band drum chairs and had to prove themselves worthy successors to fan-favorite predecessors. Cruz has reenergized Lamb of God's sound across "Lamb of God" (2020) and "Omens" (2022) while respecting Chris Adler's established catalog of parts. Weinberg carried Slipknot through its most commercially successful modern era, proving himself over nine years before Eloy Casagrande (ex-Sepultura) took over the drum chair in 2023 — making Weinberg both a successor and a predecessor in metal's ongoing chain of legendary drum-chair transitions. ## Verdict Art Cruz and Jay Weinberg represent modern American metal drumming's two dominant philosophies: groove-first precision versus powerhouse intensity. Cruz built his Lamb of God tenure on reliability and faithful reproduction of a predecessor's catalog while adding his own energy. Weinberg built his Slipknot legacy on honoring Joey Jordison's chaotic template while injecting hardcore-punk aggression and E Street Band-honed discipline. Both answer one of metal's most-searched questions: who replaced the legendary drummer that came before them? ## FAQ **Q: What are the main differences between Art Cruz's and Jay Weinberg's drum kits?** A: Art Cruz plays Ludwig Drums with Zildjian cymbals, while Jay Weinberg uses SJC Custom Drums (OBEY x ST Collaboration Kit) with Zildjian cymbals. Art Cruz endorses Ludwig Drums with a Ludwig 14"x6.5" Black Beauty snare and an extensive Zildjian cymbal setup (14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, multiple A Custom crashes, a 21" A Zildjian Mega Bell Ride, and K China and FX cymbals for texture), driven by a Trick Pro 1-V double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks. Jay Weinberg played an SJC Custom Drums kit with his signature SJC "The Crucible" 14"x6.5" 48-ply brass snare and Zildjian cymbals (14" A New Beat Hi-Hats, A Custom crashes, a 21" K Custom Ride, and a 19" K China), powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal and his signature Vater Jay Weinberg 908 sticks. **Q: What drums does Art Cruz play vs Jay Weinberg?** A: Art Cruz plays Ludwig Drums. Jay Weinberg plays SJC Custom Drums (OBEY x ST Collaboration Kit). **Q: Who is the better alternative / nu-metal drummer, Art Cruz or Jay Weinberg?** A: Both are legends in their own right. Art Cruz and Jay Weinberg represent modern American metal drumming's two dominant philosophies: groove-first precision versus powerhouse intensity. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/art-cruz-vs-jay-weinberg](https://metalforge.io/vs/art-cruz-vs-jay-weinberg). **Q: What cymbals do Art Cruz and Jay Weinberg use?** A: Art Cruz uses Zildjian (14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, 18" A Custom EFX, 18" A Custom Medium Crash, 19" A Custom Projection Crash, 20" A Custom Crash, 21" A Zildjian Mega Bell Ride, 19" A Ultra Hammered Chinas, 17" K China w/ EFX Holes, 9" FX Trash Splashes, FX Blast Bell). Jay Weinberg uses Zildjian (14" A New Beat Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" A Custom Crashes, 21" K Custom Ride, 19" K China, 7" FX Break Bell). --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/art-cruz-vs-jay-weinberg](https://metalforge.io/vs/art-cruz-vs-jay-weinberg)* *[Art Cruz drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/art-cruz)* *[Jay Weinberg drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jay-weinberg)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-02 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*