# Gavin Harrison vs Matt Greiner — Drum Kit Comparison > Side-by-side gear comparison between Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree / King Crimson) and Matt Greiner (August Burns Red). **Category:** Progressive Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/gavin-harrison-vs-matt-greiner Porcupine Tree/King Crimson's Gavin Harrison vs August Burns Red's Matt Greiner — polyrhythmic sophistication meets metalcore precision. Gear, technique, and influence compared. --- ## Gavin Harrison Setup - **Drums:** Sonor SQ2 Series - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Series (14" Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Crashes, 21" Special Dry Ride, 18" Trash China) - **Snare:** Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature 12x5" & 14x5.25" - **Pedals/Hardware:** Sonor Perfect Balance Pedal, Sonor 600 Series Hardware - **Sticks:** Vic Firth Gavin Harrison Signature ## Matt Greiner Setup - **Drums:** Meinl Drum Festival Kit / Greiner & Kilmer Custom - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Series (15" Dual Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Dual Crashes, 21" Transition Ride, 18" Extra Dry China, 10" & 12" Splashes) - **Snare:** Greiner & Kilmer Custom 14x6.5" Maple - **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 Series Double Pedal, DW 9100 Throne - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A ## Playing Style Gavin Harrison joined Porcupine Tree in 2002 and King Crimson's revolutionary three-drummer lineup in 2008, building a reputation on polyrhythmic sophistication across albums like "In Absentia" (2002), "Deadwing" (2005), and "Fear of a Blank Planet" (2007). Matt Greiner co-founded August Burns Red in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2003, and has anchored the band's Grammy-nominated metalcore catalog with a jazz-informed sense of dynamics rare in the genre. ## Technique Harrison's technique centers on ghost notes, ambidextrous independence, and odd-time polyrhythms delivered with controlled, almost scientific precision — he can make 7/8 groove harder than straight 4/4. Greiner brings similar musical intelligence to metalcore's breakneck tempos, locking tightly with guitarist JB Brubaker's angular riffs while layering creative cymbal orchestration and dynamic shifts that most metalcore drumming skips in favor of pure aggression. ## Key Differences Harrison plays a Sonor SQ2 kit with thin maple shells (22"x17" bass drum, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms), Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature snares (14"x5.25" brass primary, 12"x5" Protean), and Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals developed in direct collaboration with him, anchored by a 21" Special Dry Ride, plus Vic Firth signature sticks. Greiner plays a Pearl Reference Pure kit with dual 22"x18" bass drums, a Pearl Matt Greiner Signature snare, and Meinl Byzance cymbals (18"/19" Extra Dry Medium crashes, 21" Transition Ride), driven by a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal and Vic Firth Matt Greiner signature sticks. Harrison's technique centers on ghost notes, ambidextrous independence, and odd-time polyrhythms delivered with controlled, almost scientific precision — he can make 7/8 groove harder than straight 4/4. Greiner brings similar musical intelligence to metalcore's breakneck tempos, locking tightly with guitarist JB Brubaker's angular riffs while layering creative cymbal orchestration and dynamic shifts that most metalcore drumming skips in favor of pure aggression. ## Influence & Legacy Harrison's Zildjian K Custom Special Dry series changed how a generation of progressive drummers think about cymbal decay and controlled sound, and his multiple Modern Drummer awards cement him as one of prog's most studied players. Greiner's musicality across August Burns Red's Grammy-nominated run — from "Constellations" (2009) to "Phantom Anthem" (2017) — proved metalcore drumming could be technical without sacrificing groove or dynamic range. ## Verdict Gavin Harrison and Matt Greiner occupy different corners of progressive-leaning metal, but both reject the idea that technical drumming has to mean constant aggression. Harrison's dry, polyrhythmic sophistication redefined progressive rock and King Crimson's legacy; Greiner's jazz-informed musicality gave metalcore a more sophisticated rhythmic vocabulary than the genre is usually credited with. Precision, dynamics, and restraint unite two drummers most fans wouldn't think to compare. ## FAQ **Q: What are the main differences between Gavin Harrison's and Matt Greiner's drum kits?** A: Gavin Harrison plays Sonor SQ2 Series with Zildjian cymbals, while Matt Greiner uses Meinl Drum Festival Kit / Greiner & Kilmer Custom with Meinl cymbals. Harrison plays a Sonor SQ2 kit with thin maple shells (22"x17" bass drum, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms), Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature snares (14"x5.25" brass primary, 12"x5" Protean), and Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals developed in direct collaboration with him, anchored by a 21" Special Dry Ride, plus Vic Firth signature sticks. Greiner plays a Pearl Reference Pure kit with dual 22"x18" bass drums, a Pearl Matt Greiner Signature snare, and Meinl Byzance cymbals (18"/19" Extra Dry Medium crashes, 21" Transition Ride), driven by a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal and Vic Firth Matt Greiner signature sticks. **Q: What drums does Gavin Harrison play vs Matt Greiner?** A: Gavin Harrison plays Sonor SQ2 Series. Matt Greiner plays Meinl Drum Festival Kit / Greiner & Kilmer Custom. **Q: Who is the better progressive metal drummer, Gavin Harrison or Matt Greiner?** A: Both are legends in their own right. Gavin Harrison and Matt Greiner occupy different corners of progressive-leaning metal, but both reject the idea that technical drumming has to mean constant aggression. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/gavin-harrison-vs-matt-greiner](https://metalforge.io/vs/gavin-harrison-vs-matt-greiner). **Q: What cymbals do Gavin Harrison and Matt Greiner use?** A: Gavin Harrison uses Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Series (14" Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Crashes, 21" Special Dry Ride, 18" Trash China). Matt Greiner uses Meinl Byzance Series (15" Dual Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Dual Crashes, 21" Transition Ride, 18" Extra Dry China, 10" & 12" Splashes). --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/gavin-harrison-vs-matt-greiner](https://metalforge.io/vs/gavin-harrison-vs-matt-greiner)* *[Gavin Harrison drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/gavin-harrison)* *[Matt Greiner drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-greiner)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-08 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*