# Jay Weinberg vs Alex Bent — Next-Generation Replacement Drummers Compared | MetalForge > Side-by-side comparison between Jay Weinberg (ex-Slipknot, Suicidal Tendencies) and Alex Bent (ex-Trivium). **Category:** Modern Metal / Metalcore · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/jay-weinberg-vs-alex-bent Jay Weinberg vs Alex Bent pits two of modern metal's defining "next generation" drummers against each other — both men stepped into scrutinized drum chairs left behind by beloved predecessors and made them their own. Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 after founding drummer Joey Jordison's departure, while Bent joined Trivium in 2017 after a run of technical death metal touring. This comparison covers technique, gear, band context, and career trajectory across both drummers' catalogs. --- ## At a Glance | Spec | Jay Weinberg | Alex Bent | |------|-------------------|----------------| | Drums | SJC Custom Drums | Pearl Reference Series (Matte Black) | | Cymbals | Zildjian K Custom Series | Meinl Byzance Brilliant Series | | Snare | Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" | Pearl Reference 14x6.5" Maple/Birch | | Pedals | DW 9000 Double Bass Pedal | Axis Percussion Double Pedal | | Sticks | Vater | Various 5B | --- ## Gear Deep Dive ### Jay Weinberg Setup - **Drums:** SJC Custom Drums (maple shells, custom Slipknot-themed finishes) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Custom Series (14" Hi-Hats, 17" & 19" Dark Crashes, 20" Ride, 18" China, 10" Splash) - **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" - **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 double bass pedal; Roland electronics for sample triggers - **Sticks:** Vater Jay Weinberg's SJC Custom Drums kit was built by hand to his specifications for Slipknot's live production, delivering the warm, full-bodied maple attack that drives the band's dense, low-tuned sound. His Zildjian K Custom cymbal arsenal — darker and more complex than his predecessor's brighter Sabian setup — suited the evolving sonic direction of "We Are Not Your Kind" (2019) and "The End, So Far" (2022), full breakdown in [Jay Weinberg's Complete Drum Setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/jay-weinberg-complete-drum-setup). A DW 9000 double bass pedal and integrated Roland electronics powered the hybrid acoustic/sample-triggered rig Slipknot's show demands. ### Alex Bent Setup - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series (Matte Black, maple/birch hybrid shells) - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Brilliant Series (14" Medium Hi-Hats, 16", 18" & 19" Medium Thin Crashes, 21" Medium Ride, 18" China, 10" Splash) - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14x6.5" Maple/Birch - **Pedals/Hardware:** Axis Percussion double pedals for extreme speed - **Sticks:** Various 5B Alex Bent's Pearl Reference Series kit was engineered to translate his technical death metal precision to arena scale for Trivium, balancing maple's warmth with birch's cutting attack across "The Sin and the Sentence" (2017) and "In the Court of the Dragon" (2021) — full breakdown in [What's In Alex Bent's Kit](https://metalforge.io/articles/whats-in-alex-bents-kit). His Axis Percussion double pedals, favored by extreme-metal specialists for their speed, drove the blistering footwork inherited from his Brain Drill and Arkaik days. --- ## Style & Technique Comparison Jay Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 at age 24, stepping into one of extreme metal's most scrutinized drum chairs following founding drummer Joey Jordison's departure. His technique blends the professional discipline he absorbed from his father, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, with hardcore-punk-honed intensity — he had to authentically replicate Jordison's complex, iconic parts while injecting his own explosive energy into Slipknot's chaotic live show across three studio albums: ".5: The Gray Chapter" (2014), "We Are Not Your Kind" (2019), and "The End, So Far" (2022). Alex Bent joined Trivium in 2017, also at age 24, bringing a technical death metal pedigree from Brain Drill, Arkaik, and Battlecross to the modern metal giants' catalog. His background gave him the tools to blend extreme blast beats and intricate fills with the melodic accessibility Trivium's songwriting demands, a versatility built through drum competitions and jazz band training before he ever joined a signed act — recording "The Sin and the Sentence" (2017), "What the Dead Men Say" (2020), "In the Court of the Dragon" (2021), and "Struck Dead" (2025). --- ## Key Differences The core divergence is origin story: Weinberg came from hardcore punk and touring with his father's E Street Band before landing one of metal's most-watched drum seats, while Bent came up through the technical death metal underground, filling in for Gene Hoglan on Testament dates before producer Mark Lewis recommended him to Trivium. Gear reflects each band's production needs. Weinberg's SJC Custom kit and Zildjian K Custom cymbals, paired with Roland electronics, are built for Slipknot's dense, sample-triggered live show. Bent's Pearl Reference kit and Meinl Byzance Brilliant cymbals are voiced for the cutting clarity Trivium's guitar-forward modern metal arrangements require. --- ## Influence & Legacy Weinberg carried one of metal's most scrutinized drum chairs for nine years, earning respect from fans who initially doubted anyone could replace Jordison, and built a following that carried into his post-Slipknot work with Suicidal Tendencies. Bent elevated Trivium's rhythmic complexity across four albums over eight years, proving a technical death metal background from underground bands like Brain Drill could translate directly into mainstream modern metal success before his departure in October 2025. --- ## Verdict Jay Weinberg and Alex Bent represent the same 21st-century archetype from two different corners of metal: the technically gifted outsider who steps into a legacy drum chair and makes it their own. Weinberg spent nine years honoring Joey Jordison's legacy while adding his own hardcore-punk-fueled intensity to Slipknot's chaos. Bent spent eight years bringing underground technical death metal precision to Trivium's increasingly ambitious modern metal songwriting. Both prove that "the new guy" in a beloved band's drum chair can become essential in his own right. --- ## FAQ **Q: Did Jay Weinberg replace Joey Jordison in Slipknot?** A: Yes — Jay Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 following the departure of founding drummer Joey Jordison, and recorded three studio albums with the band, ".5: The Gray Chapter" (2014), "We Are Not Your Kind" (2019), and "The End, So Far" (2022), before parting ways in November 2023. **Q: What bands was Alex Bent in before Trivium?** A: Before joining Trivium in 2017, Alex Bent played technical death metal with Brain Drill, Arkaik, and Battlecross, and filled in for Gene Hoglan on Testament tour dates. Producer Mark Lewis recommended him to Trivium after hearing his work. **Q: What gear did Jay Weinberg and Alex Bent use?** A: Jay Weinberg played an SJC Custom Drums kit with a Tama S.L.P. snare and Zildjian K Custom cymbals, driven by a DW 9000 double bass pedal. Alex Bent played a Pearl Reference Series kit with a Pearl Reference maple/birch snare and Meinl Byzance Brilliant Series cymbals, powered by Axis Percussion double pedals. **Q: Are Jay Weinberg and Alex Bent still in Slipknot and Trivium?** A: No — Jay Weinberg left Slipknot in November 2023 and later joined Suicidal Tendencies. Alex Bent left Trivium in October 2025 after eight years and four albums with the band. --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/jay-weinberg-vs-alex-bent](https://metalforge.io/vs/jay-weinberg-vs-alex-bent)* *[Jay Weinberg drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jay-weinberg)* *[Alex Bent drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/alex-bent)* *[Shannon Larkin vs Jay Weinberg comparison](https://metalforge.io/vs/shannon-larkin-vs-jay-weinberg)* *[Matt Halpern vs Alex Bent comparison](https://metalforge.io/vs/matt-halpern-vs-alex-bent)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*