# Shannon Larkin vs Abe Cunningham — Godsmack vs Deftones Drumming Compared | MetalForge > Side-by-side comparison between Shannon Larkin (Godsmack) and Abe Cunningham (Deftones). **Category:** Alternative Metal / Hard Rock · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/shannon-larkin-vs-abe-cunningham Hard rock groove power vs atmospheric alt-metal feel — two LA-adjacent rock club veterans who built their reputations on feel over speed. Shannon Larkin drove Godsmack's thunderous hard rock machine from 2002 until 2024. Abe Cunningham has been Deftones' drummer since co-founding the band as a teenager in Sacramento in 1988, developing an unconventional, atmospheric style across more than three decades. Comparing them is comparing "groove metal" muscle to "alt-metal" texture — two very different flavors of feel-first drumming. --- ## At a Glance | Spec | Shannon Larkin | Abe Cunningham | |------|---------------|-------------| | Drums | Pearl Reference Pure | Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga | | Cymbals | Sabian AAX Series | Zildjian (A New Beat, A Custom, K Custom) | | Snare | Pearl Reference 14x6.5" Brass | Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel 14x8" | | Pedals | Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal | Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal | | Sticks | Promark Shannon Larkin Signature | Zildjian Abe Cunningham Artist Series | --- ## Gear Deep Dive ### Shannon Larkin Setup - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX Series (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, 18" AAX Chinese) - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14x6.5" Brass - **Pedals/Hardware:** Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal, Pearl D-2000 Roadster Throne - **Sticks:** Promark Shannon Larkin Signature Shannon Larkin's Pearl Reference Pure kit is a premium setup reflecting decades of groove-centric, power-driven hard rock drumming across Godsmack's multi-platinum catalog. His Pearl Reference brass snare is chosen for a powerful, cutting attack that drives Godsmack's hook-based rhythms on albums like "Faceless" and "IV," while the Sabian AAX cymbal package delivers bright, high-projection tone built for filling arenas. ### Abe Cunningham Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga - **Cymbals:** Zildjian (14" A New Beat Hi-Hats, A Custom Crashes, K Custom Ride) - **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel 14x8" - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal, Tama hardware - **Sticks:** Zildjian Abe Cunningham Artist Series Abe Cunningham's Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga setup is relatively compact and straightforward, reflecting his focus on groove and feel over technical complexity or kit size. The deep 14x8" S.L.P. Big Black Steel snare gives him a powerful, cutting crack for Deftones' heaviest passages, while the Zildjian A and K Custom cymbal mix lets him move fluidly between crushing riffs and the ethereal, shoegaze-influenced textures the band is known for. --- ## Style & Technique Comparison Shannon Larkin, born in 1967 in Chicago, joined Godsmack in 2002 after stints with Wrathchild America, Ugly Kid Joe, and Amen, driving the band's thunderous hard rock machine across six studio albums including "Faceless" (2003), "IV" (2006), and "The Oracle" (2010) until his 2024 departure. His playing is defined by powerful, hook-driven rhythms that lock in with Tony Rombola's guitars, backed by seasoned dynamic control built for arena-scale hard rock shows. Abe Cunningham co-founded Deftones in Sacramento, California in 1988 as a teenager and has remained the band's drummer for over three decades, developing an unconventional, atmospheric style that helped define alternative metal across "Around the Fur" (1997), "White Pony" (2000), and "Diamond Eyes" (2010). Rather than following typical metal drumming conventions, Cunningham creates parts that breathe and evolve with the music, drawing on influences like John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, and Chad Sexton to favor creative, unconventional patterns over technical showmanship. Both drummers prioritize feel over speed — but Larkin's feel is muscular, groove-first arena power, while Cunningham's feel is dynamic, texture-first atmosphere. --- ## Key Differences The clearest difference is musical context. Godsmack is a straightforward hard rock band built around riff-driven hooks, and Larkin's job is to lock in with that groove and deliver consistent, powerful impact night after night. Deftones layer heavy riffs with shoegaze-influenced atmosphere and dynamic shifts, and Cunningham's job is to serve that emotional arc — sometimes with restraint, sometimes with explosive heaviness, often within the same song. Gear reflects the difference: Larkin's Pearl Reference Pure with bright Sabian AAX cymbals is voiced for cutting through arena mixes at consistent intensity. Cunningham's Tama Starclassic with a mixed Zildjian A/K Custom setup is voiced for tonal flexibility — bright enough for aggression, dark enough for atmosphere. Career arcs also diverge: Larkin was a late addition to Godsmack (2002, replacing Tommy Stewart) who brought outside veteran experience to an established band. Cunningham has been in Deftones since its 1988 founding, making him one of alternative metal's longest-serving original drummers. --- ## Influence & Legacy Shannon Larkin helped maintain Godsmack's commercial momentum through multiple platinum records, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in modern hard rock drumming across more than two decades behind the kit before his 2024 departure. Abe Cunningham is regularly cited by younger alternative metal drummers as a primary influence — his dynamic, feel-first approach on tracks like "Digital Bath" and "Change (In the House of Flies)" proved that restraint and texture could be as powerful as raw aggression, and his Grammy-winning work on "Elite" (from White Pony) remains a genre landmark. --- ## Verdict Shannon Larkin and Abe Cunningham represent two paths through legacy-era alternative and hard rock drumming. Larkin is the groove authority — a veteran session-honed player whose powerful, hook-driven rhythms gave Godsmack an unshakeable arena rock foundation for over two decades. Cunningham is the texture specialist — a founding member whose unconventional, dynamics-first playing has been Deftones' heartbeat since the band formed in a Sacramento classroom in 1988. Comparing them is comparing "groove metal" muscle to "alt-metal" atmosphere — feel over speed, in two very different flavors. --- ## FAQ **Q: Who is the better drummer, Shannon Larkin or Abe Cunningham?** A: Both are groove-first drummers rather than technical showmen, so the comparison comes down to context. Shannon Larkin brought muscular, hook-driven power to Godsmack's arena hard rock for over two decades. Abe Cunningham brought unconventional, dynamics-first texture to Deftones' atmospheric alternative metal for over 35 years as a founding member. Larkin serves groove; Cunningham serves mood. **Q: What gear do Shannon Larkin and Abe Cunningham use?** A: Shannon Larkin plays a Pearl Reference Pure kit with a Pearl Reference Brass snare and Sabian AAX Series cymbals, driven by a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal. Abe Cunningham plays a Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga kit with a Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel snare and Zildjian cymbals, driven by a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal. **Q: How long has Abe Cunningham been in Deftones?** A: Abe Cunningham has been Deftones' drummer since co-founding the band in Sacramento, California in 1988, when he was still a teenager. He is one of only two original members still in the band, making him one of alternative metal's longest-serving drummers. **Q: What bands did Shannon Larkin play in before Godsmack?** A: Shannon Larkin played with Wrathchild America (1989–1991, later Souls at Zero), Ugly Kid Joe (1991–1997, including the hit "Everything About You"), Amen, and Candlebox before joining Godsmack in 2002. **Q: What is Abe Cunningham's drumming style known for?** A: Abe Cunningham is known for unconventional, feel-first drumming that prioritizes space, dynamics, and emotional arc over technical complexity. His influences include John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, and Chad Sexton, and his playing on tracks like "Digital Bath" and "Elite" (which won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance) showcases his dynamic range. --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/shannon-larkin-vs-abe-cunningham](https://metalforge.io/vs/shannon-larkin-vs-abe-cunningham)* *[Shannon Larkin drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/shannon-larkin)* *[Abe Cunningham drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/abe-cunningham)* *[Godsmack IV drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/godsmack-iv-drum-setup)* *[White Pony drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/white-pony-drum-setup)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-02 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*