Nick Augusto vs Blake Richardson — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Nick Augusto (ex-Trivium) vs Blake Richardson (Between the Buried and Me). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Nick Augusto use?
Nick Augusto uses Pearl Reference Pure with Sabian AAX Series (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 21" Stage Ride, 18" AAXtreme China). Nick Augusto played a Pearl Reference Pure kit with a Pearl Reference 14x6.5" brass snare and Sabian AAX Series cymbals (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 21" Stage Ride, 18" AAXtreme China), powered by a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks. Blake Richardson plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama STARPHONIC 14x6" brass snare and Sabian cymbals (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" HHX Evolution Crash, 17" & 21" AAX Holy Chinas, 21" HH Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" HH Duo Splash, 9" Radia Cup Chime), driven by twin Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide single pedals and Vic Firth American Classic 3A sticks.
What drum kit does Blake Richardson use?
Blake Richardson uses Tama Starclassic Bubinga (Custom Finish) with Sabian (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" HHX Evolution Crash, 17" & 21" AAX Holy Chinas, 21" HH Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" HH Duo Splash, 9" Radia Cup Chime). Nick Augusto played a Pearl Reference Pure kit with a Pearl Reference 14x6.5" brass snare and Sabian AAX Series cymbals (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 21" Stage Ride, 18" AAXtreme China), powered by a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks. Blake Richardson plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama STARPHONIC 14x6" brass snare and Sabian cymbals (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" HHX Evolution Crash, 17" & 21" AAX Holy Chinas, 21" HH Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" HH Duo Splash, 9" Radia Cup Chime), driven by twin Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide single pedals and Vic Firth American Classic 3A sticks.
Which is better, Nick Augusto or Blake Richardson?
Nick Augusto and Blake Richardson represent two different technical demands within modern heavy music. Augusto brought fast, aggressive metalcore fundamentals to Trivium during a five-year run that helped sharpen the band's thrash edge. Richardson has spent two decades building Between the Buried and Me's genre-crossing identity through jazz-informed complexity and compositional ambition few drummers attempt. The debate is metalcore speed and power versus progressive death metal's technical and rhythmic depth.