Sick Drummer Magazine

Band Name: The More I See
Drummer Name: Spike T. Smith
Album Name: The Unholy Feast
Release Date: June 2008 UK / January 09 US and Europe

Studio Name: Backstage studios, Pravda Recording & Grindstone Studios

Engineer Name: Andy Sneap, Andy Hawkins, Scott Atkins 

Cymbals: Zildjian

14" quick beat hi hats/ 14" k hi hats
16" chinaboy high
18" A custom medium crash
10" splash
9"  oriental spash piggybacked on..
19" A custom crash
21" megabell ride  
12" A custom hi hats (on right)
19" K china. 

Drums: Pearl Masters Premium 4 ply Birch

8 x 8  tom
10 x 8 tom  
12 x 9 tom
16 x 16 floor tom

22 x 18 bass drum 

Snare Drums:

Pedals: Pearl eliminator p 2000 double pedal

Triggers / Microphones:

The album was done in three sessions at three  studios  with three  different engineers (333. only got half way to hell on this one..makes a change!!) The engineers all used their own preference of mikes. I had no involvement in choice of these, as I was happy to go along with their preferences & of course trusted their judgement! So, to answer... no idea. I do know that on one of the sessions the kit had  triggers on it, as well as the mics, but not on the other two. However, on the final mix there are triggered sounds mixed with the natural sounds. You'll be hard pressed to find any metal album in this day & age, that doesn't have a drum sound that's made of the two, regardless of what's said. That's how the modern metal drum sound is made, I've found. 

Studio Tips:

Oh, the usual... Good selection of snares is a must really, even if you borrow a few. NEW HEADS are very important, but often over looked, even by the pros sometimes!! Be as practiced as possible before you start recording, and a good warm up is critical too! If you are uncertain about certain ideas in your drum parts, try to make sure you have a few alternative ideas to try out at the studio. Don't be left scratching your head!?! PLAY LIKE A MOTHERFU#@ER! it always helps... haha! 

Drummer Comments: Enjoy!