When it comes to technical precision, explosive creativity, and unmatched dynamic range, Baard Kolstad has few equals. As the rhythmic engine behind Leprous, his grooves and fills combine surgical execution with raw emotion, driving the band’s progressive sound to breathtaking heights.
In this special session, Baard and Brandon dive into some of Leprous’ most iconic tracks, breaking down the decisions that shaped the parts and showing exactly how to bring them to life behind the kit. To recreate Baard’s massive, articulate sound, here’s the gear breakdown of the kit, snares, and cymbals he used in the studio.
Baard’s foundation for this session was a Pearl Masters Maple Gum (Europe) kit—a line known for its exceptional balance of warmth and attack. The blend of maple and gumwood delivers full-bodied lows with a smooth top-end, perfect for both subtle ghost notes and thunderous accents.
Baard brought out three distinct snare voices to cover the wide dynamic range of Leprous’ material. The 14×5 Sensitone Maple Snare offers a crisp, woody response ideal for articulate sticking. The 14×6.5 Reference Series Brass Snare brings a fat, powerful punch, while the 13×3 Brass Piccolo Snare cuts through the mix with bright, focused snap—perfect for intricate accents.
For his cymbal setup, Baard leaned on the dark, complex tones of Sabian’s HHX line, blended with the cutting clarity of the AAX series. This combination gave him the tonal versatility to move from atmospheric textures to explosive accents in a heartbeat.
Baard Kolstad’s setup strikes the perfect balance between tonal variety, projection, and sensitivity. The Pearl Masters Maple Gum kit delivers the warm, resonant foundation for Leprous’ complex arrangements, while his snare trio covers every dynamic shade—from whisper-quiet ghost notes to stadium-level backbeats. The Sabian cymbals add depth, shimmer, and bite, allowing Baard to weave between grooves and fills with effortless precision. If you’re aiming to master both the technical and expressive sides of drumming, this gear setup is a masterclass in versatility.
If you’re looking to practice Baard’s lightning-fast kick patterns without shaking the walls, the Drumeo QuietKick is a perfect solution. It lets you develop speed, control, and endurance on the bass drum while keeping the volume low—ideal for late-night woodshedding.
You can find everything mentioned in this Gear Breakdown at Sweetwater or Thomann if you are overseas. If this video lit a spark to start drumming (or sharpen your chops), take the next step and click the link to try Drumeo, free for 7 Days.
*This article contains affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission from the product seller if you make a purchase. For more info, check out our privacy page.
Drumeo Team - We're professional, award-winning drummers and drum teachers, coaches, recording artists, and content specialists who are passionate about drums and helping drummers around the world. This post was written and/or edited by Brandon Toews, Jared Falk, Dave Atkinson, or another pro on our team (which has a combined 1000+ years of drumming experience). Are you looking for inspiration, education, and support to take your playing to the next level? Join the Drumeo community today!
By signing up you’ll also receive our ongoing free lessons and special offers. Don’t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.
/marketing/drumeo/lead-gen/easy-rudiments/blog.webp)
Nail your rudiments and improve your drumming.
Easy Rudiments is your simplified guide to learning the 15 rudiments you’ll actually use on a drum set.
No credit card. No spam.
Just enter your email to get your free e-book:
Don’t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.
