The Brief: Big Drums for a Big Track
There’s something about the raw punch of 90s grunge and alternative rock that never stops feeling urgent — like a shot of electricity straight to the soul. So when the brief came through to track drums for “Shame,” a snarling, riff-heavy rock track soaked in Rage Against The Machine energy, Gavin knew exactly where to dig in.
Cue Amen Studio in Bristol, a place where old-school gear meets modern production know-how. The track’s foundation was laid with an unapologetically powerful online session drummer performance that hit all the right notes — angry, restless, gritty — and gave the song its heartbeat.
The Gear: Vintage Attitude Meets Modern Precision
For this session, we reached for a vintage weapon: the Ludwig Super Classic 1965 kit, with a 22″ bass drum, 13″ rack tom, and a 16″ floor tom. This four-piece legend has seen a million stages and studios, and it still delivers thunder like it’s 1965. Learn more about it here.
The snare? That would be the 14×5 Ludwig Supraphonic, with its unmistakable crack and bright attack. There’s a reason it’s been the secret sauce behind countless hit records — it cut through perfectly without overwhelming the kit.
Cymbals were handpicked for maximum tone: Zildjian Avedis 14” hi-hats, a 16” A Fast Crash, a 22” K Constantinople ride, and a Kerope 18” crash with rivets (Zildjian) — delivering a mix of sharp attack and moody wash.
Tuning was precise thanks to Tune-Bot (link). The snare hit a nice G, toms were tuned to A and D, offering punch and depth without flab. It’s the kind of setup every serious remote session drummer dreams of tracking with.
Recording the Performance: Playing with Grit and Groove
Mic-wise, this session was all about clarity and vibe:
- Coles 4038 ribbon mics captured warm, natural room tones (Coles).
- Heil PR31 BW sat on the toms — known for a musical midrange and forgiving bleed (Heil Sound).
- The classic Shure SM57 handled the snare — because of course it did (Shure).
Preamps came from Daking Audio IV (Daking) and Focusrite ISA 828 with Lundahl transformers (Focusrite), blending vintage colour with clean gain.
The performance leaned on groove and feel over brute force. Subtle ghost notes gave the verses life — like funk grooves filtered through a distortion pedal. It’s this kind of nuance that makes a session drummer an essential part of the production process, even when working remotely.
Mixing & Wrap-Up: Bringing It All Together
Mixing was just as intentional:
- Room mics went through a Distressor compressor, adding urgency and vibe with fast attack/release.
- Snare layering with subtle samples helped bring it to the front of the mix — crisp, punchy, never overdone.
- A touch of Flex Time in Logic Pro helped shape the feel — leaning into a loose 90s groove rather than a locked-in 70s rock stomp.
Whether you’re recording locally or hiring session drummers for hire from across the globe, what matters most is performance and tone. “Shame” is proof that with the right tools and talent, you can capture the energy of a full-band performance using online session drums.
Got a track that needs a powerful, professional performance from a seasoned remote drummer? Reach out. At Amen Session Drummer, we make pro-level drum tracks accessible to artists anywhere in the world.