Drumhead had a chat with the band’s drummer, François Comtois, about a month before Mirror Master was released. (...) I endorse Zildjian, Vic Firth, Sunhouse and C&C—I love to play with the pallets that they’re able to create. For a really long time I was playing a maple/poplar/maple kit from C&C, and that’s the one I have at the rehearsal space right now. It’s really warm and beautiful, and it records well. On the last album I wanted something that smacked a little harder, so I ordered their acrylic Coke bottle green kit. I had been pining for that one for a long time. It looks so good under lights and there’s something so visually appealing about it, but more importantly it sounds incredible. That one is a 22” kick, whereas usually I play 20”. So being able to feel it through the sub, it’s a whole different animal. Cymbal-wise, I really love the K series that Zildjian makes. The K Sweet Ride is something I’d like to acquire. I tend to prefer darker cymbals, I think they’re set back and a bit more out of the way in the mix, which pairs with my philosophy for recording drums. Snares, I have a couple Black Beauties. I have a George Way, Dunnett chrome snare that’s based on a 1970s Black Beauty. The new Black Beauties are fine, and they do one thing really well, but if you play an old Black Beauty, you’re like ‘why don’t they sound like this anymore?’ This guy, Ross Garfield, who’s “The Drum Doctor” –He’ll supply us with a lot of extra pieces and comes and techs the drums. For the song we just put out, “Superposition,” we wanted that Clyde Stubblefield “funky drummer” sound, and Ross came with this sixty’s Gretsch, and he tunes it, and goes “Does that sound about right?” We barely had to do anything and I knew it was exactly “it.” But he turned me on to the George Way stuff, and said “If you really like the Black Beauty, and you want it sound like one but you feel terrible about bringing it on the road, try this one out.” And I’ve been super happy with it. I’m not a crazy gearhead, I don’t have a room of drums, though I wish I did."

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