{"id":52990,"date":"2025-06-03T04:50:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T11:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=52990"},"modified":"2025-08-19T13:53:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T20:53:25","slug":"gear-breakdown-genius-of-pneuma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/gear-breakdown-genius-of-pneuma\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear Breakdown: The Genius of &#8220;Pneuma&#8221; by Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Complex rhythms. Polyrhythmic textures. Esoteric time signatures.<br>Tool\u2019s \u201cPneuma\u201d isn\u2019t just a song\u2014it\u2019s a transcendent sonic ritual. And at its core is <strong>Danny Carey<\/strong>, the high priest of progressive drumming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this Drumeo YouTube video, <strong>Brandon Toews<\/strong> breaks down and performs this modern masterpiece, channelling Carey\u2019s mystical energy through an equally mythical kit setup. The drums aren\u2019t just instruments\u2014they\u2019re part of the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BJ671Q0jrLU?si=9PhoEcaAEKnVCUAv\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>In this gear breakdown, we explore the <a href=\"#kit\">kit<\/a>, a ton of <a href=\"#cymbals\">cymbals<\/a> and the <a href=\"#accessories\">accessories<\/a> that Brandon uses to recreate Carey&#8217;s epic sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kit\">\ud83e\udd41 Drum Kit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gretsch BroadKaster \u2013 Blue Sparkle Finish<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brandon Toews performs <em>\u201cPneuma\u201d<\/em> on a jaw-dropping Gretsch BroadKaster kit in Blue Sparkle\u2014an homage to the magnitude of Danny Carey\u2019s setup. At the heart of this configuration are two kick drums: a 22\u201d with a custom upside-down <em>Fear Inoculum<\/em> graphic head, and a thunderous 24\u201d featuring the same artwork. The dual-kick configuration mirrors Carey\u2019s own power and dynamic control, offering both punch and depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mounted toms include an 8\u201d and 10\u201d rack tom, carefully tuned to provide the tonal nuance needed for Carey\u2019s melodic tom phrasing. A 14\u201d REMO RotoTom adds that unmistakable midrange attack that Danny Carey uses to weave in rhythmic motifs and tribal cadences. Two floor toms\u201414\u201d and 16\u201d\u2014anchor the low-end with ominous thuds, perfectly complementing the ritualistic nature of the song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it doesn\u2019t stop there. A mounted 22\u201d bass drum functions as a gong drum, delivering a thunderous, resonant boom that reverberates through the mix. This gong drum isn\u2019t just for show\u2014it\u2019s a signature part of Carey\u2019s setup, adding cinematic drama and low-frequency dimension during key transitions. The overall build is more than a drum kit\u2014it\u2019s a percussion temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>22\u201d Bass Drum (with custom <em>Fear Inoculum<\/em> graphic head \u2013 upside down)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>24\u201d Bass Drum (with custom <em>Fear Inoculum<\/em> graphic head)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>8\u201d Tom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10\u201d Tom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>14\u201d Floor Tom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>16\u201d Floor Tom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>14\u201d REMO RotoTom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>22\u201d Gong Drum (mounted bass drum)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/POkaGX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gretsch BroadKaster Kit<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/gretsch_drums_catalina_club_rock_stealth_swg.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/store\/detail\/Rototoms--remo-rototom-3-piece-set-spin-tuned-toms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Remo RotoTom<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/millenium_rt6810_rototomset.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<br><a href=\"http:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/3JO7gK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gong Drum<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cymbals\">\ud83d\udece\ufe0f Cymbals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Istanbul Agop (except ride)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carey\u2019s cymbal choices have always been unorthodox, and this recreation follows suit with a beautifully chaotic array\u2014primarily from Istanbul Agop, with a standout ride cymbal from Paiste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The centerpiece is the 22\u201d Paiste Danny Carey Signature MONAD Ride in a bold purple finish. This ride isn\u2019t just visually striking\u2014it offers a dry, cutting articulation with a crystalline bell tone that cuts through the densest polyrhythms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three distinct crash cymbals\u2014an 18\u201d Xist with a 6\u201d Xist bell inverted on top, an 18\u201d Power Crash with an 8\u201d bell, and a 20\u201d Xist with a 7\u201d Turk bell\u2014serve both tonal and textural roles. Each is mounted with inverted bells, creating a shimmering, raw attack that adds to the percussive unpredictability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two massive chinas (24\u201d and 22\u201d Xist) create explosive bursts of white noise, while an 18\u201d Xist China stacked with a 12\u201d splash provides quick, trashy accents. There\u2019s also a uniquely tuned splash set\u201410\u201d over an inverted 8\u201d\u2014that offers quick, high-end punctuation to phrases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brandon&#8217;s Istanbul Agop Cymbals are available in Europe through Thomann, but aren&#8217;t available on Sweetwater, so the closest Paiste equivalents are linked below<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ride:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/qzNgY5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">22\u201d PAISTE Danny Carey Signature MONAD Ride<\/a> (Purple) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/paiste_22_signature_monad_ride.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crash 1:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/e1BR6j\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">18\u201d Xist w\/ 6\u201d Xist bell<\/a> (inverted) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_18_xist_crash_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crash 2:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/YRod6R\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">18\u201d Xist Power Crash w\/ 8\u201d Xist bell<\/a> (inverted) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_18_xist_ion_crash_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crash 3:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/9LQeRy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">20\u201d Xist Crash w\/ 7\u201d Turk bell<\/a> (inverted) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_20_xist_crash_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>China 1:<\/strong> 24\u201d Xist China <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>China 2:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/XmZ1Dg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">22\u201d Xist China<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stack:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/55Lj6N\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">18\u201d Xist China<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_18_xist_ion_china_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>) w\/ <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/GKqDeL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">12\u201d Splash<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_12_xist_splash_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Splash Set:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/XmZ1bg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10\u201d Xist Splash w\/ 8\u201d Xist Splash<\/a> (inverted) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_10_xist_splash_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10&#8243; Europe<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_08_xist_splash_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8&#8243; Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hi-Hats:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/EEVqoK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">14\u201d Xist<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_14_xist_hihat_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"accessories\">\ud83c\udf92 Accessories <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To top it off, Brandon uses various tuned bells (6\u201d, 7\u201d, 8\u201d) that shimmer with metallic clarity and a 26\u201d Istanbul Wind Gong for those transcendent moments when the kit becomes something more than rhythmic\u2014it becomes spiritual. Paiste equivalents linked below<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Various Bells: <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/LKrDbY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">9&#8243;<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/je21o0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10&#8243;<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/istanbul_agop_08_xist_bell_brilliant.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8&#8243; Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/aO6KaM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">26\u201d Istanbul Wind Gong<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/thomann_wind_gong_65.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This setup is nothing short of ritualistic. Every drum, cymbal, and bell is meticulously chosen to mirror the esoteric energy that Danny Carey brings to Tool\u2019s performances. It\u2019s a kit built not just for sound, but for storytelling\u2014one that bridges the gap between music and mysticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brandon Toews does more than replicate; he channels. His execution of <em>\u201cPneuma\u201d<\/em> isn\u2019t just a technical display\u2014it\u2019s a reverent tribute to one of the most revered drummers in modern music. From the fluid transitions to the towering dynamics, this performance captures the sacred geometry of Carey\u2019s playing. If you\u2019re a fan of Tool, progressive rock, or drumming as an art form, this breakdown is essential viewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/02124945\/2025-04-30-Drumeo-The-Genius-Of-Pneuma-KIT-111-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52992\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/02124945\/2025-04-30-Drumeo-The-Genius-Of-Pneuma-KIT-111-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/02124945\/2025-04-30-Drumeo-The-Genius-Of-Pneuma-KIT-111-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/02124945\/2025-04-30-Drumeo-The-Genius-Of-Pneuma-KIT-111-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/02124945\/2025-04-30-Drumeo-The-Genius-Of-Pneuma-KIT-111-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/02124945\/2025-04-30-Drumeo-The-Genius-Of-Pneuma-KIT-111-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find everything mentioned in this Gear Breakdown at <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/6yqGaG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sweetwater<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/?offid=1&amp;affid=857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thomann<\/a> 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/trial?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=&amp;utm_term=drumeo&amp;utm_campaign=geniusofpneuma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Drumeo, free for 7 Days.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*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<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/privacy#affiliate-disclosure\"><em> privacy page.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Complex rhythms. Polyrhythmic textures. Esoteric time signatures.Tool\u2019s \u201cPneuma\u201d isn\u2019t just a song\u2014it\u2019s a transcendent sonic ritual. And at its core is Danny Carey, the high priest of progressive drumming. In this Drumeo YouTube video, Brandon Toews breaks down and performs this modern masterpiece, channelling Carey\u2019s mystical energy through an equally mythical kit setup. The drums [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":52991,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4019,4020],"tags":[4013,4108,4082,4107,4109,4106],"class_list":["post-52990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drummers","category-gear","tag-brandon-toews","tag-danny-carey","tag-gear-breakdown","tag-pnuema","tag-the-genius-of","tag-tool"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52990"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52997,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52990\/revisions\/52997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}