Brandon Saller

Brandon Kyle Saller (born June 24, 1983) is a multi instrumentalist and song writer. He is the drummer and vocalist of metalcore band Atreyu. He is responsible for the melodic singing found in the band's music. He is the band's primary songwriter, along with guitarist Dan Jacobs. Following Atreyu's hiatus in 2011, Saller brought his side project, the Black Cloud Collective, into the media, renaming it as Hell or Highwater, who released a full length album, entitled Begin Again, in 2011. The band released an EP entitled The Other Side in August 2013. In Hell or Highwater, Saller serves as the band's frontman.

Atreyu

At 13, Saller was invited by his older brother Ryan to join a band started by some of his friends, Dan Jacobs and Alex Varkatzas. The three of them formed a street punk band called Retribution, which by 1998, had adapted a heavier sound and changed names to Atreyu after the main character of The Neverending Story. The band signed to Victory Records in 2001 and released 3 albums under the label, Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses in 2002, The Curse in 2004, and A Death-Grip on Yesterday in 2006. The band later joined major label Hollywood Records and released 2007's Lead Sails Paper Anchor and 2009's Congregation of the Damned. After over 10 years of worldwide success, the band embarked on hiatus, but returned in 2014. They released their sixth studio album, Long Live in 2015. ^[1][2][3]

Vocal duties

Saller did not sing on the band's 1998 EP, Visions, as he only played drums for the band at that time. Between Visions and Fractures in the Facade of Your Porcelain Beauty, Saller learned to sing while playing drums and became the band's clean vocalist. On Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, his vocals were largely confined to choruses, however, as Atreyu's career went on, Saller's vocals would get more and more frequent, and they would become a major part of Atreyu's sound.

Hell or Highwater

Formerly the Black Cloud Collective, Hell or Highwater resulted out of Saller's solo material and eventually became a full band. He is solely the band's vocalist. The band released their debut album, Begin Again, independently on iTunes in 2011. After touring for over a year, the band recouped and released an EP, entitled The Other Side in August 2013.

Equipment

Early days

In the early days of Atreyu, Saller used Spaun Custom Drums and Zildjian cymbals. He would later become endorsed by Istanbul cymbals in late 2004.^[4]

Drums

22x20 Kick

12x8 Rack Tom

16x16 Floor Tom

13x7 Snare Drum

Cymbals

14" A New Beat Hi Hats

18" A Custom Projection Crash

19" A Custom Projection Crash

20" A Custom Projection Ride

18" China Boy High

Brandon also used a set of 14" A Custom Mastersound Hi Hats, an 18" oriental China Trash, a 6" Zil Bel, and two 19" Z Custom crashes throughout the early days of Atreyu. With Istanbul, Saller used the Alchemy series. He used a set of 15" hi hats, two 20" crashes, a 20" ride, and a 20" china.

2006 to 2010

In 2006, Saller became endorsed by Truth Custom Drums and Zildjian cymbals, of which he had an iconic black acrylic drum kit that featured three bass drums.^[5][6]

Drums

22x20 Bass Drum (3x)

10x7 Rack Tom (added on in 2009)

12x8 Rack Tom (added on in 2007)

13x9 Rack Tom

16x16 Floor Tom

18x16 Floor Tom

14x8 Snare Drum

Cymbals

15" A New Beat Hi Hats

19" A Custom Medium Crash

20" A Custom Medium Crash

19" K Custom Hybrid Crash

20" A Custom Projection Ride

12" A Custom Splash

20" China Boy High

2014-present

When Atreyu reformed in 2014, Truth created a new drum kit for Saller for use on the Aftershock and Knotfest festivals, as well as to record Atreyu's 2015 album, Long Live

24x16 Kick Drums (3x)

10x7 Rack Tom

12x8 Rack Tom

13x9 Rack Tom

16x16 Floor Tom

18x16 Floor Tom

14x8 Brandon Saller Signature Snare

Saller also uses Remo Drumheads, DW hardware, DW 9000 pedals, and Vic Firth drumsticks.

References