How II From Sleep Token Sounds So Good (And How You Can Too)

II's Style

II is a monster drummer. Like, really, really good. The way he brings in different styles to metal is amazing. Because of all of these different styles from him and the band, it's this really cool sub-genre, I guess. I could be wrong — let me know in the comments.

What’s even more refreshing is how he's using the triggers in such a great way. And the best bit is he’s kept his identity hidden this whole time. We have no idea who he is. It’s quite amazing. The whole band, the whole thing, it’s just... [kiss]

Evolution of Sleep Token’s Setup

The good thing about the rise of Sleep Token in the modern era is that most of their gigs have been filmed with really nice quality cameras. This means we can see the full development of the band. What I love is that they’ve always committed to the anonymous thing. There’s a whole story behind Sleep Token — not just a metal band with masks.

This lets us track footage from their early gigs all the way to now and witness how II’s playing has evolved over time, especially the tech he’s used to get that signature Sleep Token sound.

From SPD-SX to SPD-SX Pro

Initially, II used the SPD-SX as a regular sample pad. As the years progressed, he presumably got a deal with Roland and upgraded to the SPD-SX Pro. It was used similarly, with the samples likely moved over.

Trigger Placement and Use

This is where things get interesting. II added more triggers, but not in the usual places. One is right in the middle above the tom, and another between the hi-hat and the SPD-SX Pro. The second is curious — it's close to the bottom right pad of the SPD-SX Pro, but slightly lower, likely for comfort. If you’ve got a deal with Roland, you can pretty much do what you want, and the samples on the triggers are different from those on the pad.

Footage shows a BT-1 trigger in line with his snare drum. Since he’s using snare samples there, it makes sense from a comfort standpoint. Big shoutout to my Discord community for helping with this video — specifically Patrick. Thanks, Patrick!

II's Simple Yet Effective Setup

What I love most about II’s setup is how simple and effective it is — no fuss. Let’s look at his 2023 and earlier setup with just the SPD-SX: just a sample pad. Nothing fancy behind the scenes. Samples are loaded onto the pad, and he plays them.

If you want the samples from the beginning of that era, they’re available just above (incase you didn't see it already!), including a patch for your SPD-SX.

Latest Known Rig

His most recent setup includes:

• SPD-SX Pro
• Two BT-1s
• KT-10 kick trigger
• Presumed RT-30H or RT-30HR triggers on the snare, toms, and possibly kick

Although I don’t have an SPD-SX Pro on hand, I use the SPD-SX and since it’s functioning as a sample pad, that’s good enough.

Setting It Up

To replicate this setup:

• Two BT-1s (cheaper options available on AliExpress)
• Roland KT-10
• Sample pad (e.g., Roland SPD-SX)
• Jack splitter for triggers (if using SPD-SX)

If you have the Pro, you don’t need a splitter.

Triggers around the kit are likely used as gates for front-of-house and in-ear mixes to clean the sound. They could be used for sampling, but from footage, they appear to be gates.

Programming the SPD-SX

On the SPD-SX:

1. Go to Menu > Trigger Input
2. Set BT-1s to “2x Trig In” instead of “Head & Rim”
3. Individually change each to “BT-1” for optimal settings
4. For the KT-10, choose either “Head and Rim” or “2x Trig” — doesn’t matter much when using one
5. Set KT-10 settings underneath to “KT-10” for best feel

Then, simply load samples onto the triggers. That’s the whole setup. No fancy routing, just triggers with sounds. He hits them — that’s the output. Simple and effective, especially for a show this big.

Nowadays, most setups run triggers into a TD-50 or Ableton for sampling and automation. While that’s great (and I’ve made lessons on that), sometimes it’s refreshing to see a sample pad used as a sample pad.

Grab the Sample Pack

I’ve made a sample pack with everything, including individual samples. If you have the SPD-SX, just download the kit, load it, and you’re good to go.

Consider supporting Drum Electric over on Patreon so I can keep making these videos.