Fans of Art Cruz, Lamb of God, diabolical drum work, and hard-hitting heavy metal, rejoice: this is your all-inclusive spot to discover the latest content, gear, tour information, music news, and more from Art Cruz. This dynamically updated profile shows off what’s caught Art’s eyes and ears, from current gear obsessions and touring rigs to collaborative videos and the newest releases. To learn more about what Art’s got going on and what fuels his creative vision, keep your eyes on this space!
- Art Cruz’s Gear: Essential 2026 Tour Gear
- Content Spotlight: Art Cruz Takes on Phil Demmel’s Riff Challenge!
- New Music and Releases
- Upcoming Shows and Event Information
- More from Art Cruz and Sweetwater
- About Art Cruz
Art Cruz’s Gear: Essential 2026 Tour Gear
Ludwig, Evans, Vic Firth, Gator, Zildjian, Cympad, Rock Locks, Trick, Gibraltar, Latin Percussion, and Clear Tune collide to make the ultimate Lamb of God–grade drum setup for Art Cruz, on the band’s Into Oblivion 2026 North American tour.
NOTE: Mouse over and select points on the image to learn more about each element powering Art’s Into Oblivion touring rig! Mobile users will see this as a slideshow.
Content Spotlight: Art Cruz Takes on Phil Demmel’s Riff Challenge!
New Music and Releases
Stream Lamb of God’s newest full-length record, Into Oblivion!
Upcoming Shows and Event Information
Ready to catch Art in action? Lamb of God is taking North America by storm in 2026 with an ultra-stacked lineup featuring support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit for an Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. We could wax poetic about the display of brutality you’re sure to endure, but Lamb of God axe man Mark Morton said better than we could, in an interview with Loudwire:
“We are beyond thrilled to announce the loudest, proudest, floor shakin’-est, earth quakin’-est, ear-splittin’-est, mosh pittin’-est, undiluted, undisputed HEAVIEST tour of the whole damn year.”
Grab your tickets and VIP packages from Lamb of God’s website!
More from Art Cruz and Sweetwater
As a close friend of Sweetwater, Art Cruz is always ready to roll with drum playthroughs, live rig tours, collaborative artist challenges, and more. Check out more from Art Cruz and Sweetwater below!
About Art Cruz: From South El Monte to Stage-blazing World Tours
Celebrated heavy-metal drummer Art Cruz is a musician of multitudes. Before taking the throne of groove/thrash legends Lamb of God’s rhythm section, Cruz spent over a decade with California deathcore outfit Winds of Plague and played a few stints with lauded NYC act Prong. His reputation as a touring titan led to an explosive Lamb of God debut, joining the band’s support of Slayer on their 2018 farewell tour. But the rhythmic shades in which Cruz trades conceal diverse depths that underscore the power, dynamism, and presence that have defined his stage and studio tenacity. Where did this all start? Santana.
Growing up in the South El Monte suburb of East Los Angeles, Art Cruz’s sonic odyssey began with the sounds of Carlos Santana — the melding of time, timbre, and tone that emerged from Santana’s innovative fusion of Latin American, rock, jazz, and African musical styles. Congas, timbales, bongos, and myriad percussion instruments missing from mainstream rock ’n’ roll were as commonplace in East LA’s diverse cultural landscape as Santana’s infectious grooves, paving a natural path through everything from backyard and basement shows to playing in South El Monte High School’s marching band.
As band practice became dually defined by its marching and metal iterations, Cruz would integrate the abounding flourishes and nuances of this genre-transcending pantheon of performance into his metal-focused oeuvre. The cultural heritage that emanates from Cruz’s distinctive style is equal parts baffling and bombastic, pairing contrasting percussive permutations, and has earned him a well-deserved reputation as one of the metal world’s most demanded drummers.
When Lamb of God announced their need for a new throne warrior, Art Cruz — with visions of Bruce Dickinson, Jason Newsted, and Paul Bostaph flashing through his head — seized the gauntlet. After nearly seven years with Lamb of God that have seen two studio albums, including the all-important self-titled record, it’s clear: Art Cruz hasn’t merely re-energized the band’s overall sound, he’s used his voltaic voice to push the genre’s limits while honoring the roots that got him his dream gig.
He’s not just playing with his favorite band. He has a defining role in their journey, and there’s no shortage of sonic peaks to summit next.
