I own a few of the EZX packs, and compared to others I found the Progressive sounds, especially the cymbals, to be nearly unusable. It all just sounds weak and very, VERY muddy when placed into another pack's setup. I'm aware that this is something that can possibly be remedied in the mixing process, but why do some kits sound ready to go and this one sounds like crap? Really, the best sounding kits out of all I own (Modern and Vintage, Nashville, Rock!, and Progressive) are easily the Modern setups. Nashville is a close second, but now I'm scared to death to drop that much cash on an unrefundable expansion pack that might sound as bad as Progressive does. It was a huge letdown, because it has SO much potential and so many great cymbals. I hope Toontrack takes notice and re-engineers this pack someday... Soon. Or at least offers a limited window to trade.

This is my latest Midi Pack extension from Toontrack and it rocks! For my purposes, songwriting and practice for guitar and bass guitar, I can create some fun stuff. Much to be said for the old four on the floor, but sometimes one must go outside the box.

This review will hopefully enable you to make some first choices about which ezx to get for HEAVY METAL MUSIC. It is ridiculous to not give Toontrack a 6-star rating. I prefer EZ Drummer over Superior Drummer for one main reason – and that is each ezx represents hundreds or perhaps even thousands of musically brilliant professionals' man-hours of effort (not including their lifetime experiences of unique talent) executing a fantastic and specific musical outcome so that you can just make choices and be spared the tedium of time consuming development work (unless that is how you want to spend your time – and if that is the case – go for Superior Drummer – as it goes beyond any other software as far as creating totally custom presets). Most people looking at the reviews already know Toontrack's drumming software is the not only the best there is but the only real viable attempt to capture the percussion elements of the entire musical universe - and like a conquering army – put it all under the dominion of a single power – that power being you (the user) - and therefore the rating is a moot point – but rather – like going to the greatest ice cream shop in all history that features over 1000 flavors and knowing that chocolate is the favorite flavor – how to make the right choice when confronted by well over two dozen flavors of chocolate?
Because each ezx has so many different settings and tone variations – to make sense of what each ezx can do – I wanted to capture the primary voice of each ezx – so I started with the original mix – listened to all the kit variations – and picked the one that was the most representative of that ezx – so I could easily compare each ezx in rapid succession. I used beats that required jazz drumming detail, Rock drumming power and sonority, and Metal drumming punctuation and authority, while holding as close as possible to the most natural and organic sound each kit was capable of. Here are the results that are tailored towards my preferences of the Metal genre:
DRUM KIT FROM HELL: The most extreme ezx for Metal. If you have a mix overloaded with 9 string guitars, a 5-string bass, and contrabass keyboard pads – this kit will penetrate and clean up the messiest sonic soup. But like all sample sets designed for loud performance – this set requires a higher-than-normal volume setting in the mix to accurately recreate the proper tone of the snare drum – which is strong – and cannot be placed in any low volume acoustic instrument mix any more than you could put a symphonic trombone section at the same volume next to a ukulele. If you use this set improperly the main power feature of the set will be lost. This set is very specialized and will not sound right for most normal mix situations. If your music sounds like hell (because of dense overload in the contrabass and baritone register) – DRUM KIT FROM HELL is the ultimate sound, I have found.
METALHEADS: The most versatile ezx for Metal if you want the flavor of Drum Kit from Hell without any of the limitations. It will work for anything Metal and sound fantastic in its own unique way. But it is definitely Metal and for the amazing sonority achieved there is some sacrifice in the organic and natural drum sounds – but not as extreme as Drum Kit from Hell. I love the detail I hear in this kit.
METAL MACHINE: This kit is probably the most versatile kit for Metal. It achieves amazing detail almost as well as Metalheads – but at the same time moves closer to a more natural sound that does not suffer from any lack of power and definition. I suppose if I was stuck with only one possible choice – though not my favorite ezx – probably the only kit that sounds exotic and can do any job it is given without any significant shortfall.
METAL! I have a difficult time describing this set. It is as fantastic and versatile as Metal Machine – but in a completely different way that does not sound natural or organic – but still extremely musical. It is the only kit that sounds sweet and cold at the same time to my ear. The warmest kit in the Metal line up is MADE OF METAL and the sweetest sounding kit is DRUMS OF DESTRUCTION. This kit seems absolutely defect free when doing any busy high speed drum part – and it seems to do the same job as METAL MACHINE but in a completely different way – so I have a hard time trying to figure out which of these kits is the primary front and center kit for all Heavy Metal genres. For me, the strength of this kit is a sure bet in any mix where the drumming maintains a strong position without interference. I think Metal Machine would sound better in a less busy mix than METAL!
DRUMS OF DESTRUCTION: If the drums were played alone with no other instruments in the mix – this kit is number one for authority, warmth, and definition while maintaining the most organic and natural drum sounds that are extremely pleasing to the ear. The value of this kit will be lost in a dense mix or any that favor 8 string guitars. Best used for power trio and fantastic sound backing lead guitar solo work or a single 6 string guitar metal part.
MADE OF METAL: Made to bring power to any combination of 6 string guitar work mixes to give more depth and heavy tone to the final mix without interfering with vocals or lead guitar work. The warmest sounding kit in the entire metal ezx line up. As warm and thick as you can get without losing definition or getting over the top wild sounds required for slower heavy arena rock (like the ROCK SOLID ezx).
MODERN METAL: My least favorite kit because it has multiple personalities. It seems to cover everything but in a more neutral way than the specialized sounds of the other kits. It is extraordinarily strong and defined – but to my ear – all Metal with little natural organic sound – but all the sounds are fantastically musical and can perform both slow speed power beats and busy high speed metal beats.
PROGRESSIVE: Wow. The thunderous setting lives up to its name. This kit has a big sound – and so big on certain settings that you better slow down the beat or you will have a mess on your hands. A fantastic kit with its own unique place in the Metal drum universe. You just have to compare beats you make with other kits with how it sounds in this one to make the right choice. When on the tamer settings – a very versatile kit that sounds different than all the others.
DARK MATTER: The strangest sounding drum kit I have ever heard. It sounds totally normal and organic – and then when I compare it to the other kits all doing the same part – this kit has a clarity and definition that seems to be unique for how thick it sounds. To my ear, it is the most exotic kit of them all that has incredible versatility. It is a sonic anomaly. It seems to possess the best attributes of a highly processed unnatural sounding drum kit mix and the most natural and organic qualities at the same time. This kit is for gourmet metal. It is superb – but like anything else – if it is your only kit – you will get tired of it.
DEATH METAL: Super Wowie Zowie! My favorite interface where art and science are united in technical matrimony. Toontrack's greatest achievement in creative vision of the Metal genre. This kit is like no other and even though I prefer Dark Matter – this kit is just as unique but completely different from all the other Metal ezx. I often compose starting with this kit – and discover that no other kit – even Dark Matter – can improve the final beat I create using the Death Metal ezx. It has a thick muffled quality without sounding like any high-end detail fidelity is missing – and that is a musical contradiction. It is as "fat" as you can get with maximum "snap". Death Metal and Black Matter are a must have if you are into Metal. I consider this an awfully close second place to Dark Matter as far as how exotic. And definitely first place for what it does best.
Now there are other kits that Toontrack classifies as metal and others that sound fantastic for certain metal parts that are not classified as metal. My favorite kit in the entire ezx line up for power and definition that is the most natural and organic – is NASHVILLE – hands down with nothing even close to what this kit sounds like and my top choice for metal that demands an organic drum sound or any form of hard rock. For processed sounds that are on the opposite side of organic and natural – my favorite for medium speed metal is ROCK SOLID – and wow – this kit has its own super powered over the top personality like no other kit and it definitely suffers from an overdose of drum steroids which is what makes it a magnificent choice for certain parts. Despite that – if I were to have only a few ezx to start out with – my top three choices for versatility are METAL!, MADE OF METAL, and DRUMS OF DESTRUCTION. For exotic and fantastic sound that has no regard for any all-purpose considerations my top three choices are DARK MATTER, DEATH METAL, and METALHEADS. For just the way the drums sound alone – DRUMS OF DESTRUCTION is my favorite that sounds absolutely fantastic without being exotic like DARK MATTER or DEATH METAL.
Understand – I believe it is worth buying them all – and only a matter of which order to buy them.

I own about 15 EZX Expansions and this one is used the most by me in my studio. I mainly utilize the sets with hard rock songs, but have also found it useful for country, pop, and modern worship tunes that have a little edge or bite to them. Very tweakable and the snares and kicks are straight money. If I had to pare down all my Expansion packs to just a couple, this would easily make the cut. Also, check out the Rock Solid EZX (my #2 favorite).

This is one of, if not the best EZX for EZDrummmer if you"re a prog, metal, metalcore type. I do mostly home recordings and a lot of writing and this pack gives you that little bit of spontaneity that opens doors to writing some super creative riffs. The kits are very good too - but the grooves are 10/10. Don"t think, just get it.

Everything I needed in my first expansion pack for EZdrummer 2. The amazing drummer from Karnivool Mr. Judd delivers on the recording for this particular expansion. You cannot go wrong.

Great sounding drums and cymbals to add to your collection. Thanks Toontrack.

Well another great product once again great drums kit.

This midi pack is a great as all of them are I would just make sure you pay attention to what you need for you style and genre, I don't even play prog dog but I've listened to tons of it and I have tendencies to barrow from the rhythm and slickness of it so this pack helps out with this flexibility to do so
also you can tweak the details in your midi windows in most DAWs to use these performances and get it to be a bit more unique to your particular song .

Just started having my new drummer set in on some recording sessions he showed up on time and was ready to play whatever I wanted fast and furious. The ease of telling him what to play and how to add his own parts was great. The sound that he had was awesome and he could change styles in a heartbeat. This guy wont stop for anything not even a beer, best drummer we ever had.

I own quite a few expansions. This one has great sound and a lot of variations that are unique from each other. (Probably the most I've seen in an expansion pack). I only wish there were more midi files to choose from.

its hard to find a reliable drummer these days,weather it be schedules or HEY guys I cant make it to practice. having a bad hair day ,with EZdrummer2 you never have that problem,the drummer is always there ready when YOU are . THANK YOU SWEATWATER for your exceptional support

Ugh now I wish I had Superior...But EZ is still awesome!! So the kits are wide variety and quality is there as always from Toontrack (BTW thank you for FINALLY doing this one TT). The Midi is sweet but a little less then I expected (4 songs). Still well worth the price as there are 100+ fills, and good ones. I have been waiting on this one for years!!! So glad its here.
When the price drops next yr Superior & Progressive SDX r mine!!