Disorderly Drums

Disorderly Drums – Joy Division Inspired Post-Punk Drum Kit

Channel the raw power of Joy Division’s rhythm section with Disorderly Drums, a sample pack tribute to the drum sound on “Disorder” and the Unknown Pleasures album. This pack contains 167 analog drum samples that deliver the distinctive punch, grit, and melancholy atmosphere of Stephen Morris’s drumming – all meticulously re-created and recorded with modern fidelity. From thunderous toms to snappy snares and atmospheric sweeps, Disorderly Drums gives you the tools to build a post-punk or gothic rock drum track that sounds authentically late 70s/early 80s.

• Joy Division’s Drum Tone Reborn: We fell in love with the drum sound on Joy Division’s “Disorder” – the thumping toms and cracking snares that drive that song (and much of the Unknown Pleasures album). Using a vintage Yamaha acoustic drum kit and era-appropriate recording techniques, we crafted a set of samples that capture that exact vibe. These hits are dark, a bit roomy, and packed with character, instantly transporting your mix to a dimly lit Manchester studio circa 1979.

• 167 One-Shots for Realistic Programming: This is a comprehensive kit: 54 tom hits, 32 snare hits, 20 kicks, 31 hi-hats (closed and open), 14 crashes, 5 rides, plus 11 noise “sweeps” and FX for transitions. With so many variations, you can program drums that never sound repetitive – perfect for replicating Joy Division’s technique of individually recorded and processed drums. Every hit has slight differences (tuning, stick intensity, etc.), which is exactly how real drum takes are.

• Tape & Analog Processing: To truly nail the unique tone of those recordings, each sample was run through analog gear and tape, then EQ’d to sit in the mix like Joy Division’s drums. The kicks are punchy but not bass-heavy, the snares have that curt snap with a hint of distortion, and the toms… oh, the toms… they’re deep and resonant, with that unmistakable “thud” you hear on tracks like “Disorder” and “Insight.” By matching the frequency profile and dynamics of the original album, we’ve ensured these samples require minimal mixing – they’re already flavored with that 1980 magic.

• Ableton Live Project Included: As a bonus, we’ve included an Ableton Live session with the entire kit pre-loaded in a drum rack, complete with a randomized round-robin setup. This session is configured to cycle through the tom hits in a human way and throw in subtle variations on snares and hats, so you can jam out a beat and get an instant Joy Division feel. Even the reverb send is pre-tuned to emulate that Factory Records plate reverb. (Don’t have Ableton? No worries – the WAVs are all provided, and we include tips on how to replicate the setup in other DAWs.)

• Made for Post-Punk & More: Disorderly Drums is obviously a goldmine for post-punk, goth rock, and new wave producers – basically any style where moody, powerful drums lead the charge. But these samples also work in modern settings: try the toms in a dark techno track, or use the snare and hat in a trap beat for a gritty twist. If you’re scoring a film or game set in the early 80s, this kit will authenticate your sound. It’s got that brooding, driving energy that defined an era.

Kit Contents & Features

Let’s break down the kit pieces a bit more, so you know what you’re working with:

• Kicks (20): These are tight, punchy kick drum hits with a mid-focused thump. No long 808 booms here – we aimed for that short, almost thud-like kick you hear in Martin Hannett’s production. Many kicks have a nice analog saturation from the tape, giving them weight without needing sub-bass. Perfect for keeping rhythm in fast uptempo tracks without muddying the low end.

• Snares (32): A variety of snare hits, from main strikes to ghost-note taps. The snares were recorded with and without muffling, and processed with different analog preamps to get subtle tonal changes. Some have a sharper attack, others a drier body – mix and match for your song sections. All carry that vintage flavor – slightly compressed, a hint of grain, and that “crack” that cuts through the chilling atmosphere of a Joy Division-esque mix.

• Hi-Hats (31): Closed hi-hats, semi-open hats, and a few open hat sustains. The hats are crisp but not overly bright – we tamed the highs just like in the record, so they sit a bit back in the mix. Use the closed hats for driving eighth-note patterns (think She’s Lost Control energy) and open hats to mark transitions or add a wash.

• Toms (54): Arguably the star of the show. We recorded multiple tom sizes (including that floor tom that does so much work in JD beats) at multiple velocities. These toms have massive presence – each hit rings out with a depth that can carry a groove. We intentionally recorded them individually and processed them separately (like Joy Division did) to capture that unique isolation effect. You’ll notice some toms have more reverb, some less – use that to create a sense of space. Pan them across the stereo field and you’ve got the classic “Disorder” tom pattern ready to roll.

• Cymbals – Crashes (14) & Rides (5): A selection of crash cymbal one-shots, all fairly short (we often choked the cymbal or just let it ring briefly). They accent without lingering – essential for that tight, no-frills post-punk production. Rides include ping and bell hits, great for when you switch from hats to ride in a chorus while keeping the intensity up.

• Noise Sweeps & FX (11): This folder is fun – we created some analog noise sweeps, percussive hits, and feedback-like swells using guitar pedals and synth noise to mimic some of the strange effects Hannett would sprinkle in. Use these to lead into a chorus or break – they’re excellent for transitions and adding an experimental touch.

With these, you have everything to reconstruct a beat like “Disorder”, or just imbue any beat with that post-punk DNA. All samples are keymapped in the Ableton kit (if you use it) to General MIDI drum standards where possible, so you can even swap them into existing MIDI drum patterns you have.

In the Studio: We want to mention – a lot of love went into making this pack. We’re huge Joy Division fans. We spent nights A/B testing our samples against the original stems and album, tweaking mic placements, experimenting with old tape machines to get the exact right crunch. The end result: you can barely tell our recreated “Disorder” drum track from the original. That’s how spot-on these sounds are. We know die-hard fans will appreciate that attention to detail.

How to Use & Pair

Just load the samples into your favorite sampler or DAW and start programming your beats. Because there are so many variations, don’t be afraid to let the randomness work for you: e.g., alternate 3–4 different tom samples on a tom roll – you’ll get a human feel, as if each drum hit resonates slightly differently (because in real life it does!). Use the ghost snare samples on off-beats to emulate a drummer’s light touches.

For post-punk authenticity, try a pattern with driving 16th-note hi-hats, a steady kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, and LOTS of tom fills interjected. Play with adding a touch more reverb on the snare and tom bus – we intentionally kept many samples drier so you can choose your space (small room vs cavernous hall).

And remember, these sounds aren’t just locked to post-punk. The kicks and snares here can form the backbone of a moody trip-hop beat. The toms can be incredible impact elements in trailer music or dark ambient. The noise FX can spice up an industrial or techno production.

For a killer combo of old-school factory floor and big 80s drums, experiment with layering a snare from Disorderly Drums with a gated reverb snare from Infomercial Drums – you’ll get an amalgam that’s huge yet grounded in nostalgia.

Ready to channel the spirit of Joy Division? Let Disorderly Drums be your guide. Add this pack to your arsenal and inject that unmistakable post-punk soul into your music. As soon as your drums kick in, listeners will feel the atmosphere – that intense, emotive quality that defined Joy Division and the generation of music that followed.

(P.S. All samples are royalty-free – Ian Curtis’s estate won’t come knocking or anything, we promise! 😅)