{{short description|American drummer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Matt Greiner | image = 2017 Matt Greiner (cropped).jpg | caption = Greiner performing with August Burns Red in 2017 | birth_name = <!-- if different from "name" --> Matthew Greiner | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|10|28}} | death_date = | origin = Manheim, Pennsylvania, U.S. | alias = | genre = {{flatlist| * Metalcore * Christian metal }} | occupation = Musician | years_active = 2003–present | instrument = Drums, piano | current_member_of = August Burns Red | website = }}
'''Matthew Wilson Greiner''' (born October 28, 1985) is an American drummer, best known as a founding member of the metalcore band August Burns Red. In 2012, he also cofounded the drum company ''Greiner&Kilmer'' with fellow drummer Kaleb Kilmer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockingodshouse.com/matt-greiner-of-august-burns-red-talks-metal-drumming-and-faith/|title=Matt Greiner of August Burns Red talks Christian Metal, Drumming, and Faith|publisher=Rocking God's House|first=Josh|last=Belcher|date=January 3, 2014|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> Greiner is an outspoken Christian.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thetinsoldiers/2013/06/a-conversation-with-matt-greiner-from-august-burns-red/|title=A Conversation with Matt Greiner from August Burns Red|publisher=Patheos|author=Schwab, Andrew|date=June 3, 2013|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> While Greiner is best known for his drumming, he also plays the piano.
==Career== In 2003, he started his musical career. Lead guitarist JB Brubaker hired him, rhythm guitarist Brent Rambler, bassist Jordan Tuscan and lead vocalist Jon Hershey to help form the band August Burns Red.<ref name="Metalcore"/> The band formed in March 2003 in Greiner's basement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thinktei.com/mattgreiner/|title=Matt Greiner|publisher=The Entertainment Institution|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref>
The band recorded the ''Looks Fragile After All'' EP in 2004 and was released by CI Records, a label local to where Greiner and the members lived. In 2005, Vocalist Jon Hershey left the band to eventually start Bells. He was replaced by Josh McManness. After McManness joined, the band signed to Solid State Records. On November 8, 2005, ABR released their debut album, titled ''Thrill Seeker''. After the album was released, Greiner started endorsing Truth Custom Drums. In 2006, McManness and Tuscan left the band, and were replaced by Jake Luhrs and Dustin Davidson.
On June 19, 2007, the band released their sophomore album, ''Messengers'' on Solid State. The album did extremely well and sold 108,000 copies by May 2011. Throughout 2008, the band toured with bands such as As I Lay Dying, Misery Signals, A Skylit Drive, and This or the Apocalypse.<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=34090 |title = Misery Signals Announce Tour With As I Lay Dying |date = February 20, 2008 |accessdate =May 30, 2016 |publisher = MetalUnderground.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/3501/14004/August-Burns-Red-Selling-Out-Venues-On-Their-Fall-Headline-Tour.html#axzz11pBfX7Xg |title=August Burns Red Selling Out Venues On Their Fall Headline Tour|author=jason |date=September 29, 2008 |work=The Gauntlet|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> On February 24, 2009, the band released some of the tracks that were not released with ''Messengers'', titled ''Lost Messengers: The Outtakes''. ''Constellations'' came out later in the year of 2009. The band released ''Leveler'' in 2011 and ''August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill'', a Christmas album, in 2012. In 2011, Greiner started Greiner&Kilmer with local drummer and woodworker Kaleb Kilmer. On October 25, 2011, the Christian hardcore band, Life in Your Way released their fifth studio album, ''Kingdoms'', which Greiner produced the drums.<ref name="LIYW">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Life-In-Your-Way-Kingdoms/release/3182715|title=Life In Your Way - ''Kingdoms''|date=October 25, 2011 |publisher=Discogs|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref>
The album also features Greiner's fellow ABR member, Jake Luhrs.<ref name="LIYW" /> On May 13, 2013, the Metalcore band, Texas in July released their self titled album.<ref name="TIJ">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Texas-In-July-Texas-In-July/release/5264857|title=Texas in July - ''Texas in July''|date=May 13, 2013 |publisher=Discogs|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> Greiner was featured on the album's final track, "Cloudy Minds".<ref name="TIJ" /> Later, on June 25, 2013, ABR released their sixth full-length album, called ''Rescue & Restore''. The album did extremely well, charting very high on the Billboard charts. In 2014, ABR's only development, announced they had left Solid State Records to sign to Fearless Records<ref>{{cite web|url=https://facebook.com/augustburnsred/photos/a.383730029290.160023.5395949290/10152584086844291|title=Timeline Photos - August Burns Red - Facebook|work=facebook.com|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> and the band's new album, ''Found in Far Away Places'', would be available for pre-order on April 13, 2015 along with their new single "The Wake".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153179580759291|title=August Burns Red - Facebook|work=facebook.com|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> On June 29, 2015, the band released ''Found in Far Away Places'' on Fearless. The band was Grammy nominated for "Best Metal Performance" for their song "Identity".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-grammys-2016-nominees-winners-list-story.html | newspaper=LA Times | title=2016 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees | date=December 7, 2015 | accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref>
==Legacy== Greiner is considered a highly influential drummer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geargods.net/tutorials/august-burns-red-drummer-matt-greiner-breaks-down-majoring-in-the-minors/|title=AUGUST BURNS RED Matt Greiner Breaks Down "Major In The Minors"|publisher=Gear Gods|first=Trey|last=Xavier|date=July 7, 2015|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> In the Christian metal genre, Greiner, as well as Lance Garvin (Living Sacrifice, Soul Embraced), Brandon Trahan (Impending Doom, xDeathstarx), and Ted Kirkpatrick (Tourniquet, Trouble) are thought to be the most influential drummers for the genre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hearitfirst.com/news/top-8-drummers-in-a-christian-band|title=Top 8 Drummers in a Christian band|publisher=Hear It First|date=January 29, 2014|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref>
==Personal life== Greiner is an outspoken Christian. He was homeschooled as a child,<ref name="Metalcore">{{cite web|url=http://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/august-burns-red-looks-beyond-metalcore/article_f7b87ff0-012d-527c-890a-210a83ff2540.html|title=August Burns Red Looks Beyond Metalcore|publisher=Lancaster Online|first=Jon|last=Ferguson|date=December 22, 2011|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}</ref> which gave him more time to practice drumming. On the album ''Constellations'', the song "Indonesia" was written as a tribute to David Clapper, who was Greiner's second cousin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X9DYDuvcrg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/9X9DYDuvcrg |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=August Burns Red - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction|website=Loudwire|first=Graham|last=Hartmann|date=November 11, 2017|accessdate=January 23, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Greiner was raised on Contemporary Christian music and he grew up going to festivals such as Cornerstone, Creation, and Purple Door.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SDM |date=2009-03-30 |title=Matt Greiner |url=https://sickdrummermagazine.com/the-drummers/metal-hardcore/matt-greiner/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Sick Drummer Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Discography==
===August Burns Red=== * ''Thrill Seeker'' (2005) * ''Messengers'' (2007) * ''Constellations'' (2009) * ''Leveler'' (2011) * ''August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill'' (2012) * ''Rescue & Restore'' (2013) * ''Found in Far Away Places'' (2015) * ''Phantom Anthem'' (2017) * ''Guardians'' (2020) * ''Death Below'' (2023)
===Guest appearances=== * ''Texas in July'' by Texas in July (2013) * ''Kingdoms'' by Life in Your Way (2011)
==References== {{Reflist}} {{August Burns Red}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greiner, Matt}} Category:Christian metal musicians Category:American performers of Christian music Category:American male drummers Category:American pianists Category:Living people Category:August Burns Red Category:1985 births Category:People from Manheim, Pennsylvania Category:21st-century American drummers Category:Drummers from Pennsylvania Category:21st-century American male pianists