Matthew McDonough (born March 12, 1969) is an American drummer best known as a member of theheavy metal bandMudvayne. He is the band's original drummer and has appeared and performed on every release by Mudvayne. He was also the original drummer ofAudiotopsy since 2015 until his departure in 2021. He holds a respected place in the world of drumming for his signature drumming style.^[1][2]

McDonough was born inRockford, Illinois, he attendedRockford East High School and was a member of thePhantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. He was previously in a band calledOn the Shoulders of Giants; as well as a band called Daed Kcis.

He also lived inWashington, IL and went toWashington Community High School.^{[citation needed]}

WithinMudvayne, McDonough was said to be the most influential person in setting the direction for the concept themes on the band's first two albums. He is also known for composing, recording, mixing, and mastering the electronic interludes on bothL.D. 50 (2000) andThe End of All Things to Come (2002).^[3] Mudvayne, who were enjoying immense popularity, released three more albums—Lost and Found (2005),The New Game (2008) andMudvayne (2009)—before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2010. They announced their reunion in April 2021.^[4]

In 2015, McDonough formed the bandAudiotopsy with formerSkrape lead vocalist Billy Keeton, former Mudvayne lead guitaristGreg Tribbett, and bassist Perry Stern. They released their debut studio albumNatural Causes on October 2, 2015. In 2021, he and guitaristGreg Tribbett left Audiotopsy due to the reformation ofMudvayne.

For his solo work, in 2008 McDonough released his first album under the alias "MjDawn" with his cousin David W. McDonough,^[5] calledFrequency Response.^[6] On the album, he experiments with acoustic drumming andelectronica. McDonough, as MjDawn, also has several side projects both with ambient/electronica artist Vir Unis under the band name MiKroNaught and with guitarist RFSans under the band nameultrAtheist.^{[citation needed]}

On the production side of the music industry, he is co-owner of the label AtmoWorks together with Vir Unis.

McDonough usesPearl drums,Alchemy cymbals, Easton Ahead Signature drum sticks, Easton Ahead drum gloves and Evans drum heads. His Pearl Masterworks kit with custom tobacco fade finish and custom satin chrome hardware includes:

• 20x16 bass drum
• 13x8 custom snare drum
• 8x7 tom (suspended directly on top of his 10x8 tom)
• 10x8 tom
• 12x9 tom
• 14x10 tom
• 16x16 suspended floor tom
• 18x16 suspended floor tom (to his left)

Studio albums

• L.D. 50 (2000)
• The End of All Things to Come (2002)
• Lost and Found (2005)
• The New Game (2008)
• Mudvayne (2009)

Compilation albums

• By the People, for the People (2007)
• Playlist: The Very Best of Mudvayne (2011)

EPs

• Kill, I Oughtta (1997)
• The Beginning of All Things to End (2001)
• Live Bootleg (2003)

Studio albums

• Natural Causes (2015)
• The Real Now (2018)

• 1969 births
• Living people
• Mudvayne members
• Musicians from Peoria, Illinois
• American heavy metal drummers
• Progressive metal musicians
• Nu metal drummers
• 20th-century American drummers
• American male drummers
• Drummers from Illinois

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