Axis Drums — Metal Drummers Who Use Axis | MetalForge
Which metal drummers use Axis pedals? See every pro in MetalForge's database who endorses or plays Axis gear — kit specs and prices.
About Axis
Axis Percussion has built direct-drive bass drum pedals since 1990, when drummer and machinist Darrell Johnston set out to eliminate the flex and lag inherent in chain-drive designs. Now operating as AXiS Pedal & Drum Co., the brand's rigid, zero-lag feel has made it a defining choice in extreme metal.
Why Metal Drummers Choose Axis:
- Direct Drive – A rigid rod connecting footboard directly to beater, with no chain or belt
- Adjustable Cam – Lets players precisely dial in the pedal's feel and response
- Longboard Models – Extended footboard options for players who need more leverage
- Speed & Consistency – Zero-lag feel built for the fastest, most demanding blast-beat drumming
Metal Applications:
Axis's direct-drive design has made it a favorite among extreme metal drummers chasing maximum blast-beat speed, including Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg of black metal pioneers Mayhem, who builds his kit around Axis's zero-lag feel.
Axis History
Axis Percussion was founded in 1990 by drummer and machinist Darrell Johnston, who set out to build a bass drum pedal free of the flex and lag inherent in traditional chain-drive designs.
After early prototypes, Johnston landed on a direct-drive mechanism — a rigid rod connecting footboard directly to beater, with no chain or belt — paired with a cam design that let players precisely dial in the pedal's feel and response.
The AXiS pedal debuted publicly at the 1991 NAMM show and drew coverage in Modern Drummer magazine, quickly building a reputation among drummers for its speed, consistency, and durability under heavy use.
Now operating as AXiS Pedal & Drum Co., the company has grown from its Southern California roots into a Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area headquarters with additional manufacturing in Wisconsin, while keeping direct-drive design as its core identity.
That zero-lag, rigid-rod feel made Axis a favorite of extreme metal drummers chasing maximum blast-beat speed, with players across death, black, and progressive metal building their double-pedal setups around Axis's Longboard and standard models.
Axis Milestones
- 1990: Darrell Johnston founds Axis Percussion in Southern California, developing the first direct-drive bass drum pedal prototypes.
- 1991: The AXiS direct-drive pedal debuts publicly at the NAMM trade show.
Axis in Metal
Axis's rigid, zero-lag direct-drive feel has made it an extreme-metal staple: Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem) plays an Axis double pedal, Alex Bent (Trivium) uses the Axis A Longboard double pedal, and Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Soen) has built his setup around an Axis Percussion double pedal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Axis pedal do metal drummers use?
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem) plays an Axis double pedal, Alex Bent (Trivium) uses the Axis A Longboard, and Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Soen) has built his kit around an Axis Percussion double pedal.
Why do extreme metal drummers use Axis pedals?
Axis pedals use a direct-drive mechanism — a rigid rod with no chain or belt — for the fastest, most consistent response of any drive type, with minimal unaccounted-for flex. That zero-lag feel suits the speed extreme metal and blast-beat drumming demand.
What is direct drive on a bass drum pedal?
Direct drive connects the footboard straight to the beater shaft with a rigid rod instead of a chain or belt, eliminating slack for the most immediate, consistent power transfer. Axis pioneered the design in 1990.