Waltteri Väyrynen Drum Kit & Gear Setup — Opeth Drummer | MetalForge
Waltteri Väyrynen is a Finnish drummer born July 5, 1994, in Puolanka, Finland, now based in Helsinki. He first appeared as a session drummer for British gothic doom metal band Paradise Lost in 2015, became an official member in 2016, and recorded the albums Medusa (2017) and Obsidian (2020) with the band before departing in September 2022. In 2020, while still in Paradise Lost, he joined Bodom After Midnight — the project former Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho formed after that band's 2019 split — tracking material later released posthumously as the Paint the Sky with Blood EP (2021) following Laiho's death in December 2020. Väyrynen has also drummed for Finnish death metal band Abhorrence since 2016 and performed live with Bloodbath. In September 2022 he joined Swedish progressive metal band Opeth, replacing longtime drummer Martin Axenrot behind the drum kit, and recorded his first album with the band, The Last Will and Testament (2024), bringing his own drum set vocabulary to Opeth's progressive metal catalogue. His stated influences include Dirk Verbeuren, Kai Hahto, and Daniel Erlandsson.
Complete biography of Waltteri Väyrynen, Opeth's drummer since 2022 and formerly Paradise Lost's drummer from 2015-2022. Explore his Pearl drum kit, Sabian cymbal setup, and career across progressive and gothic doom metal.
Waltteri Väyrynen Biography
Waltteri Väyrynen is a Finnish drummer born July 5, 1994, in Puolanka, Finland, now based in Helsinki. He first appeared as a session drummer for British gothic doom metal band Paradise Lost in 2015, became an official member in 2016, and recorded the albums Medusa (2017) and Obsidian (2020) with the band before departing in September 2022.
In 2020, while still in Paradise Lost, he joined Bodom After Midnight — the project former Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho formed after that band's 2019 split — tracking material later released posthumously as the Paint the Sky with Blood EP (2021) following Laiho's death in December 2020. Väyrynen has also drummed for Finnish death metal band Abhorrence since 2016 and performed live with Bloodbath. In September 2022 he joined Swedish progressive metal band Opeth, replacing longtime drummer Martin Axenrot behind the drum kit, and recorded his first album with the band, The Last Will and Testament (2024), bringing his own drum set vocabulary to Opeth's progressive metal catalogue. His stated influences include Dirk Verbeuren, Kai Hahto, and Daniel Erlandsson.
Career Highlights
- 2015: Began as a session drummer for Paradise Lost
- 2016: Became an official member of Paradise Lost; joined Finnish death metal band Abhorrence
- 2017: Recorded Medusa, his first Paradise Lost studio album
- 2020: Recorded Obsidian with Paradise Lost; joined Bodom After Midnight
- 2021: Bodom After Midnight released the posthumous Paint the Sky with Blood EP
- 2022: Departed Paradise Lost in September; joined Opeth, replacing Martin Axenrot
- 2024: Recorded The Last Will and Testament, his first studio album with Opeth
Style & Influences
Waltteri Väyrynen's drumming bridges gothic doom metal's atmospheric weight and progressive metal's technical demands, a range built across his tenures in Paradise Lost and Opeth. He has cited Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth, ex-Soilwork), Kai Hahto (Nightwish, ex-Wintersun), and Daniel Erlandsson (Arch Enemy) as influences, all drummers known for combining technical precision with heavy, riff-driven metal.
Key Influences:
- Dirk Verbeuren: Cited influence known for precision drumming in Megadeth and Soilwork
- Kai Hahto: Cited influence from Nightwish and Wintersun
- Daniel Erlandsson: Cited influence from Arch Enemy
Signature Techniques:
- Atmospheric, dynamically controlled playing suited to Paradise Lost's gothic doom material
- Technical adaptation to Opeth's progressive metal songwriting following the 2022 lineup change
- Session versatility demonstrated across Bodom After Midnight and Abhorrence
Gear Highlights
Waltteri Väyrynen is an endorsed Pearl Drums artist — the relationship is confirmed via Pearl's own artist roster, though that page blocks automated access, so specific shell sizes and finish are omitted rather than guessed; Antelope Audio's writeup of his 2020 studio session at Orgone Studios independently corroborates the Pearl (and Sabian) gear. His Sabian cymbal endorsement is documented on Sabian's own artist page, which names a 22" HH Power Bell Ride as his favourite piece in the setup.
Documented Setup:
- Drums: Pearl (specific kit model/shell sizes not independently documented)
- Cymbals: Sabian, including a confirmed 22" HH Power Bell Ride
- Sticks: Wincent W-5BXL signature model
He plays Wincent's W-5BXL signature stick model, announced through Wincent's artist roster in December 2022. The rest of his cymbal lineup isn't itemized on Sabian's artist page, so only the confirmed 22" ride is listed here rather than guessing a full setup.