Best Bass Drums for Power Metal in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
Best bass drums for power metal's balanced, punchy low end. What Scott Travis (ddrum Dominion Series), Aquiles Priester (Mapex Saturn Evolution), Nicko McBrain (British Drum Co.), and Mikkey Dee (Sonor SQ2) actually play — from budget to pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bass drums do power metal drummers use?
Scott Travis of Judas Priest plays twin ddrum Dominion Series bass drums driven by a DW 9000 Series double pedal, Aquiles Priester of Angra runs the twin bass drums from his Mapex Saturn Evolution All Maple signature kit, and Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays a single 22"x17" British Drum Co. bass drum on a single pedal — never a double pedal.
What size bass drum is best for power metal?
22"x17"-18" is the power metal standard. Nicko McBrain runs the shallower 17" depth for a quick, articulate gallop attack, while Scott Travis and Aquiles Priester use 18" for slightly more low-end weight and projection.
Do power metal drummers need a double bass pedal?
No — Nicko McBrain has never used a double bass pedal with Iron Maiden, building the genre's entire galloping rhythmic vocabulary on a single 22"x17" bass drum and a single pedal. Double bass matters more for sustained neoclassical technique, like Aquiles Priester's playing in Angra.
Why do power metal drummers need a different bass drum than blast-beat genres?
Power metal's galloping rhythms and soaring, keyboard-orchestrated arrangements need a bass drum voiced for balance and articulation rather than the low-end weight blast-beat genres favor. The kick has to punch through theatrical, melodic arrangements without ever burying the vocals.
Maple or birch/bubinga bass drum for power metal?
Maple is the power metal standard for many pro kits — Aquiles Priester's Mapex Saturn Evolution All Maple shell is, unsurprisingly, all maple, chosen for bright, articulate projection that cuts through melodic, layered arrangements without the heavier, more aggressive punch a birch/bubinga hybrid produces. Scott Travis's ddrum Dominion Series brings its own distinct tonal character to the same balanced, cutting sound.