Best Bass Drums for Symphonic Metal in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What bass drums do symphonic metal drummers use?

Daray of Dimmu Borgir plays a Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic, Hellhammer (Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir) plays a Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech, Frost of Satyricon and 1349 plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga, and Jaska Raatikainen of Children of Bodom played a Pearl Masters Premium Maple. All run a single 22"x18" bass drum with a double pedal.

What makes a bass drum good for symphonic metal specifically, versus other metal genres?

Symphonic metal's bass drum has to share sonic space with real or programmed orchestral arrangements — strings, brass, choir, and keyboards all compete in the same low-to-mid frequency range. A balanced, controlled tone that leaves headroom for those elements matters more than raw punch.

Do I need a bass drum that can handle blast beats for symphonic metal?

Often, yes — many symphonic metal acts blend orchestral arrangements with symphonic black metal's blast beats. Hellhammer's Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech and Frost's Tama Starclassic Bubinga are both built to hold tone and tuning through sustained extreme-tempo passages.

What size bass drum is best for symphonic metal?

22"x18" is the standard across Daray, Hellhammer, Frost, and Jaska Raatikainen — it balances enough low-end presence to anchor the mix with the fast response needed for passages that alternate between blast beats and orchestral sections.

Should a symphonic metal bass drum be tuned bright or dark?

Slightly darker and controlled. A bright, boomy bass drum competes with orchestral and keyboard low end in a dense mix. Jaska Raatikainen's Pearl Masters Premium Maple and Daray's Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic both favor a controlled, well-defined attack over raw brightness.