What china cymbal does Scott Travis use?

Scott Travis of Judas Priest currently plays an 18"-20" Sabian HHX China, part of a setup with a direct lineage back to "Painkiller" (1990), the record that became power metal's foundational speed-and-precision blueprint.

What china cymbal does Aquiles Priester use?

Aquiles Priester of Angra runs an 18"-20" Ufip Class Series China as part of his current Angra return-era setup, chosen for maximum consistency at sustained 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass patterns.

What china cymbal does Nicko McBrain use?

Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays an 18" Paiste Signature China, part of his Sonor SQ1/SQ2 rig, delivering the bright, articulate voicing behind Iron Maiden's galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary.

Why do power metal drummers favor bright, cutting china cymbals?

Power metal's theatrical, keyboard-orchestrated arrangements and soaring clean vocals need a china that cuts through the mix rather than washing over it. Bright, cutting chinas like Scott Travis's Sabian HHX and Nicko McBrain's Paiste Signature stay present against dense, layered arrangements — a dark, murky china would disappear in that context.

What size china cymbal is best for power metal?

18"-20" is the power metal china standard. 18" chinas respond fast enough for galloping double-bass accents, while 20" adds low-end weight for a song's biggest theatrical climaxes — the size Aquiles Priester favors for consistency at extreme tempos.