Best China Cymbals for Thrash Metal in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
Discover the best china cymbals for thrash metal drumming. Expert recommendations on explosive, trashy accent cymbals for breakneck riffing and gang-vocal breakdowns, featuring the exact chinas used by Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo, Charlie Benante, and Paul Bostaph.
Frequently Asked Questions
What china cymbal does Lars Ulrich use?
Lars Ulrich uses a 20" Zildjian Z Custom China, part of his Zildjian A Custom setup that has defined Metallica's cymbal sound since the 1996 Load sessions.
What china cymbal size is best for thrash metal?
18" is the most common choice among thrash metal drummers — used by Dave Lombardo, Charlie Benante, Paul Bostaph, and Dirk Verbeuren for its fast response and ability to keep pace with rapid, palm-muted riffing. Lars Ulrich's 20" is the notable exception, favored for maximum projection.
Do thrash metal drummers use china cymbals live?
Yes — a china cymbal is a near-universal part of the thrash metal cymbal setup. Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo, Charlie Benante, Paul Bostaph, and Dirk Verbeuren all run a china as a dedicated accent voice in their touring rigs.
China vs. crash for thrash metal accents?
A crash rings out cleanly with a longer, more musical decay. A china produces a faster, dirtier, more explosive attack with a shorter decay, making it better suited to punctuating palm-muted riffs, breakdowns, and tempo transitions than sustained washes.
What's the best budget china cymbal for thrash metal?
The Zildjian ZBT China (€70-90) delivers a genuinely trashy B8 bronze sound at a true beginner price. For a step up, the Sabian XSR Fast China (€100-130) brings B20 bronze — usually reserved for pro cymbals — to a mid-range price.