Best Crash Cymbals for Black Metal in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
Discover the best crash cymbals for black metal drumming. Expert recommendations on thin, trashy, fast-decaying crashes for raw, lo-fi production, featuring the exact crashes used by Hellhammer, Inferno, and Daray.
Frequently Asked Questions
What crash cymbal does Hellhammer use?
Hellhammer of Mayhem uses 18" and 19" Paiste RUDE crashes — completely unlathed CuSn8 bronze cymbals that produce the raw, trashy, immediate explosion that established black metal's foundational crash sound on "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas."
What crash cymbal does Inferno use?
Inferno of Behemoth plays 17" and 18" Paiste RUDE Thin Crashes, chosen for their faster response and quicker decay compared to standard-weight RUDE crashes, keeping pace with Behemoth's dense, orchestrated arrangements at tempos exceeding 200 BPM.
What crash cymbal does Daray use?
Daray of Dimmu Borgir and Vader pairs 18" and 19" Paiste 2002 crashes alongside his RUDE crashes, giving him a slightly more controlled, lathed voice that still cuts through Dimmu Borgir's full symphonic arrangements.
Why do black metal drummers favor raw, unlathed crashes?
Black metal's deliberately raw, often lo-fi production aesthetic needs cymbals that sound untamed rather than refined. Unlathed crashes like Hellhammer's and Inferno's Paiste RUDE produce a trashy, immediate explosion that a polished, lathed cymbal can't replicate — exactly what harsh, treble-heavy black metal mixes call for.
What size crash cymbal is best for black metal?
17"-19" is the black metal crash range. Hellhammer runs 18" and 19" for the classic raw explosion, while Inferno favors a thinner voicing within that same range to keep pace with faster, blast-beat-dense modern black/death metal.