Best Crash Cymbals for Death Metal in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
Discover the best crash cymbals for death metal drumming. Expert recommendations on heavy, dark-toned crashes built to cut through blast-beat-dense mixes, featuring the exact crashes used by George Kollias, Flo Mounier, and Pete Sandoval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What crash cymbal does George Kollias use?
George Kollias of Nile plays 17" and 18" Zildjian K Custom Dark Crashes. The dark, controlled wash sits perfectly under Nile's technical death metal complexity, and the fast decay allows precise accent placement within blast beat patterns at 280+ BPM.
What crash cymbal does Flo Mounier use?
Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy uses 16" and 18" Sabian AAX/HHX Crashes, an endorsement since 2012. The full-bodied, powerful crash character delivers controlled chaos even at Mounier's extreme 270 BPM tempos, providing the dramatic accent impact that defines Cryptopsy's brutal technical death metal sound.
What crash cymbal does Pete Sandoval use?
Pete Sandoval of Morbid Angel runs 17" and 18" Zildjian A Custom Crashes, a brighter, more articulate attack than the genre's dark-crash norm, chosen for the fast, defined response his hyper-blast technical death metal demands.
Are dark crash cymbals better for death metal?
Generally yes. Dark crashes with controlled wash — like George Kollias's Zildjian K Custom Dark or Flo Mounier's Sabian AAX/HHX — sit better under down-tuned guitars and complex rhythmic patterns at extreme speeds. Bright, brilliant-finish crashes like Pete Sandoval's Zildjian A Custom work too, but require prioritizing articulation over pure darkness.
What size crash is best for death metal?
16" and 17" crashes are most common in death metal — smaller sizes decay faster, allowing precise accent placement within blast beat patterns. 18" crashes are reserved for dramatic moments. George Kollias runs multiple sizes, including 17" and 18", for different tonal needs.