Best Crash Cymbals for Mathcore in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
Discover the best crash cymbals for mathcore drumming. Expert recommendations on fast-attack, dissonant crashes built for odd-time signature aggression, featuring the exact crashes played by Ben Koller, Matt Greiner, Blake Richardson, and Danny Carey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What crash cymbal does Ben Koller use?
Ben Koller of Converge plays 16" and 18" Zildjian K and A Custom Crashes, a setup that anchored mathcore's founding cymbal sound on Converge's landmark "Jane Doe" (2001).
What crash cymbal does Matt Greiner use?
Matt Greiner of August Burns Red plays 16" and 18" Meinl Byzance Dual Crashes, bringing math metal's rhythmic complexity into mathcore-adjacent metalcore.
What crash cymbal does Blake Richardson use?
Blake Richardson of Between the Buried and Me plays 16" and 18" Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Crashes, handling BTBAM's genre-hopping technicality with complex, dark tone.
Why does mathcore need a wider crash spread than typical metalcore?
Mathcore's irregular time signatures and sudden tempo shifts call for more distinct accent options than a small, matched pair of crashes can provide. Running crashes across 16"-18" — as Ben Koller, Matt Greiner, and Blake Richardson all do — gives drummers more tonal choices for each odd-time accent.
What's the best budget crash cymbal for mathcore?
The Zildjian A Series Crash (€90-130) shares brand DNA with Ben Koller's A Custom setup at a fraction of the price. The Meinl HCS Crash (€40-60) is the most accessible true-budget option for learning mathcore's odd-time accent vocabulary.