Best Drum Hardware for Power Metal in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
Best drum hardware for power metal drummers — reliable, road-ready stands and thrones built to hold steady through a full set of galloping mid-to-fast tempo rhythms. What Scott Travis, Aquiles Priester, Nicko McBrain, and Mikkey Dee actually use, from budget to pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardware do power metal drummers use?
Power metal drummers favor reliable, double-braced hardware built for touring consistency over extreme weight-saving. Scott Travis relies on DW hardware for his twin-kick Judas Priest rig, Aquiles Priester uses DW's 9000 Series for sustained neoclassical double-bass runs, and both Nicko McBrain and Mikkey Dee have run dependable DW hardware across their four-decade and Motörhead-to-Scorpions careers, respectively.
Do I need twin-kick hardware for power metal?
Only if you're following an independent-pedal, twin-bass-drum approach like Scott Travis. Nicko McBrain has anchored Iron Maiden's entire galloping rhythmic vocabulary on a single bass drum and single pedal for over four decades, proving twin kicks aren't required to play convincing power metal.
What hardware does Nicko McBrain use?
Nicko McBrain has relied on dependable DW hardware throughout his four-decade career with Iron Maiden, valued for its double-braced stability and secure locks that hold a lean, standard kit rock-steady through hundreds of arena and festival shows a year.
How important is throne stability for power metal drumming?
Very important for sustained sets. A wide, double-braced base and locking height collar keep a drummer stable across long festival sets, while Aquiles Priester's sustained double-bass runs depend on a throne that won't shift or wobble mid-passage.
Is budget hardware reliable enough for power metal touring?
Yes, if it's genuinely double-braced. Mapex's Armory pack and PDP's 700 Series both deliver real heavy-gauge stability at accessible prices — a solid foundation for a first touring rig before upgrading to pro-tier hardware like Tama's Titan Series or DW's 9000 Series.