Best Drum Pedals for Symphonic Metal 2026 | MetalForge Guide

Best double bass pedals for symphonic metal. What Daray (Pearl Demon XR), Hellhammer (Axis Double Pedal), Frost (Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide), and Jaska Raatikainen (Pearl Eliminator) actually use — from budget to pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum pedal does Daray from Dimmu Borgir use?

Daray plays a Pearl Demon XR double pedal as part of his Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic rig — a setup established during Dimmu Borgir's Abrahadabra era (2010) and unchanged through Grand Serpent Rising (2026).

What pedal does Hellhammer use?

Hellhammer plays an Axis Double Pedal — part of his Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech setup since 1999, valued for its precision engineering and extreme-tempo reliability.

What pedal does Frost from Satyricon use?

Frost plays a Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide pedal alongside his Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit since 2013, chosen for the dynamic control needed to move between blast-beat storms and symphonic arrangements' atmospheric restraint.

What pedal did Jaska Raatikainen use in Children of Bodom?

Jaska Raatikainen played a Pearl Eliminator double pedal throughout Children of Bodom's entire 26-year career, paired with his Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit — proof of the Eliminator's reliability across every studio album the band released.

Direct drive or chain drive for symphonic metal?

Both work at the highest level. Daray's Pearl Demon XR and Hellhammer's Axis Double Pedal — both direct-drive — suit drummers whose material leans toward maximum blast-beat reliability. Frost's chain-drive Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide and Raatikainen's Pearl Eliminator prove that dynamic sensitivity and long-term durability serve orchestral complexity just as effectively.

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