Best Hi-Hats for Black Metal 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
What hi-hats are used in black metal? Discover what Hellhammer, Frost, and Inferno actually play — Paiste RUDE, Zildjian A Series — from budget to pro, built for blast beat speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hi-hats are used in black metal?
Hellhammer of Mayhem uses Paiste RUDE 14" Hi-Hats for a raw, explosive character. Frost of Satyricon and 1349 uses Zildjian A Series for technical articulation. Inferno of Behemoth also uses Paiste RUDE 14" Hi-Hats for explosive, modern projection. All three are 14" pairs — the genre's standard diameter.
What hi-hats does Hellhammer use?
Hellhammer of Mayhem has used 14" Paiste RUDE Hi-Hats since 1988, part of his cymbal setup across Mayhem and Dimmu Borgir. The raw, unlathed character and explosive projection suit the icy atmosphere of Mayhem's foundational black metal recordings.
Best hi-hats for blast beats?
Medium-heavy weight hi-hats with consistent bottom-cymbal contact handle sustained blast beat endurance best. Paiste RUDE, Zildjian A Series, and Meinl Classics Custom Dark all perform well at extreme tempos — choose based on whether you want explosive aggression (Paiste), technical articulation (Zildjian), or dark atmosphere (Meinl).
What size hi-hats for black metal?
14" is the standard black metal hi-hat size, used by Hellhammer, Frost, and Inferno alike. It balances projection with the fast response needed for sustained blast beat work. Some players prefer 13" for marginally faster response at maximum blast beat speeds.
Dark or bright hi-hats for black metal?
Both work at the highest level. Dark hi-hats (Meinl Classics Custom Dark) suit drummers chasing a traditional, atmospheric wash. Raw and aggressive hi-hats (Paiste RUDE, both Hellhammer's and Inferno's choice) and bright, technical hi-hats (Zildjian A Series, Frost's choice) suit modern, technical, and black/death hybrid styles. Choose based on which subgenre and production style you're chasing.