Best Hi-Hats for Death Metal 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What hi-hats are used in death metal?

George Kollias of Nile uses Zildjian K Custom Dark Hi-Hats (13"-15" range) for a dark, controlled character. Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy uses Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats for powerful, full-bodied chick response. Pete Sandoval of Morbid Angel built his hyper-blast sound around Zildjian's brighter, more articulate hi-hats.

What hi-hats does George Kollias use?

George Kollias of Nile uses Zildjian K Custom Dark Hi-Hats, part of his primary K Custom Dark cymbal setup that spans a 13"-15" range. The dark, controlled wash lets him play blast beats up to 280 BPM without losing chick response.

Best hi-hats for blast beats?

Medium-heavy weight hi-hats with consistent, fast recovery handle sustained blast beat endurance best. Zildjian K Custom Dark and Paiste 2002 both perform well at extreme tempos — choose based on whether you want dark, controlled wash (Zildjian) or powerful, body-forward chick (Paiste).

What size hi-hats for death metal?

14" is the most common death metal hi-hat size. George Kollias uses a 13"-15" range from his K Custom Dark line — 13" for maximum blast beat speed, 15" for fuller projection. Most death metal drummers land on 14" as the versatile middle ground.

Dark or bright hi-hats for death metal?

Both work at the highest level. Dark hi-hats (Zildjian K Custom Dark, George Kollias's choice; Paiste 2002, Flo Mounier's choice) suit technical and brutal death metal alike. Bright hi-hats (Zildjian A Custom, Pete Sandoval's pioneering choice) suit drummers who prioritize raw articulation over darkness. Choose based on which subgenre and production style you're chasing.