Best Hi-Hats for Metalcore 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
What hi-hats are used in metalcore? Discover what Matt Halpern, Alex Bent, and Jay Weinberg actually play — Meinl Artist Concept, Zildjian K Custom Hybrid, and Zildjian A/K Custom — from budget to pro, built for breakdown control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hi-hats are used in metalcore?
Matt Halpern of Periphery uses 15" Meinl Artist Concept Hi-Hats for controlled, low-sustain response. Alex Bent of Trivium uses 14" Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Hi-Hats for a brighter, faster attack. Jay Weinberg of Slipknot uses 14" Zildjian A Custom Hi-Hats for explosive projection.
What hi-hats does Matt Halpern use?
Matt Halpern of Periphery uses 15" Dark Hi-Hats from his signature Meinl Artist Concept line, part of his broader Artist Concept cymbal setup that also includes 18" and 20" crashes, a 22" ride, and an 18" china.
What size hi-hats for metalcore?
14" is the standard metalcore hi-hat size, used by Alex Bent and Jay Weinberg. Matt Halpern prefers 15" for extra surface area and control on tightly muted, syncopated breakdown riffing.
Best hi-hats for breakdowns?
Dry, controlled hi-hats with a defined chick handle breakdown patterns best. Meinl Artist Concept (Matt Halpern) is the genre's technical benchmark. Zildjian K Custom Hybrid (Alex Bent) and Zildjian A Custom (Jay Weinberg) offer brighter alternatives for more melodic or aggressive breakdown-adjacent material.
Dry or bright hi-hats for metalcore?
Both work at the highest level. Dry hi-hats (Meinl Artist Concept, Halpern's choice) suit breakdown-heavy, technical metalcore. Bright hi-hats (Zildjian K Custom Hybrid, Bent's choice; Zildjian A Custom, Weinberg's choice) suit melodic or aggressive, nu-metal-influenced metalcore. Choose based on which subgenre and production style you're chasing.