Best Hi-Hats for Symphonic Metal 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
What hi-hats are used in symphonic metal? Discover what Daray (Paiste RUDE), Hellhammer (Zildjian A Custom), and Frost (Zildjian A Custom/K Custom Dark) actually play — hi-hats built to cut through full orchestral arrangements, from budget to pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hi-hats are used in symphonic metal?
Daray of Dimmu Borgir plays 14" Paiste RUDE Hi-Hats for maximum projection against full-orchestra arrangements. Hellhammer of Mayhem and Frost of Satyricon both play Zildjian A Custom Hi-Hats — Frost pairs his with K Custom Dark cymbals for extra dynamic control.
What hi-hats does Daray from Dimmu Borgir use?
Daray plays 14" Paiste RUDE Hi-Hats as part of his broader RUDE and 2002 Series cymbal setup, established during Dimmu Borgir's "Abrahadabra" era (2010) and carried through 2026's "Grand Serpent Rising" for maximum projection against layered symphony and choir arrangements.
Why do symphonic metal drummers need different hi-hats than other metal genres?
Symphonic metal has to solve a problem most metal subgenres never face: cutting through a full orchestra, choir, and keyboard arrangement without electronic augmentation, while still surviving sustained blast-beat tempos borrowed from black and death metal. A hi-hat voiced purely for speed can get buried under layered strings, while one voiced purely for warmth can wash out against a full symphony.
Paiste RUDE or Zildjian A Custom for symphonic metal hi-hats?
Both work at the highest level. Paiste RUDE (Daray's choice) offers maximum projection for the densest, most orchestrated material. Zildjian A Custom (Hellhammer's and Frost's shared choice) offers a brighter, more versatile voice proven across both raw black metal and symphonic grandeur — especially useful if your material moves between the two extremes.