Best Hi-Hats for Technical Death Metal 2026 | MetalForge Guide
What hi-hats are used in technical death metal? Discover what George Kollias (Zildjian K Mastersound), Hannes Grossmann (Meinl Byzance Traditional), Flo Mounier (Sabian HHX Stage), and Derek Roddy (Meinl Byzance Heavy) actually play — dry, cutting hi-hats built for blast beats and odd-meter precision, from budget to pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hi-hats are used in technical death metal?
George Kollias of Nile plays 14" Zildjian K Mastersound Hi-Hats for dry, defined articulation at extreme speed. Hannes Grossmann of Obscura plays 14" Meinl Byzance Traditional Hi-Hats for tightly articulated technical passages. Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy plays 14" Sabian HHX Stage Hi-Hats for rapid gravity-blast response. Derek Roddy plays 14" Meinl Byzance Heavy Hi-Hats for tight, controlled chops under his one-footed blast technique.
Why do technical death metal drummers use dry hi-hats?
Sustained 240+ BPM blast beats and dense, odd-meter arrangements demand a hi-hat that stays articulate rather than washing into open sustain. A dry, controlled chick keeps every stroke legible against a wall of downtuned guitars, which is exactly why George Kollias's K Mastersound and Flo Mounier's HHX Stage both favor a dry, fast-cycling voice over a washier, more open one.
What size hi-hats for technical death metal?
14" is the standard size used by all four featured drummers — George Kollias, Hannes Grossmann, Flo Mounier, and Derek Roddy. The consistent 14" diameter across such different setups shows that technical death metal's hi-hat demands are driven more by voicing and response speed than by unusually large or small diameters.
What hi-hats work best for gravity blast technique?
Flo Mounier's 14" Sabian HHX Stage Hi-Hats are built specifically for gravity-blast technique, offering rapid open/close cycling and dry, controlled response that stays legible even at Cryptopsy's fastest tempos. A medium-weight, responsive pair is essential — heavier or washier hi-hats can lag behind the pattern at gravity-blast speed.
Dry or heavy-gauge hi-hats for technical death metal?
Both work at the highest level. Dry, fast-cycling hi-hats (Zildjian K Mastersound, Kollias's choice; Sabian HHX Stage, Mounier's choice) suit drummers chasing maximum blast-beat speed. Tighter, heavier-gauge hi-hats (Meinl Byzance Traditional, Grossmann's choice; Byzance Heavy, Roddy's choice) suit odd-meter composition and extreme-tempo touring durability. Choose based on which technique and touring demands you're prioritizing.