Best Ride Cymbals for Technical Death Metal in 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
Discover the best ride cymbals for technical death metal drumming. Expert recommendations on dry, cutting rides for blast beats and odd-meter precision, featuring the exact rides used by George Kollias, Hannes Grossmann, Flo Mounier, and Derek Roddy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ride cymbal does George Kollias use?
George Kollias of Nile rides a 21" Zildjian A Custom Mega Bell Ride, part of a setup built for powerful rhythmic definition at his 240+ BPM blast-beat ceiling.
What ride cymbal does Hannes Grossmann use?
Hannes Grossmann of Obscura, ex-Necrophagist, and Alkaloid rides a 21" Meinl Byzance Traditional Ride, chosen for clarity through rapid, complex fills and classically-informed, odd-meter phrasing.
What ride cymbal does Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy use?
Flo Mounier rides a 21" Sabian HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride, its dry, dark voicing keeping his legendary gravity-blast speed legible even at his fastest tempos.
What size ride cymbal is best for technical death metal?
21" is the technical death metal standard — George Kollias, Hannes Grossmann, Flo Mounier, and Derek Roddy all ride 21" rides, balancing quick response with enough projection to cut through a dense mix.
What's the best budget ride cymbal for technical death metal?
The Sabian SBR Ride (€70-90) offers an affordable entry into the Sabian tonal family behind Flo Mounier's professional setup. The Zildjian ZBT Ride (€75-95) is a solid alternative from the same brand family as George Kollias's rig.