How to Sound Like Pete Sandoval — Drum Gear & Setup Guide | MetalForge
Replicate Pete Sandoval's Morbid Angel drum sound. Gear list, settings, and technique tips to get that signature tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pete Sandoval's drumming style called?
Pete Sandoval is associated with the technical death metal blast beat style — specifically, the alternating double bass blast where both kick drums fire independent 16th notes while hands play alternating single strokes. He is also credited with early adoption and popularization of the gravity blast technique, which uses a push-pull wrist motion for ultra-fast single-hand rolls on the snare.
How fast does Pete Sandoval play double bass?
At his peak, Pete Sandoval demonstrated double bass capability at 300+ BPM in controlled settings. In live Morbid Angel performances and recordings, sustained blast beats typically run 240-270 BPM. His landmark work on Altars of Madness (1989) and Covenant (1993) features sustained extreme tempos that remained the technical benchmark for years.
What pedals does Pete Sandoval use?
Pete Sandoval used Tama Speed Cobra pedals during key recording and touring periods. The Speed Cobra's rolling glide footboard and lightweight aluminum construction suit his technique — the pedal's fast response and light action reduce fatigue during extended blast beat passages at 240-270 BPM.
What makes Pete Sandoval's blast beat different from other death metal blast beats?
Sandoval's primary blast beat style is the alternating blast — where hands alternate between snare and cymbal while both feet fire independent alternating 16th notes. This creates a denser rhythmic texture than the traditional blast (where kick follows snare hand). The alternating approach makes the kick pattern more subdivided and creates a more complex polyrhythmic feel at extreme tempos.
What Morbid Angel albums should I study to learn Pete Sandoval's style?
Start with Altars of Madness (1989) for foundational blast beat technique and the original Morbid Angel groove style. Then study Covenant (1993) for Sandoval at his technical peak — the most refined version of his approach. Blessed Are the Sick (1991) is essential for mid-tempo syncopated work. These three albums cover the full range of his technique and remain the definitive death metal drum reference recordings.