# Gene Hoglan vs George Kollias — Drum Kit Battle

> MetalForge Drummer Battle: Gene Hoglan (Death / Testament / Dethklok) vs George Kollias (Nile)

**Battle Category:** Death Metal Kings · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias

Gene Hoglan and George Kollias face off in the MetalForge community drum kit battle. Both are legends in Death Metal and Technical Death Metal, but their gear setups tell very different stories. Vote at [metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias](https://metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias) to crown the winner.

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## Gene Hoglan Drum Kit Setup

**Band:** Death / Testament / Dethklok  
**Genre:** Death Metal / Thrash Metal  
**Current Kit:** Pearl Reference Pure  
**Cymbals:** Sabian AAX Series (15" Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Crashes, 22" Ride, 20" China)  
**Key Gear:** Pearl Reference 14x6.5" Brass, Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal, Promark 5B  

## George Kollias Drum Kit Setup

**Band:** Nile  
**Genre:** Technical Death Metal  
**Current Kit:** Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic (Piano Black with Gold Hardware)  
**Cymbals:** Zildjian (14" K Mastersound Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" K Custom Dark Crashes, 21" A Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" China)  
**Key Gear:** Pearl George Kollias Signature 14x6.5", Pearl Demon XR Double Pedal, Vic Firth George Kollias Signature SGK  

## Gear Comparison

| Category | Gene Hoglan | George Kollias |
|----------|-------------|----------------|
| Drum Kit | Pearl Reference Pure | Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic (Piano Black with Gold Hardware) |
| Cymbals | Sabian | Zildjian |
| Snare | Pearl Reference 14x6.5" Brass | Pearl George Kollias Signature 14x6.5" |
| Pedals | Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal | Pearl Demon XR Double Pedal |

## FAQ

**Q: Who has the more expensive drum kit, Gene Hoglan or George Kollias?**  
A: Gene Hoglan's Pearl Reference Pure + Sabian AAX is estimated at $8,000–$12,000, while George Kollias's Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic + Zildjian runs approximately $15,000–$22,000. Both setups are professional-grade rigs well into five-figure territory when fully configured with all cymbals, hardware, and electronics.

**Q: What are the main gear differences between Gene Hoglan and George Kollias?**  
A: Gene Hoglan plays Pearl Reference Pure paired with Sabian AAX Series (15" Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Crashes, 22" Ride, 20" China). George Kollias opts for Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic (Piano Black with Gold Hardware) with Zildjian (14" K Mastersound Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" K Custom Dark Crashes, 21" A Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" China). The brand choice reflects their distinct tonal identities — see the full battle breakdown at [metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias](https://metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias).

**Q: Who wins the drum kit battle, Gene Hoglan or George Kollias?**  
A: The winner is decided by community votes on MetalForge. Gene Hoglan (Death / Testament / Dethklok) and George Kollias (Nile) both bring world-class rigs. Cast your vote at [metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias](https://metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias).

**Q: What drum kits do Gene Hoglan and George Kollias play?**  
A: Gene Hoglan plays Pearl Reference Pure. George Kollias plays Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic (Piano Black with Gold Hardware).

**Q: What cymbals do Gene Hoglan and George Kollias use?**  
A: Gene Hoglan uses Sabian AAX Series (15" Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Crashes, 22" Ride, 20" China). George Kollias uses Zildjian (14" K Mastersound Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" K Custom Dark Crashes, 21" A Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" China).

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*Source: [MetalForge Battles](https://metalforge.io/battles/gene-hoglan-vs-george-kollias)*

*[Gene Hoglan drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/gene-hoglan)*
*[George Kollias drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/george-kollias)*

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*Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*