# Axis Pedals — Metal Drummer Endorsers

Axis Percussion has built direct-drive bass drum pedals since 1990, when drummer and machinist Darrell Johnston set out to eliminate the flex and lag inherent in chain-drive designs. Now operating as AXiS Pedal & Drum Co. out of the San Francisco Bay Area, the brand's rigid, zero-lag feel has made it a defining choice in extreme metal.

## Metal Drummers Who Use Axis

- Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem) — Axis double pedal
- Alex Bent (Trivium) — Axis A Longboard double pedal
- Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Soen) — Axis Percussion double pedal

## Key Axis Product Lines for Metal

- Direct-drive mechanism — a rigid rod connecting footboard directly to beater, with no chain or belt
- Adjustable cam design — lets players precisely dial in the pedal's feel and response
- AXiS Longboard — extended footboard option for players who need more leverage
- AXiS A — the brand's flagship direct-drive double pedal

## FAQ

Q: What pedal does Hellhammer use?
A: Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg of Mayhem plays an Axis double pedal, built around Axis's signature direct-drive mechanism.

Q: Why do extreme metal drummers use Axis pedals?
A: Axis pedals use a direct-drive mechanism — a rigid rod with no chain or belt — for the fastest, most consistent response of any drive type, with minimal unaccounted-for flex. That zero-lag feel suits the speed extreme metal and blast-beat drumming demand.

Q: What is direct drive on a bass drum pedal?
A: Direct drive connects the footboard straight to the beater shaft with a rigid rod instead of a chain or belt, eliminating slack for the most immediate, consistent power transfer. Axis pioneered the design in 1990.

Q: What pedal does Alex Bent use?
A: Alex Bent of Trivium plays the Axis A Longboard double pedal, an extended-footboard direct-drive model.

Q: Where are Axis pedals made?
A: Axis Percussion (now AXiS Pedal & Drum Co.) started in Southern California in 1990 and is now headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with additional manufacturing in Wisconsin.

## History

Founded **1990** in Southern California, USA, by Darrell Johnston.

Axis Percussion was founded in 1990 by drummer and machinist Darrell Johnston, who set out to build a bass drum pedal free of the flex and lag inherent in traditional chain-drive designs. After early prototypes, Johnston landed on a direct-drive mechanism paired with a cam design that let players precisely dial in the pedal's feel and response.

The AXiS pedal debuted publicly at the 1991 NAMM show and drew coverage in Modern Drummer magazine, quickly building a reputation among drummers for its speed, consistency, and durability under heavy use. Now operating as AXiS Pedal & Drum Co., the company has grown into a Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area headquarters with additional manufacturing in Wisconsin.

**Milestones:**
- **1990** — Darrell Johnston founds Axis Percussion in Southern California, developing the first direct-drive bass drum pedal prototypes.
- **1991** — The AXiS direct-drive pedal debuts publicly at the NAMM trade show.

**Metal era:** Axis's rigid, zero-lag direct-drive feel has made it an extreme-metal staple: Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem) plays an Axis double pedal, Alex Bent (Trivium) uses the Axis A Longboard, and Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Soen) has built his setup around an Axis Percussion double pedal.

**Source:** [AXiS Pedal & Drum Co. — About](https://axispdc.com/pages/about-axis)

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**Brand page:** [/brands/axis](https://metalforge.io/brands/axis) · **Pedal guide:** [/pedals/drive-types](https://metalforge.io/pedals/drive-types)

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*Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*