# Meinl Cymbals — Metal Drummer Endorsers

Meinl is a German cymbal brand founded in 1951, one of the top three cymbal manufacturers in the world. In metal, Meinl is best known for the Byzance series — hand-hammered Turkish bronze with dark, dry sound profiles — and the Byzance Extra Dry line favored by modern progressive and technical metal drummers seeking minimal sustain and fast decay.

## Metal Drummers Who Use Meinl

- Brann Dailor (Mastodon) — Meinl Byzance Series (14" Dark Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Brilliant Heavy Hammered Crashes, 21" Ghost Ride, 18" Extra Dry China)
- Chris Adler (Lamb of God, Megadeth) — Meinl Byzance Series (14" Dark Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Dark Crashes, 21" Transition Ride, 18" Extra Dry China)
- Matt Halpern (Periphery) — Meinl Byzance Series; Meinl signature models
- Navene Koperweis (Entheos, ex-Animals as Leaders) — Meinl Byzance Series
- Chris Turner (Oceans Ate Alaska) — Meinl Byzance Series
- Matt Greiner (August Burns Red) — Meinl Byzance Series
- Derek Roddy (Hate Eternal, Nile) — Meinl Byzance Series
- Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders) — Meinl Byzance Series; Meinl Mb20 Series
- Hannes Grossmann (Obscura, ex-Necrophagist) — Meinl Byzance Series
- Isaac Lamb (Kublai Khan TX) — Meinl Byzance Series

## Key Meinl Product Lines for Metal

- Byzance Dark — traditional Turkish bell bronze, hand-hammered; dark, warm tone with controlled overtones; the definitive Meinl choice for groove metal and progressive metal
- Byzance Extra Dry — extremely short sustain; virtually no wash; ideal for Meshuggah-influenced rhythmic clarity and polyrhythmic precision
- Byzance Transition Ride — medium-weight bell; balanced wash-to-definition ratio; used by Chris Adler as his primary ride
- Mb20 Series — medium-heavy weight; raw, aggressive attack; Matt Garstka pairs Mb20 with Byzance for tonal contrast
- Classics Custom Dark — machine-hammered, brilliant finish; punchy, focused sound with aggressive attack

## FAQ

Q: What cymbals does Brann Dailor use?
A: Brann Dailor uses Meinl Byzance Series cymbals: 14" Dark Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Brilliant Heavy Hammered Crashes, 21" Ghost Ride, and 18" Extra Dry China.

Q: What cymbals does Chris Adler use?
A: Chris Adler uses Meinl Byzance Series cymbals: 14" Dark Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Dark Crashes, 21" Transition Ride, and 18" Extra Dry China.

Q: What Meinl cymbals are best for metal?
A: For aggressive metal with fast decay, the Meinl Byzance Extra Dry series offers short sustain and a dry, cutting attack. For groove metal and progressive metal, the Byzance Dark series provides controlled, warm overtones. Chris Adler's setup (Byzance Dark with Extra Dry China) is widely considered a reference configuration.

Q: What is the Meinl Byzance series?
A: Meinl Byzance cymbals are hand-hammered in Turkey from traditional bell bronze. The Dark sub-series emphasizes warm, controlled overtones with a dry character. The Extra Dry sub-series takes that further with extremely short sustain — the preferred choice for technically precise metal drumming where rhythmic definition is critical.

Q: Do any progressive metal drummers use Meinl?
A: Yes. Matt Halpern (Periphery), Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders), and Navene Koperweis (Entheos) all use Meinl Byzance cymbals. The dark, dry character of Byzance cymbals suits djent and progressive metal contexts where clarity of rhythmic phrasing matters more than sustain.

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