# Jaska Raatikainen vs Mario Duplantier — Q&A Comparison | MetalForge

> Structured Q&A: Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom, 1993–2019) vs Mario Duplantier (Gojira, 1996–present). Precise melodic-death blast-beat technique versus tribal, polyrhythmic progressive death metal groove.

**Category:** Melodic Death Metal / Progressive Death Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/jaska-raatikainen-vs-mario-duplantier

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**Q: Who is Jaska Raatikainen?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen (born July 18, 1979) co-founded Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom in 1993 and, alongside the late Alexi Laiho, anchored the band's signature blend of neoclassical melodies and aggressive death metal for 26 years, from their 1997 debut "Something Wild" through their 2019 farewell "Hexed."

**Q: Who is Mario Duplantier?**
A: Mario Duplantier (born 1981 in Bayonne, France) co-founded progressive death metal band Gojira with his brother Joe Duplantier in 1996, building crushing double bass patterns layered with tribal, polyrhythmic structures across albums like "From Mars to Sirius" (2005), "L'Enfant Sauvage" (2012), and "Magma" (2016).

**Q: What is the main stylistic difference between Jaska Raatikainen and Mario Duplantier?**
A: Raatikainen's technique centers on precise, fluid double bass volleys and driving blast beats that lock tightly beneath Alexi Laiho's dense guitar and keyboard arrangements, a foundational element of melodic death metal's rhythmic template. Duplantier's technique blends raw power with polyrhythmic complexity and an unmistakable tribal, ceremonial quality, often locking into Gojira's tuned, resonant guitar tones with explosive fills and odd-meter grooves.

**Q: What drums does Jaska Raatikainen play?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen played a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Masters 14"x5.5" Maple snare, driven by a Pearl Eliminator double pedal, Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks, and Remo heads.

**Q: What drums does Mario Duplantier play?**
A: Mario Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with dual 22"x18" bass drums and a Tama S.L.P. 14"x6.5" G-Maple snare, powered by a Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal and Tama Mario Duplantier Signature sticks.

**Q: What cymbals do Jaska Raatikainen and Mario Duplantier use?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen used Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series cymbals (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride). Mario Duplantier uses a broader Zildjian array (14" K Sweet & A Custom Hi-Hats, 18" K Custom Hybrid Crash, 19" A Custom Crash, 20" K Sweet Crash, a 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride, and 18"/20" Chinas).

**Q: What bands are Jaska Raatikainen and Mario Duplantier known for?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen co-founded Children of Bodom in 1993 and remained the band's sole drummer until their 2019 farewell. Mario Duplantier co-founded Gojira with his brother Joe Duplantier in 1996 and remains the band's drummer.

**Q: How long did Jaska Raatikainen drum for Children of Bodom?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen drummed for Children of Bodom for 26 years, from the band's 1993 formation through their 2019 farewell album "Hexed."

**Q: Why does Mario Duplantier use dual bass drums instead of a double pedal?**
A: Mario Duplantier prefers dual 22"x18" bass drums over a double pedal because it gives Gojira's tribal, progressive death metal rhythms a more organic feel, letting him layer polyrhythms with a different physical touch than a single-kick double-pedal setup allows.

**Q: What is the verdict — Jaska Raatikainen vs Mario Duplantier?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen and Mario Duplantier both built their reputations inside progressive-leaning extreme metal, but through different rhythmic vocabularies. Raatikainen anchored Children of Bodom's melodic death metal blast-beat technique for 26 years, providing the precise double bass foundation beneath the band's neoclassical melodies. Duplantier drives Gojira's polyrhythmic, tribal groove, layering crushing double bass with an organic, ceremonial feel that has redefined progressive death metal's rhythmic possibilities.

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*Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/jaska-raatikainen-vs-mario-duplantier](https://metalforge.io/vs/jaska-raatikainen-vs-mario-duplantier)*

*[Jaska Raatikainen drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jaska-raatikainen)*
*[Mario Duplantier drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mario-duplantier)*

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*Last updated: 2026-07-10 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*