# Jaska Raatikainen vs Nicko McBrain — Q&A Comparison | MetalForge

> Structured Q&A: Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom, 1993–2019) vs Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden, 1982–present). Finnish melodic death metal's blast-beat precision compared to British NWOBHM's gallop-driven single-pedal power.

**Category:** Melodic Death Metal / Heavy Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/jaska-raatikainen-vs-nicko-mcbrain

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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 (originally performing as Inearthed until adopting the Children of Bodom name in 1997) alongside the late Alexi Laiho, and remained the band's sole drummer for its entire 26-year run — from the 1997 debut "Something Wild" through the band's 2019 farewell album "Hexed." His playing fused neoclassical melodic death metal with explosive blast beats and double bass patterns, always shaped around Laiho's intricate guitar and keyboard counterpoint.

**Q: Who is Nicko McBrain?**
A: Nicko McBrain (born Michael Henry McBrain, 1952) joined Iron Maiden in 1982, debuting on "Piece of Mind" (1983), and has remained the band's drummer for over four decades across landmark albums including "Powerslave" (1984), "Somewhere in Time" (1986), "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" (1988), "Brave New World" (2000), "The Final Frontier" (2010), and "Senjutsu" (2021). Before joining Maiden he played with Trust and the Pat Travers Band. His galloping rhythm style and intricate hi-hat work became foundational to the NWOBHM sound and heavy metal at large.

**Q: What albums did Jaska Raatikainen record with Children of Bodom?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen recorded every Children of Bodom studio album as the band's sole drummer, including "Something Wild" (1997), "Hatebreeder" (1999), "Follow the Reaper" (2000), "Hate Crew Deathroll" (2003), "Are You Dead Yet?" (2005), "Blooddrunk" (2008), "Relentless Reckless Forever" (2011), "Halo of Blood" (2013), "I Worship Chaos" (2014), and the band's 2019 farewell album "Hexed."

**Q: Why does Nicko McBrain use a single bass drum pedal instead of a double pedal?**
A: Nicko McBrain has built his entire career on single-pedal technique, achieving Iron Maiden's signature galloping speed through foot precision and stamina rather than a second kick drum or double pedal. It remains one of the most distinctive technical traits among professional metal drummers, proven across landmark albums like "Piece of Mind" (1983), "Powerslave" (1984), and "Somewhere in Time" (1986).

**Q: What is the main stylistic difference between Jaska Raatikainen and Nicko McBrain?**
A: Raatikainen's technique balances death metal velocity with melodic awareness — rapid double bass volleys and blast beats that lock tightly with Children of Bodom's neoclassical riffing, with fills composed to support rather than overwhelm the melodic material. McBrain is best known for a feat that runs counter to most modern metal drumming: he has never used a double bass pedal, instead achieving Iron Maiden's signature galloping power entirely through single-pedal technique, combined with crisp, propulsive hi-hat patterns that drive the band's twin-guitar harmonies forward across marathon arena sets.

**Q: What drums and gear does Jaska Raatikainen play?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen plays a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Masters 14"x5.5" Maple snare, Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series cymbals (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride), a Pearl Eliminator double pedal, and Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks.

**Q: What drums and gear does Nicko McBrain play?**
A: Nicko McBrain plays a Sonor SQ2 Series kit with his Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14"x6.5" snare, Paiste 2002 & Signature Series cymbals (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China), Sonor 600 Series hardware with a single bass drum pedal, Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature sticks, and Remo Emperor drumheads.

**Q: What is each drummer's broader influence on metal?**
A: Raatikainen helped build Finland's melodic death metal scene into a global commercial force — Children of Bodom sold over two million albums worldwide, and his drumming on records like "Hatebreeder" and "Follow the Reaper" influenced a generation of melodic death and metalcore drummers. McBrain is one of heavy metal's most enduring and recognizable drummers; his galloping single-pedal style on "The Trooper," "Aces High," and "Powerslave" became a rhythmic template studied by metal drummers worldwide, and his four-decade tenure with Iron Maiden makes him one of the genre's most influential figures.

**Q: Who is the better drummer, Jaska Raatikainen or Nicko McBrain?**
A: Both are foundational drummers in their respective styles. Jaska Raatikainen anchored Children of Bodom's neoclassical melodic death metal for 26 years with blast beats and double bass precision. Nicko McBrain has powered Iron Maiden's galloping heavy metal sound since 1982 using only a single bass drum pedal — a technical feat almost unheard of in modern metal. The comparison comes down to Finnish melodic death metal extremity vs British heavy metal foundational power.

**Q: What is the verdict — Jaska Raatikainen vs Nicko McBrain?**
A: Jaska Raatikainen and Nicko McBrain represent two foundational pillars of European metal drumming from opposite ends of the genre. Raatikainen built Finnish melodic death metal's global reputation across 26 years anchoring Children of Bodom's neoclassical aggression. McBrain has powered Iron Maiden's galloping NWOBHM sound for over four decades using nothing but a single bass drum pedal — one of metal's most celebrated technical feats. Comparing them is comparing two different eras and schools of European metal: 1990s Finnish extremity vs 1980s British heavy metal foundations.

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

*[Jaska Raatikainen drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jaska-raatikainen)*
*[Nicko McBrain drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/nicko-mcbrain)*

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