---
name: "Adrian Erlandsson"
band: "At the Gates"
genre: "Melodic Death Metal"
country: "Sweden"
primary_brand: "Tama"
profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/adrian-erlandsson"
source: "https://metalforge.io"
last_updated: "2026-07-10"
---

# Adrian Erlandsson — Drum Kit & Gear Setup

Adrian Erlandsson's drum kit and gear setup. Adrian Erlandsson is a professional metal drummer best known for their work with At the Gates, a defining act in melodic death metal.

## Quick Facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Adrian Erlandsson |
| Band | At the Gates |
| All bands | At the Gates, The Haunted, Cradle of Filth, Paradise Lost |
| Genre | Melodic Death Metal |
| Country | Sweden |
| Primary brand | Tama |
| Drum kit | Tama Starclassic Bubinga |
| Signature snare | Tama Starclassic Bubinga 14x6.5" |
| Sticks | Vic Firth Rock Nylon Tip (At the Gates Signature) |

## Biography

Adrian Erlandsson is a Swedish drummer who co-founded At the Gates in Gothenburg in 1990 and delivered the D-beat-driven blast-beat performance on Slaughter of the Soul (1995) that became the blueprint for the entire Gothenburg melodic death metal sound. He also founded The Haunted in 1996 and has drummed for Cradle of Filth (1999–2006) and Paradise Lost (2009–2016); he is the brother of Arch Enemy drummer Daniel Erlandsson.

Adrian Erlandsson is a Swedish drummer who co-founded At the Gates in Gothenburg in 1990 and delivered one of the most influential drum performances in extreme metal history on the band's 1995 album Slaughter of the Soul. Recorded at Studio Fredman with producer Fredrik Nordström, the album's D-beat-and-blast-beat foundation, paired with tremolo-picked guitar melody, became the blueprint for the entire Gothenburg melodic death metal sound — a template later bands from In Flames to Killswitch Engage to Trivium built entire careers on.

Erlandsson is the brother of Arch Enemy's Daniel Erlandsson; both are prominent Gothenburg-scene drummers who developed their rhythmic vocabularies independently, Adrian's groove-oriented D-beat foundation contrasting with Daniel's more polished blast-beat precision. Beyond At the Gates, Erlandsson founded The Haunted in 1996, joined British extreme/gothic act Cradle of Filth from 1999-2006, and drummed for Paradise Lost from 2009-2016 — at times juggling multiple active bands simultaneously — all while returning to At the Gates for its full-time 2008 reformation and rejoining The Haunted in 2013.

## Band History

- **At the Gates** — 1990–present (current)
- **The Haunted** — 1996–1999, 2013–present (current)
- **Cradle of Filth** — 1999–2006
- **Paradise Lost** — 2009–2016

## Gear

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Bubinga
- **Snare:** Tama Starclassic Bubinga 14x6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX/HHX Series (15" HHX Xcelerator Hi-Hats, 20" AAX Iso Crash, 19" AAX Paragon China)
- **Hardware:** Monolit Czarcie Kopyto Double Pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth Rock Nylon Tip (At the Gates Signature)
- **Heads:** Evans EMAD Onyx / EC Reverse Dot

## Notable Performances

- At The Gates - Blinded By Fear [Official Video] (1995)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What bands has Adrian Erlandsson played drums for?**

A: Adrian Erlandsson co-founded At the Gates (1990-present), founded The Haunted (1996-1999, rejoined 2013-present), played in Cradle of Filth (1999-2006), and drummed for Paradise Lost (2009-2016).

**Q: Is Adrian Erlandsson related to Daniel Erlandsson?**

A: Yes. Adrian Erlandsson (At the Gates, The Haunted, Paradise Lost) and Daniel Erlandsson (Arch Enemy) are brothers, both Swedish drummers from the Gothenburg extreme metal scene.

**Q: What drum kit does Adrian Erlandsson use now?**

A: Adrian Erlandsson currently plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with Sabian AAX/HHX cymbals, a Monolit Czarcie Kopyto double pedal, Evans drumheads, and his own Vic Firth Rock Nylon Tip At the Gates signature sticks.

**Q: Did Adrian Erlandsson play in Cradle of Filth?**

A: Yes — Adrian Erlandsson was Cradle of Filth's drummer from 1999 to 2006, recording Midian (2000), Damnation and a Day (2003), Nymphetamine (2004), and Thornography (2006).

**Q: What drum kit did Adrian Erlandsson use on Slaughter of the Soul?**

A: Adrian Erlandsson used a budget Pearl Export kit for At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul (1995), a deliberate departure from prestige gear that matched the album's Studio Fredman house-kit circumstances.

## Signature Licks on MetalForge

MetalForge has 3 signature lick tutorial(s) for Adrian Erlandsson:

- [Blinded by Fear — The Blast Beat That Opened a Genre](https://metalforge.io/drummers/adrian-erlandsson/licks/adrian-erlandsson-slaughter-of-the-soul-drum-setup)
- [Death and the Labyrinth — The Comeback Blast](https://metalforge.io/drummers/adrian-erlandsson/licks/adrian-erlandsson-at-war-with-reality-drum-setup)
- [To Drink from the Night Itself — Mid-Paced D-Beat Anchor](https://metalforge.io/drummers/adrian-erlandsson/licks/adrian-erlandsson-to-drink-from-the-night-itself-drum-setup)

Each lick page includes a video demonstration, HowTo breakdown, and gear notes.

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**Full interactive profile:** [Adrian Erlandsson on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/adrian-erlandsson)

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