---
name: "Jaska Raatikainen"
band: "Children of Bodom"
genre: "Melodic Death Metal / Power Metal"
country: "Finland"
primary_brand: "Pearl"
profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/jaska-raatikainen"
source: "https://metalforge.io"
last_updated: "2026-06-06"
---

# Jaska Raatikainen

Jaska Raatikainen is a professional metal drummer best known for their work with Children of Bodom, a defining act in melodic death metal / power metal.

## Quick Facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Jaska Raatikainen |
| Band | Children of Bodom |
| Genre | Melodic Death Metal / Power Metal |
| Country | Finland |
| Primary brand | Pearl |
| Drum kit | Pearl Masters Premium Maple |
| Signature snare | Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple |
| Sticks | Vic Firth American Classic 5A |

## Biography

Jaska Raatikainen (born July 18, 1979) was the drummer and co-founder of Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, formed in 1993. Alongside the late Alexi Laiho, Raatikainen helped create the band's signature sound that blended neoclassical melodies with aggressive death metal.

Jaska Raatikainen (born July 18, 1979, in Espoo, Finland) was the drummer and co-founder of Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, formed in 1993 (originally as Inearthed). Alongside the late Alexi Laiho (1979-2020), Raatikainen helped create the band's signature sound that blended neoclassical melodies with aggressive death metal.

Children of Bodom became one of Finland's most successful metal exports, selling over 2 million albums worldwide. Raatikainen's drumming combined blast beats, complex double bass patterns, and progressive elements that complemented Laiho's virtuosic guitar work. The band announced their dissolution in 2019 after 26 years together. Following Alexi Laiho's tragic death in December 2020, Children of Bodom's legacy became permanently sealed in metal history.

## Band History

- **Children of Bodom** — 1993–2019

## Gear

- **Drums:** Pearl Masters Premium Maple
- **Snare:** Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride)
- **Hardware:** Pearl Eliminator Double Pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A
- **Heads:** Remo

## Notable Performances

- Warheart - Drum Performance (2017)
- Everytime I Die - Drum Cam (Munich) (2017)
- Lake Bodom - Tuska Festival Drum Cam (2014)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What drum kit does Jaska Raatikainen play?**

A: Jaska Raatikainen plays a Pearl Masters Premium Maple.

**Q: What cymbals does Jaska Raatikainen use?**

A: Jaska Raatikainen uses Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride).

**Q: What band is Jaska Raatikainen in?**

A: Jaska Raatikainen drums for Children of Bodom, a melodic death metal / power metal band.

---

**Full interactive profile:** [Jaska Raatikainen on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jaska-raatikainen)

**More LLM resources:** [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt) · [Full database](https://metalforge.io/llms-full.txt) · [Drummer markdown index](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md)

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