# Inferno Drum Kit Gear History — Behemoth

**Drummer:** Inferno (Zbigniew Robert Promiński)  
**Band:** Behemoth  
**Active:** 1994–present  
**URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/inferno/gear-history

> Era-by-era breakdown of Inferno's drum kit evolution, from early Sonor setups through Pearl Reference Custom (Demigod era) to his current Pearl Reference Pure. Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Inferno use" and "Behemoth drummer gear" queries.

---

## Gear Timeline

### Early Career / Black Metal Era (1994–2000)

- **Drums:** Sonor Force Series — German-engineered kit favoured for its projection and durability
- **Snare:** Sonor steel snare 14"x5.5"
- **Cymbals:** Paiste Alpha or Zildjian A Series — budget-tier cymbals during early career
- **Pedal:** Double pedal (various budget hardware)
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador
- **Notable:** Inferno joined Behemoth in 1994 as the band transitioned from raw black metal toward a more technical death metal approach. His early setups were practical working drummer rigs — solid Sonor shells but not prestige endorsement gear. The focus was on endurance and reliability across Eastern European touring circuits.

### Satanica / Thelema.6 Era (1999–2000)

- **Drums:** Sonor Force 3000 — upgraded Sonor line with better hardware
- **Snare:** Sonor Phonic Plus 14"x5.5" steel
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Classics Series — first Meinl association, entry-level B8 bronze
- **Pedal:** Pearl Eliminator P2002 double pedal (early model)
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador (toms), Powerstroke P3 (kick)
- **Notable:** Satanica (1999) marked a turning point — Behemoth's sound became denser and more technically demanding, and Inferno's equipment began reflecting this shift. The introduction of Pearl Eliminator pedals foreshadowed the full Pearl endorsement to come.

### Zos Kia Cultus / Demigod Era (2002–2004)

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Custom — 6-piece; 22"x18" kick, 10"x8" rack, 12"x9" rack, 14"x14" floor, 16"x16" floor
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5.5"
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Series — 14" Traditional hi-hats, 16" Dark Crash, 18" Dark Crash, 20" Traditional Ride
- **Pedal:** Pearl Eliminator P2002B double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory
- **Heads:** Evans G2 Clear (toms), Evans EC2 Coated (snare), Evans EMAD2 (kick)
- **Original setup cost (2004):** ~$4,800
- **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$8,329
- **Notable:** Demigod (2004) is considered Behemoth's technical peak and the album that brought Inferno international recognition. The Pearl Reference Custom's multi-wood shell construction gave maximum projection for extreme tempos. The Meinl Byzance cymbal upgrade transformed his sound — the Turkish-hammered B20 bronze delivered complex, dark overtones that didn't pierce or clutter at blast-beat speeds.

### Apostasy / Evangelion Era (2007–2009)

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Custom (continued) — same shell configuration
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5.5" or 14"x6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Dark Series (full set) — 14" Dark hi-hats, 16" Dark Crash, 18" Dark Crash, 20" Dark Ride
- **Pedal:** Pearl Eliminator P2002B double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B
- **Heads:** Evans G2 and EMAD (continued)
- **Notable:** Apostasy (2007) and Evangelion (2009) saw Inferno refine rather than replace his setup. The Meinl Byzance Dark series became his defining cymbal identity — lower-pitched, more controlled, and capable of maintaining definition at extreme playing speeds where brighter cymbals would blur into noise.

### The Satanist Era (2014)

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure — Pearl's flagship all-maple shell pack
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5.5"
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Dark Series (same configuration)
- **Pedal:** Pearl Eliminator Redline P2002BL double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B American Classic
- **Heads:** Evans G2 (toms), Evans EMAD2 (kick), Evans Hydraulic (snare)
- **Notable:** The Satanist (2014) is Behemoth's most commercially successful album and features some of Inferno's most musically nuanced drumming. The Reference Pure upgrade brought enhanced sustain and tonal depth compared to the Reference Custom — critical for the album's wider dynamic range, which moves from brutal blast beats to slower, atmospheric passages.

### Current Setup (2015–present)

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure — same flagship line, ongoing endorsement
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5.5"
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Extra Dry and Dark Series
- **Pedal:** Pearl Eliminator Redline or Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B American Classic
- **Heads:** Evans G2 and EMAD (ongoing)
- **Notable:** Inferno's current setup reflects over a decade of Pearl and Meinl endorsement stability. The introduction of Meinl Byzance Extra Dry cymbals — featuring less lacquer for a drier, more focused sound — represents the latest evolution in his ongoing quest for cymbal precision at extreme tempos.

---

## Key Gear Changes

- **1994–2000:** Sonor Force series — working drummer's practical choice during early black metal era
- **1999–2001:** Pearl Eliminator pedals introduced — foundational upgrade before full Pearl endorsement
- **2002–2004:** Pearl Reference Custom + Meinl Byzance — the endorsement combination that defined his sound for two decades
- **~2012:** Pearl Reference Custom → Pearl Reference Pure — upgrade to Pearl's current flagship line
- **2014:** Evans heads adopted — moved from Remo/Ambassador to Evans for more consistent extreme-playing response

---

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit does Inferno use?**  
A: Inferno currently plays a Pearl Reference Pure, Pearl's flagship all-maple shell pack. He pairs it with Meinl Byzance Dark and Extra Dry cymbals, Pearl Eliminator or Demon Drive double pedals, and Evans drumheads. He has been a Pearl endorser since approximately 2002.

**Q: What drums did Inferno use on Demigod?**  
A: On Demigod (2004), Inferno used a Pearl Reference Custom shell pack with Meinl Byzance Series cymbals and Pearl Eliminator P2002B double pedals. The complete setup cost approximately $4,800, equivalent to about $8,329 adjusted for 2026 inflation.

**Q: What cymbals does Inferno (Behemoth) use?**  
A: Inferno has been a Meinl endorser since around 1999–2000, and specifically uses the Meinl Byzance series. He primarily uses Byzance Dark and Extra Dry models for their controlled, low-pitched tone that maintains definition at extreme blast-beat tempos. The Turkish-hammered B20 bronze is key to his sound.

**Q: What double bass pedals does Inferno use?**  
A: Inferno has used Pearl Eliminator double pedals since approximately 1999–2000, and continues with Pearl's top-tier pedal line (Eliminator Redline and Demon Drive). The Pearl pedal's cam system allows the precise, high-speed double-kick patterns central to Behemoth's extreme metal style.

**Q: When did Inferno join Behemoth?**  
A: Inferno joined Behemoth in 1994 as the band transitioned from raw black metal toward technical death metal. He has been Behemoth's drummer for the entirety of their commercial period, appearing on all studio albums from Satanica (1999) onward.

---

## Related

- [Inferno drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/inferno)
- [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/inferno/gear-history)
- [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)