# Best Bass Drums for Extreme Metal — MetalForge **Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/best-bass-drums-for-extreme-metal ## Who This Guide Is For Extreme metal drummers deciding between 22", 24", and dual bass drum setups for blast beats and sustained double bass — and what Mario Duplantier, Tomas Haake, George Kollias, and Gene Hoglan actually play. Covers shell size, wood, head selection, and pedal configuration across all budgets. --- ## What Bass Drum Setup Do Extreme Metal Drummers Actually Use? In extreme metal, the bass drum isn't just another shell in the kit — it's the engine driving blast beats, sustained double bass, and the low-end weight that separates a heavy mix from a thin one. Shell size, wood, head selection, and even whether you run one kick or two all change how a bass drum responds at 200+ BPM. Mario Duplantier (Gojira) runs dual 22"x18" Tama Starclassic Bubinga bass drums — forgoing a double pedal entirely for a more organic, powerful feel. Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) goes the opposite direction with a massive single 24"x18" Sonor SQ2 bass drum for maximum low-end weight. Martin Axenrot (Opeth) also runs twin 22"x18" Sonor SQ2 bass drums, while George Kollias (Nile) drives a 22" Pearl Masterworks shell with a co-designed Pearl Demon XR double pedal to sustain blast beats past 240 BPM. --- ## Recommended Bass Drums for Extreme Metal ### 1. Tama Starclassic Bubinga Bass Drum — Best for Dual-Kick Setups - **Size:** 22"x18" (dual-kick configuration) - **Shell:** Bubinga - **Price range:** €700–€900 - **Best for:** Organic, independently-tuned dual bass drum rigs **Who uses it:** - **Mario Duplantier** ([/drummer/mario-duplantier](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mario-duplantier)) — Gojira; dual 22"x18" bass drums, no double pedal Bubinga's dense hardwood construction delivers a punchy, focused low-end with real projection through layered guitar walls. Duplantier skips the double pedal entirely for the more organic feel two independently-tuned kicks provide. --- ### 2. Sonor SQ2 Bass Drum (Oversized) — Best for Maximum Low-End - **Size:** 24"x18" - **Shell:** Custom beech - **Price range:** €900–€1200 - **Best for:** Polyrhythmic, downtuned riffing that needs low-end weight **Who uses it:** - **Tomas Haake** ([/drummer/tomas-haake](https://metalforge.io/drummer/tomas-haake)) — Meshuggah; 24"x18" bass drum for maximum polyrhythmic low-end weight Noticeably larger than the extreme metal standard, Haake's oversized single-kick configuration (played with two independent single pedals for greater foot independence) delivers low-end weight most 22" shells can't match. --- ### 3. Pearl Masterworks Bass Drum — Best for Blast Beat Speed - **Size:** 22"x18" - **Shell:** Custom exotic (Masterworks program) - **Price range:** €900–€1100 - **Best for:** Sustained blast beats past 200 BPM **Who uses it:** - **George Kollias** ([/drummer/george-kollias](https://metalforge.io/drummer/george-kollias)) — Nile; 22"x18" Masterworks bass drum sustaining 240+ BPM blast beats Pearl's custom Masterworks shell program allows precise tuning for fast rebound, controlled sustain, and enough low-end presence to cut through Nile's densely layered technical death metal arrangements. --- ### 4. Pearl Reference Pure Bass Drum — Most Versatile - **Size:** 22"x18" - **Shell:** Maple/mahogany hybrid - **Price range:** €500–€650 - **Best for:** Drummers spanning multiple extreme metal styles **Who uses it:** - **Gene Hoglan** ([/drummer/gene-hoglan](https://metalforge.io/drummer/gene-hoglan)) — Death / Testament / Dethklok; 22"x18" bass drum across four decades of extreme metal The maple/mahogany hybrid shell delivers the tonal clarity and projection Hoglan's metronomic playing demands, proven across thrash, technical death metal, and progressive metal alike. --- ### 5. Tama Starclassic Performer Bass Drum — Best for Speed and Attack - **Size:** 22"x16" - **Shell:** Birch/maple hybrid - **Price range:** €400–€550 - **Best for:** Fast, punchy attack over maximum sub-bass **Who uses it:** - **Joey Jordison** ([/drummer/joey-jordison](https://metalforge.io/drummer/joey-jordison)) — Slipknot; 22" bass drum driving extreme double kick technique The slightly shallower 16" depth gives a faster, punchier response than the 18" standard — well-suited to drummers prioritizing attack and speed. --- ## 22" vs 24" vs Dual Bass Drums for Extreme Metal **22" Single (George Kollias, Gene Hoglan, Joey Jordison):** - The genre standard — fastest response, most portable - Best balance of speed and projection for blast beats past 200 BPM **24"+ Oversized (Tomas Haake):** - Maximum low-end weight for downtuned, polyrhythmic riffing - Slightly slower response than 22" at the fastest tempos **Dual Bass Drums (Mario Duplantier, Martin Axenrot):** - The most organic, independently-tunable low-end — no double pedal compromises - Requires significantly more floor space and heavier transport **Verdict:** Start with a 22"x18" single bass drum and a quality double pedal — it's the proven standard across the fastest extreme metal drummers. Move to 24" if low-end weight matters more than raw speed, or to dual bass drums if you want the most organic possible kick feel. --- ## FAQ **What bass drums do extreme metal drummers use?** 22"x18" is the extreme metal standard — George Kollias plays a Pearl Masterworks, Gene Hoglan plays a Pearl Reference Pure, and Joey Jordison played a Tama Starclassic Performer, all at this size. Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) uses an oversized 24"x18" Sonor SQ2, while Mario Duplantier (Gojira) and Martin Axenrot (Opeth) both run dual 22"x18" bass drums instead of a double pedal. **What size bass drum is best for blast beats?** 22"x18" offers the best balance of speed and projection for blast beats past 200 BPM — it's what George Kollias, the world's fastest recorded death metal drummer, plays. **22" vs 24" bass drum for metal?** 22" is faster and more portable, and it's the standard among extreme metal's fastest players. 24" (Tomas Haake's Meshuggah setup) delivers significantly more low-end weight at a small cost to response speed. **Should I use a double pedal or dual bass drums?** A double pedal on a single 22" bass drum (George Kollias, Gene Hoglan) is more compact, portable, and the standard for most touring extreme metal drummers. Dual bass drums (Mario Duplantier, Martin Axenrot) trade portability for a more organic, independently-tunable low-end. **What bass drum head is best for extreme metal?** Reinforced batter heads — Evans EMAD or Remo Powerstroke 3 — are the extreme metal standard, handling sustained double bass and blast beat abuse far better than standard single-ply heads. --- ## Related Guides - [Best Bass Drum Pedals for Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-bass-drum-pedals-for-metal) - [Best Drum Kits for Death Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-kits-for-death-metal) - [Best Drum Heads for Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-heads-for-metal)