# Best China Cymbals for Metal — MetalForge **Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/best-china-cymbals-for-metal ## Who This Guide Is For Metal drummers looking for trashy, explosive accent cymbals for breakdowns, transitions, and blast beat punctuation — and what Lars Ulrich, Joey Jordison, Dave Lombardo, and Gene Hoglan actually play. Covers size, alloy, and mounting orientation across all budgets. --- ## Why Every Metal Drummer Needs a China The china cymbal is metal's punctuation mark — a fast, dirty attack and short, aggressive decay built for controlled chaos, unlike a crash's clean ring-out. It cuts through even the densest downtuned guitar wall to accent a breakdown, kick off a fill, or punch through a blast beat transition. Lars Ulrich has used a 20" Zildjian Z Custom China throughout Metallica's thrash-defining catalog. Dave Lombardo's 18" Paiste China provides the brutal punctuation on Slayer's "Angel of Death." Joey Jordison relied on a Paiste 20" RUDE Wild China for Slipknot's most aggressive Iowa-era material, and Gene Hoglan uses a 20" Sabian AAX China across his work in Death, Testament, and Dethklok. --- ## Recommended China Cymbals for Metal ### 1. Zildjian Z Custom China — Best Overall - **Size:** 20" - **Alloy:** B20 Bronze, Brilliant - **Price range:** €280–€340 - **Best for:** Thrash metal and dense guitar mixes **Who uses it:** - **Lars Ulrich** ([/drummer/lars-ulrich](https://metalforge.io/drummer/lars-ulrich)) — Metallica; explosive thrash punctuation since 1996's Load sessions Delivers an explosive, cutting trash with more low-end weight than the standard A series, making it a favorite for thrash and heavier styles that need a china to punch through a dense guitar wall. --- ### 2. Paiste RUDE Wild China — Most Aggressive - **Size:** 20" (18" variant also used) - **Alloy:** CuSn8 Bronze, Raw - **Price range:** €250–€300 - **Best for:** Maximum chaos and controlled destruction **Who uses it:** - **Joey Jordison** ([/drummer/joey-jordison](https://metalforge.io/drummer/joey-jordison)) — Slipknot; Iowa-era aggressive cymbal setup - **Dave Lombardo** ([/drummer/dave-lombardo](https://metalforge.io/drummer/dave-lombardo)) — Slayer; 18" variant on "Angel of Death" A heavily hammered, unlathed cymbal that produces a raw, trashy explosion unlike anything in a more polished cymbal line — the sound of controlled destruction. --- ### 3. Sabian AAXtreme China — Best All-Rounder - **Size:** 20" - **Alloy:** B20 Bronze, Brilliant - **Price range:** €220–€270 - **Best for:** Versatility across multiple metal subgenres **Who uses it:** - **Gene Hoglan** ([/drummer/gene-hoglan](https://metalforge.io/drummer/gene-hoglan)) — Death / Testament / Dethklok; consistent choice across 20+ bands Balances bright cut with real trash, giving it more versatility than darker, rawer china lines while still delivering the explosive attack metal demands. --- ## 18" vs 20" China for Metal **18" China (Dave Lombardo, technical/progressive players):** - Faster response for rapid-fire accents - Easier to fit into a crowded cymbal setup **20" China (Lars Ulrich, Joey Jordison, Gene Hoglan):** - More low-end weight and volume for heavier breakdowns - The primary choice for most metal styles, better projection in a live mix **Verdict:** Start with a 20" china as your primary — it's the more versatile size for most metal styles. Add an 18" later as a second, faster-responding option once your setup grows. --- ## FAQ **What china cymbal does Lars Ulrich use?** Lars Ulrich uses a 20" Zildjian Z Custom China, part of his Zildjian A Custom setup that has defined Metallica's cymbal sound since the 1996 Load sessions. **What size china cymbal is best for metal?** 20" is the most common choice among metal drummers for its low-end weight and projection — used by Lars Ulrich, Joey Jordison, and Gene Hoglan. 18" chinas respond faster and suit technical or progressive passages. **Should I mount my china cymbal upside down?** Inverted (cup-down) mounting produces a trashier, more explosive attack and is standard in extreme metal. Standard (cup-up) mounting gives a more controlled, traditional china sound. **What's the best budget china cymbal for metal?** The Zildjian ZBT China (€70–90) delivers a genuinely trashy B8 bronze sound at a true beginner price. The Sabian XSR Fast China (€100–130) brings B20 bronze to a mid-range price. **China vs crash cymbal — what's the difference for metal?** A crash rings out cleanly with a longer, more musical decay. A china produces a faster, dirtier, more explosive attack with a shorter decay, better suited to accenting breakdowns and blast beat punctuation. --- ## Related Guides - [Best Cymbals for Thrash Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-cymbals-for-thrash-metal) - [Best Cymbals for Death Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-cymbals-for-death-metal) - [Best Hi-Hats for Black Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-hi-hats-for-black-metal)