# Best Drum Pedals for Power Metal: 2026 Ultimate Guide > Best drum pedals for power metal drumming: what Scott Travis (twin Tama Speed Cobra singles), Aquiles Priester (DW 9000 double pedal), Nicko McBrain (single Sonor pedal, no double ever), and Mikkey Dee (Pearl Demon Drive double pedal) actually play. Reliable, sustained speed for galloping rhythms — ranked budget to pro. **Guide URL:** [https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-pedals-for-power-metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-pedals-for-power-metal) **Last Updated:** 2026-07-06 --- ## Why Power Metal Pedal Choice Splits Between Speed and Foot Independence Power metal's galloping, triplet-based rhythms and sustained neoclassical double-bass runs put very different demands on a pedal depending on which tradition a drummer follows. Some of the genre's most influential names never touch a double pedal at all, relying on foot independence and a precise single pedal, while others need a fast, reliable double pedal to sustain 180-220+ BPM 16th-note patterns across an entire set. Scott Travis currently drives Judas Priest's twin 22"x18" bass drums with two independent Tama Speed Cobra pedals rather than a double pedal — the same foot-independence approach he's used since his 1980s Racer X days, preserving the separation that carries "Painkiller" (1990)'s foundational blueprint forward. Aquiles Priester relies on a DW 9000 Series double pedal to sustain his relaxation-based, 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass technique on Angra's current return-era rig. Nicko McBrain has never used a double pedal with Iron Maiden — his entire galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary runs through a single Sonor pedal, proof that raw double-bass speed isn't required to anchor a genre-defining sound. Mikkey Dee's Pearl Demon Drive double pedal has carried him through 23+ years of Motörhead's relentless touring and into Scorpions' festival-circuit schedule. This guide breaks down single-pedal foot independence versus double-pedal sustained speed for power metal — comparing what these four influential drummers actually play and why, with recommendations across every budget. **Key Points:** - Scott Travis drives Judas Priest's twin kicks with two independent Tama Speed Cobra single pedals, not a double pedal - Aquiles Priester's DW 9000 Series double pedal sustains his 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass technique on Angra's current rig - Nicko McBrain has never used a double pedal — Iron Maiden's entire galloping foundation runs through one precise Sonor single pedal - Mikkey Dee's Pearl Demon Drive double pedal has proven reliable across 23+ years of Motörhead and Scorpions touring --- ## What Makes a Great Power Metal Pedal? ### 🦶 Foot Independence vs Double-Bass Speed Decide which tradition your playing follows before you chase gear. Nicko McBrain has built an entire genre-defining rhythmic vocabulary on a single pedal, while Aquiles Priester and Mikkey Dee depend on fast, reliable double pedals for sustained double-bass runs. **Recommendation:** A precise single pedal for gallop-first, foot-independence playing, or a fast double pedal for sustained neoclassical double bass ### 🎯 Twin Independent Singles for Foot Separation Scott Travis drives Judas Priest's twin kicks with two separate Tama Speed Cobra single pedals rather than a linked double pedal — an approach that preserves total independence between feet, at the cost of needing two full pedals and two kick drums. **Recommendation:** Two matched single pedals if you want twin-kick coverage without sacrificing foot independence ### ⚡ Sustained High-Tempo Reliability Aquiles Priester's DW 9000 Series pedal has to sustain even 16th-note double-bass patterns at 180-220+ BPM without the tension that creates a speed ceiling for most drummers — that's only possible with hardware rated for sustained extreme tempo, not just short bursts. **Recommendation:** Ball-bearing cam double pedals rated for sustained extreme-tempo double-bass performance ### 🛡️ Touring Durability Mikkey Dee's Pearl Demon Drive has held up across 23+ years of Motörhead's relentless touring and into Scorpions' arena and festival schedule without a platform change — proof that reliability matters as much as top-end speed at the professional level. **Recommendation:** Reinforced construction and quality bearings that hold up to a demanding festival-circuit touring schedule ### 🔩 Spring Tension and Beater Adjustability Whether you're chasing McBrain's precise, controlled gallop or Priester's sustained neoclassical speed, wide spring tension range and beater angle adjustment let you dial in exactly the response your technique demands. **Recommendation:** Wide, reliably locking spring tension range with an adjustable beater angle ### 🎭 Consistent Response Across Long Sets Power metal's theatrical, dynamically wide arrangements swing between delicate passages and explosive double-bass choruses across a full-length festival set. Your pedal needs to feel exactly the same on song forty as it did on song one. **Recommendation:** A pedal with proven consistency across long, demanding live sets --- ## Top Pedals Used by Power Metal Legends ### 1. Tama Speed Cobra 910 (Twin Singles) — Tama **Model:** HP910LWN Speed Cobra 910 (x2, independent) **Price range:** €450-550 each **Tier:** pro **Type:** Chain Drive (Speedo-Ring) **Rating:** 4.7/5 Scott Travis returned to Tama for Judas Priest's "Firepower" (2018) after roughly fifteen years on Pearl, and drives his twin 22"x18" bass drums with two independent Tama Speed Cobra 910 single pedals rather than a linked double pedal — the same foot-independence approach he's carried since his 1980s Racer X days. The Speedo-Ring sprocket gives each pedal the smooth, direct-drive-like feel that sustains "Painkiller" (1990)'s foundational speed-and-precision blueprint through "Invincible Shield" (2024). Running two full single pedals instead of one double pedal costs more and demands a second kick drum, but it preserves complete independence between feet — a deliberate trade-off for drummers who prioritize separation over convenience. **Pros:** - Scott Travis's current Judas Priest setup — direct lineage to power metal's foundational "Painkiller" blueprint - Speedo-Ring gives each single pedal a smooth, direct-drive-like feel - Total foot independence between kicks, impossible with a linked double pedal - Extra-long footboard for heel-toe technique - Proven across four-plus decades of speed-and-precision metal drumming **Cons:** - Requires two full pedals and two kick drums instead of one double pedal setup - Significantly more expensive than a single double pedal - Overkill for drummers who don't specifically need foot independence **Who uses it:** - Scott Travis (Judas Priest) — Twin independent Tama Speed Cobra 910 pedals — current setup since "Firepower" (2018) **Verdict:** The power metal pedal choice for total foot independence. Travis's twin-single approach proves separation can beat convenience. ### 2. DW 9000 Series Double Pedal — DW **Model:** DWCP9002 Double Pedal **Price range:** €650-750 **Tier:** pro **Type:** Dual Chain **Rating:** 4.6/5 Aquiles Priester's 2023 Angra return-era rig runs on a DW 9000 Series double pedal, chosen for the sustained consistency his relaxation-based, 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass technique demands. The free-floating rotor design and infinitely adjustable spring tension let Priester dial in exactly the response his technique requires without the tension buildup that creates a speed ceiling for less refined pedals. Paired with a Trick Drums custom maple kit and a full Ufip cymbal setup, the DW 9000 gives Priester the reliability to sustain extreme tempos across an entire set rather than just short bursts. **Pros:** - Aquiles Priester's current Angra return-era setup — Brazilian power metal's most celebrated drummer - Infinitely adjustable — customize spring tension, cam, and footboard angle - Free-floating rotor design built for sustained, extreme-tempo consistency - Dual chain provides power and stability at sustained high speed - Exceptional build quality for demanding touring schedules **Cons:** - Premium price point among double pedals - Heavy and complex compared to lighter direct-drive options - Chain drive requires more setup time to dial in than a preset direct-drive pedal **Who uses it:** - Aquiles Priester (Angra) — DW 9000 Series Double Pedal — current Angra return-era rig **Verdict:** Best for sustained neoclassical double-bass power metal. Priester's setup proves infinite adjustability pays off at extreme tempo. ### 3. Pearl Demon Drive — Pearl **Model:** P3002D Demon Drive **Price range:** €500-600 **Tier:** pro **Type:** Direct Drive **Rating:** 4.5/5 Mikkey Dee's Pearl Demon Drive double pedal has carried him through the final chapter of his 23-year Motörhead tenure and remains his platform with Scorpions, proving reliable across arena and festival stages without a platform change. The NiNjA bearing system delivers virtually frictionless action, while the Click-Lock spring tension keeps adjustments precise across a demanding festival-circuit touring schedule. While Dee's catalog sits closer to hard rock than power metal's fantasy-themed wing, his Demon Drive's touring stamina represents exactly the reliability power metal's biggest festival-headlining bands need night after night. **Pros:** - Mikkey Dee's setup — proven across 23+ years of relentless Motörhead and Scorpions touring - NiNjA bearing system for ultimate smoothness - Click-Lock spring tension adjustment stays precise across demanding tours - Direct drive delivers instant, linear response for sustained double-bass runs - Built for extreme touring durability **Cons:** - Less directly tied to power metal's fantasy-themed lyrical tradition - Direct drive takes adjustment if coming from chain drive - Premium price point **Who uses it:** - Mikkey Dee (Motörhead / Scorpions) — Pearl Demon Drive — touring stamina across two legendary bands **Verdict:** Best for touring stamina. Dee's setup brings arena-level reliability to power metal's biggest stages. ### 4. Sonor Single Pedal — Sonor **Model:** Perfect Balance Single Pedal **Price range:** €180-280 **Tier:** mid **Type:** Chain Drive **Rating:** 4.3/5 Nicko McBrain has never used a double bass pedal with Iron Maiden — his entire galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary, the direct rhythmic ancestor of power metal's whole European scene, runs through a single Sonor pedal on a single 22"x17" bass drum. That single-pedal approach is the whole story: foot independence and precise technique anchor his sound, not raw double-bass horsepower. For power metal drummers whose material leans on gallop-first, triplet-based rhythms rather than sustained double-bass runs, a precise single pedal is not a compromise — it's the same foundation McBrain has used for four-plus decades. **Pros:** - Nicko McBrain's current Iron Maiden setup — proof a single pedal can anchor an entire genre's rhythmic foundation - Precise, reliable chain-drive response for gallop-first triplet patterns - Far more affordable than any double pedal setup - Proven across four-plus decades of Iron Maiden's arena and stadium touring - Simpler to maintain and tour with than a double pedal **Cons:** - No double-bass capability without adding a second pedal or kick - Won't suit drummers chasing sustained neoclassical double-bass speed - Less common as a standalone metal pedal outside the Sonor ecosystem **Who uses it:** - Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) — Single Sonor pedal — never a double pedal, across four-plus decades **Verdict:** Best for gallop-first, foot-independence power metal. McBrain's single-pedal setup is the direct ancestor of the genre's rhythmic vocabulary. --- ## Best Budget Pedals for Power Metal You don't need a custom DW 9000 or twin Speed Cobra setup to start playing power metal. These budget options deliver real reliability for developing drummers. ### Tama Iron Cobra 600 — Tama **Model:** HP600D Iron Cobra 600 **Price range:** €250-300 **Tier:** budget **Type:** Chain (Power Glide) **Rating:** 4/5 The entry-level Iron Cobra carries the same Tama DNA as Scott Travis's professional Speed Cobra pedals at a fraction of the price. It won't match the Speed Cobra's refinement, but it teaches proper double-bass technique on a genuinely durable, Tama-built pedal. **Pros:** - Same Tama family DNA as Scott Travis's setup - Power Glide cam for developing speed - Affordable entry point into double-bass technique **Cons:** - Fewer adjustment options than pro-tier pedals - Basic bearings compared to Speed Cobra **Verdict:** Best budget entry into the Tama power metal pedal sound. ### Pearl Eliminator Redline — Pearl **Model:** P2052C Eliminator Redline **Price range:** €350-400 **Tier:** mid **Type:** Chain with Interchangeable Cams **Rating:** 4.3/5 The Eliminator Redline brings many features from Mikkey Dee's Demon Drive at a more accessible price. The interchangeable cam system lets you experiment with different feels, and the NiNjA bearings are the same as the flagship model. **Pros:** - Interchangeable cams included - NiNjA bearing system shared with the Demon Drive - Solid build quality for developing players **Cons:** - Chain drive limits ultimate speed versus direct drive - Not as refined as the Demon Drive **Verdict:** Best mid-range path toward Mikkey Dee's Pearl sound. --- ## Single Pedal vs Double Pedal for Power Metal Pedal choice splits power metal's leading drummers into two clear camps. Here's how each compares: **Single Pedal / Twin Independent Singles (Nicko McBrain, Scott Travis):** - McBrain has never used a double pedal — Iron Maiden's entire galloping vocabulary runs on one pedal - Travis drives twin kicks with two separate single pedals for total foot independence - Best for: Gallop-first, triplet-based rhythms and drummers prioritizing foot separation **Double Pedal (Aquiles Priester, Mikkey Dee):** - Sustains fast, consistent 16th-note double-bass patterns at extreme tempo - Priester's DW 9000 and Dee's Pearl Demon Drive both built for sustained reliability - Best for: Neoclassical double-bass speed and extended high-tempo touring **The Truth:** Both approaches have driven some of power metal's most influential recordings. Nicko McBrain proved a genre-defining rhythmic foundation doesn't need double-bass horsepower at all. Aquiles Priester and Mikkey Dee prove a well-built double pedal can sustain extreme tempo across a full touring schedule. **Our Recommendation:** Start with a single pedal if your material leans on gallop-first, triplet-based rhythms. Choose a double pedal once your material demands sustained 16th-note double-bass runs at 180+ BPM. | feature | singlePedal | doublePedal | | --- | --- | --- | | Foot Independence | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | | Sustained Double-Bass Speed | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Touring Simplicity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | | Price (entry) | €180+ | €500+ | --- ## Our Top Pedal Picks for Power Metal - **Best Overall:** Tama Speed Cobra 910 (Twin Singles) — Scott Travis's current Judas Priest setup — total foot independence carrying "Painkiller"'s blueprint forward. - **Best for Sustained Double Bass:** DW 9000 Series Double Pedal — Aquiles Priester's current Angra setup — infinite adjustability for extreme neoclassical tempos. - **Best for Gallop-First Playing:** Sonor Single Pedal — Nicko McBrain's setup — proof a single pedal can anchor an entire genre's rhythmic foundation. - **Best Budget:** Tama Iron Cobra 600 — Same Tama family DNA as Scott Travis's professional setup, at a fraction of the price. --- ## FAQ **Does Nicko McBrain use a double bass pedal?** No — Nicko McBrain has never used a double bass pedal with Iron Maiden. His entire galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary runs through a single Sonor pedal on a single 22"x17" bass drum, proving foot independence rather than raw double-bass speed can anchor a genre-defining sound. **What pedal does Scott Travis use?** Scott Travis of Judas Priest drives his twin 22"x18" bass drums with two independent Tama Speed Cobra 910 single pedals rather than a linked double pedal — the same foot-independence approach he's used since his 1980s Racer X days. **Single pedal or double pedal for power metal?** It depends on your material. A single pedal (Nicko McBrain) suits gallop-first, triplet-based rhythms and rewards foot independence. A double pedal (Aquiles Priester, Mikkey Dee) is necessary for sustained 16th-note double-bass runs at 180+ BPM. Neither is more "authentic" — both have driven the genre's most influential recordings. **What pedal does Aquiles Priester use?** Aquiles Priester currently plays a DW 9000 Series double pedal on his 2023 Angra return-era rig, chosen for the sustained consistency his relaxation-based, 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass technique demands. **Do I need an expensive double pedal to play power metal?** No — a Tama Iron Cobra 600 or Pearl Eliminator Redline will teach real double-bass technique at a fraction of the price of Aquiles Priester's DW 9000 or Mikkey Dee's Demon Drive. If your material is gallop-first rather than double-bass-heavy, a Sonor-style single pedal is even more affordable. --- ## Choose Your Foot Foundation Power metal pedal choice comes down to a fundamental question: does your material need sustained double-bass speed, or does it live and die on gallop-first foot independence? Scott Travis found his answer in two independent Tama Speed Cobra singles, preserving total separation between feet. Nicko McBrain never touched a double pedal at all, proving Iron Maiden's entire rhythmic foundation could run on one precise Sonor pedal. Aquiles Priester and Mikkey Dee both depend on fast, reliable double pedals — the DW 9000 and Pearl Demon Drive — to sustain extreme tempo across a full set. None of these approaches is more "authentic" to the genre — all four have driven some of power metal's most influential recordings. Start with whichever setup matches your material's balance of gallop-first triplets versus sustained neoclassical double bass. Budget shouldn't stop you either. A Tama Iron Cobra 600 or a simple single pedal will teach real technique and survive demanding practice while you save toward the professional setups that defined this genre's greatest records. 🤘 **Now go slay the dragon.** --- ## Related Guides - [Best Cymbals for Power Metal: 2026 Expert Guide](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-cymbals-for-power-metal) - [Best Drum Kits for Power Metal: 2026 Ultimate Guide](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-kits-for-power-metal) - [Best Drum Pedals for Death Metal: 2026 Ultimate Guide](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-pedals-for-death-metal) ## Related Drummers - [Scott Travis](https://metalforge.io/drummer/scott-travis) — Twin Tama Speed Cobra singles — Judas Priest foot independence - [Aquiles Priester](https://metalforge.io/drummer/aquiles-priester) — DW 9000 Series Double Pedal — Angra neoclassical double-bass precision - [Nicko McBrain](https://metalforge.io/drummer/nicko-mcbrain) — Single Sonor pedal — Iron Maiden galloping foundation - [Mikkey Dee](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mikkey-dee) — Pearl Demon Drive — Motörhead/Scorpions touring stamina --- **More LLM resources:** [Guides Hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides.md) · [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt) · [Full database](https://metalforge.io/llms-full.txt)