# Best Hi-Hats for Black Metal — MetalForge **Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/best-hi-hats-for-black-metal ## Who This Guide Is For Black metal drummers who want to know which hi-hats handle sustained blast beats and tremolo-picked riff patterns — and what Hellhammer, Frost, and Inferno actually use. Covers Meinl Byzance Dark, Zildjian A Custom & K, Paiste RUDE, and more across all budgets. --- ## What Hi-Hats Are Used in Black Metal? Hi-hats carry an outsized role in black metal — they're the rhythmic engine behind blast beats, tremolo-picked riffs, and the genre's signature wall-of-sound atmosphere. Black metal frequently builds entire passages around a single, relentless hi-hat pattern driving the blast beat underneath. Hellhammer of Mayhem uses 14" Dark Hi-Hats from the Meinl Byzance Series, giving his foundational black metal recordings a dark, complex wash that suits the genre's icy, lo-fi atmosphere. Frost of Satyricon and 1349 currently relies on Zildjian A Custom & K Series cymbals, balancing cutting articulation with complexity for his hyperspeed blast beats. Inferno of Behemoth uses Paiste RUDE Series 14" Hi-Hats, giving Behemoth's modern black/death hybrid attack explosive projection. --- ## Recommended Hi-Hats for Black Metal ### 1. Meinl Byzance Dark Hi-Hats — Best Overall - **Material:** B20 Bronze, Dark Finish - **Price range:** €320–€420 per pair - **Best for:** Traditional, atmospheric black metal **Who uses it:** - **Hellhammer** ([/drummer/hellhammer](https://metalforge.io/drummer/hellhammer)) — Mayhem; Byzance Dark Hi-Hats across the band's foundational recordings, including "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" The hand-hammered B20 bronze construction produces rich, dark overtones that sit naturally within lo-fi, raw production rather than fighting against it. --- ### 2. Zildjian A Custom & K Hi-Hats — Best for Technical Black Metal - **Material:** B20 Bronze (Brilliant/Traditional blend) - **Price range:** €280–€450 per pair - **Best for:** Hyperspeed, technically precise blast beats **Who uses it:** - **Frost** ([/drummer/frost](https://metalforge.io/drummer/frost)) — Satyricon / 1349; A Custom & K combination balances cutting articulation with complexity After decades of evolution through Pearl, Sonor, and Zildjian gear, Frost's current setup reflects black metal's most technically advanced drumming style — hi-hats that respond instantly while retaining tonal complexity. --- ### 3. Paiste RUDE Hi-Hats — Best for Modern Black/Death Hybrid - **Material:** CuSn8 Bronze, Unlathed Top - **Price range:** €280–€380 per pair - **Best for:** Modern, blast-heavy black/death metal **Who uses it:** - **Inferno** ([/drummer/inferno](https://metalforge.io/drummer/inferno)) — Behemoth; RUDE Hi-Hats drive the band's modern black/death hybrid assault The raw, unlathed top surface produces a trashy character with massive projection — exactly what Behemoth's more technical, blast-heavy compositions need. --- ### 4. Meinl Classics Custom Dark Hi-Hats — Best Mid-Tier - **Material:** B8/B20 Bronze - **Price range:** €150–€220 per pair - **Best for:** Accessible dark, atmospheric tone A sensible mid-tier choice for black metal drummers who want the genre's signature dark hi-hat sound without the full Byzance investment. --- ## Dark vs Bright Hi-Hats for Black Metal **Dark (Meinl Byzance Dark — Hellhammer's choice):** - Raw, atmospheric, complex overtones - Suits traditional, lo-fi black metal production - The historically foundational black metal hi-hat sound **Bright (Zildjian A Custom & K — Frost's choice; Paiste RUDE — Inferno's choice):** - More articulate, cutting attack - Suits modern, technical, and black/death hybrid styles - The contemporary standard for technical black metal **Verdict:** Choose dark (Meinl Byzance Dark) for traditional, atmospheric black metal in the Mayhem tradition. Choose bright (Zildjian A Custom & K or Paiste RUDE) for modern, technical, or black/death hybrid styles in the Satyricon or Behemoth tradition. --- ## FAQ **What hi-hats are used in black metal?** Hellhammer of Mayhem uses Meinl Byzance Dark 14" Hi-Hats. Frost of Satyricon and 1349 uses Zildjian A Custom & K Series. Inferno of Behemoth uses Paiste RUDE 14" Hi-Hats. All three are 14" pairs — the genre's standard diameter. **What hi-hats does Hellhammer use?** Hellhammer of Mayhem uses 14" Dark Hi-Hats from the Meinl Byzance Series, part of his full Byzance cymbal setup. The dark, complex wash suits the raw, icy atmosphere of Mayhem's foundational recordings. **Best hi-hats for blast beats?** Medium-heavy weight hi-hats with consistent bottom-cymbal contact handle sustained blast beat endurance best. Meinl Byzance Dark, Zildjian A Custom & K, and Paiste RUDE all perform well at extreme tempos. **What size hi-hats for black metal?** 14" is the standard black metal hi-hat size, used by Hellhammer, Frost, and Inferno alike. Some players prefer 13" for marginally faster response at maximum blast beat speeds. **Dark or bright hi-hats for black metal?** Both work at the highest level. Dark hi-hats suit traditional, atmospheric black metal. Bright hi-hats suit modern, technical, and black/death hybrid styles. Choose based on subgenre and production style. --- ## Related Guides - [Best Hi-Hats for Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-hi-hats-for-metal) - [Best Drum Kits for Black Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-kits-for-black-metal) - [Best Drum Pedals for Black Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-pedals-for-black-metal)