# How to Sound Like Aquiles Priester — Angra Drum Sound Guide

**Drummer:** Aquiles Priester  
**Band:** Angra (2000–2012, 2023–present) / W.A.S.P. / Hangar  
**Genre:** Neoclassical / Power Metal  
**Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-aquiles-priester

## Overview

Aquiles Priester (born June 19, 1971, São Paulo, Brazil) joined Angra in 2000 and recorded the band's most celebrated era: Rebirth (2001), Temple of Shadows (2004), Aurora Consurgens (2006), and Aqua (2010). He returned to Angra in 2023, anchoring one of the most technically demanding live shows in power metal. His defining quality is sustained double-bass endurance — perfectly even 16th-note kick patterns at 180–220+ BPM built entirely on a relaxation-first technique. On "Spread Your Fire" (~182 BPM), the double bass sounds mechanical in its evenness not because Aquiles is tense, but because relaxed muscles can sustain consistent movement far longer than strained ones. The result is extreme technical drumming that serves the song rather than interrupting it.

## Kit Setup

Aquiles currently plays a **Trick Drums custom maple** kit (from his 2023 Angra return):

- **Kick Drums:** 22" x 18" (double-bass configuration) with DW 9000 Series Double Pedal
- **Snare:** 14" x 6.5" Trick Drums Custom
- **Rack Toms:** 10" x 8", 12" x 9", 13" x 10"
- **Floor Toms:** 16" x 14", 18" x 16"
- **Cymbals:** Ufip — 14" Hi-Hats, 16"/18"/20" Crashes, 21" Ride, 18" China, 10" Splash
- **Sticks:** Vater Fusion 55A (wood tip)
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (snare/toms), Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear (kick)

**Classic Angra era (Rebirth through Aqua):** Mapex Saturn Series drums, Sabian HHX cymbals, Axis A double pedal. The Saturn Series is the kit on his most celebrated recordings — Mapex or Pearl Reference are the most accessible path to that era's sound.

## Tuning & Setup

Aquiles tunes for outdoor festival projection — the dominant live context on the South American touring circuit:

- **Kick:** Medium tension with internal pillow touching the outer batter edge; ported resonant head. Target: defined thump with controlled sustain. The attack transient is what makes 180+ BPM double bass feel precise rather than blurry — over-damping kills that transient.
- **Snare:** Medium-high batter tension for crack that projects through large PA systems. One Moongel at the edge for recording; none for live. The 6.5" depth adds body so the snare doesn't become papery at tight tension.
- **Toms:** Medium tension, minimal muffling. The five-tom spread (10" through 18") should have clear pitch differentiation — you should be able to hum the interval between adjacent toms. That pitch arc is what makes cascading fills sound melodic rather than just fast.

## Technique Tips

Aquiles plays **matched grip** with a relaxed, upright posture. His foundational principle: **relaxation is the technique**. Any tension in the legs, hips, or upper body creates a speed ceiling and accelerates fatigue. He keeps his ankles completely loose, lets the beaters return freely on rebound after each stroke, and maintains a neutral upper body that doesn't fight the tempo.

**Signature patterns:**

- **Sustained 16th-Note Double Bass (160–220 BPM, Advanced):** Even 16th notes running for entire verses and choruses without velocity fade. Built by practicing at lower tempos with fully relaxed ankles until the recording sounds metronomically even, then adding speed incrementally. Never increase tempo before achieving evenness — an uneven faster pattern is worse than a perfectly even slower one.
- **Neoclassical Snare Authority (160–200 BPM, Intermediate-Advanced):** Decisive, even rimshots at extreme tempos that anchor the groove during maximum kick density. The backbeat on "Spread Your Fire" swings at 182 BPM — it's what prevents the song from feeling like a pure endurance exercise.
- **Progressive Feel Transitions (Variable, Advanced):** Angra songs cycle through blast beats, double-bass runs, and atmospheric sections within the same composition. Aquiles navigates these without breaking the pocket by internalizing each section so the transitions are automatic. Practice the two bars before and after each transition specifically.
- **Five-Tom Cascades (Variable, Intermediate):** Single-stroke fills through 10", 12", 13", 16", 18" toms with matching volumes and clear pitch arc. The interval from 10" to 18" is a melodic gesture — one movement, not five separate hits.

**Key songs to study:** *Spread Your Fire* (Rebirth, 2001) · *Heroes of Sand* (Temple of Shadows, 2004) · *The Shadow Hunter* (Temple of Shadows, 2004) · *Morning Star* (Aurora Consurgens, 2006) · *Ashes* (Aqua, 2010)

## Gear Shopping List

| Item | Aquiles' Spec | Budget Alternative |
|------|-------------|-------------------|
| Drum Kit | Trick Drums Custom Maple | Mapex Saturn (~$700) or Pearl Reference (~$2,000) |
| Snare | Trick Drums Custom 14"x6.5" | Pearl Reference Maple or Ludwig Supraphonic |
| Hi-Hats | Ufip 14" Hi-Hats | Sabian AAX 14" Hi-Hats (~$200) |
| Crashes | Ufip 16"/18"/20" Crashes | Sabian AAX Crashes (~$150 each) |
| Pedals | DW 9000 Double Pedal | DW 5000 Double Pedal (~$250) or Axis A (~$350) |
| Sticks | Vater Fusion 55A | Vic Firth Aquiles Priester Signature or Promark 5B |
| Kick Heads | Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear | Evans EQ4 Clear |

**Starter budget path (~$1,500):** Mapex Saturn + Sabian AAX Hi-Hats + DW 5000 Double. The Saturn is Aquiles' classic-era kit — it's the most direct route to the Temple of Shadows drum sound at an accessible price.

## Practice Routine

1. **Relaxation Double-Bass Builder (20 min/session):** At 120 BPM, play 16th-note kick with fully relaxed ankles. Record and check volume evenness over 60 seconds. Add 10 BPM per week only when the recording sounds metronomically even. Target: 180+ BPM even 16th notes sustained for 2 minutes.
2. **Snare Authority at Speed (15 min daily):** At 160 BPM, play backbeats as rimshots. Each must be identical in volume and crack. Record: if the snare softens as you tire, reduce tempo until you can sustain 2 minutes of consistent rimshots.
3. **Progressive Section Transitions (20 min per song):** Learn each section of an Angra track individually until automatic. Then drill the two bars before and after each transition until the seam disappears. Goal: transitions that sound inevitable, not calculated.
4. **Five-Tom Cascade Drill (10 min daily):** Single-stroke through all five toms at 80 BPM with matching volumes. Use a DB meter to verify. Speed comes last — the pitch arc is the technique.

**Common mistakes:** Forcing speed through tension instead of relaxation (Aquiles' entire technique inverts this); neglecting snare authority during double-bass sections; learning sections without drilling transitions; treating tom fills as scrambles rather than melodic arcs.

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit does Aquiles Priester use?**  
A: Aquiles Priester currently plays a Trick Drums custom maple kit (from his 2023 Angra return), with 22" double bass drums, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and two floor toms (16", 18"). In his classic Angra era — Rebirth through Aqua — he used Mapex Saturn Series drums, the kit on his most celebrated recordings.

**Q: What cymbals does Aquiles Priester use?**  
A: Aquiles currently plays Ufip cymbals: 14" hi-hats, 16"/18"/20" crashes, 21" ride, 18" China, and 10" splash. In his classic Angra era he used Sabian HHX Series. The Ufip hi-hats are chosen for tight, articulate response with no wash when the kick is running at 180+ BPM.

**Q: What double pedal does Aquiles Priester use?**  
A: Aquiles currently uses the DW 9000 Series double pedal, chosen for its consistent ball-bearing cam action across a world tour. Earlier in his career he used the Axis A double pedal — its extremely light action is ideal for building extreme double-bass speed from scratch.

**Q: How does Aquiles Priester sustain double bass at 180+ BPM?**  
A: Relaxation technique. He keeps his ankles completely loose, lets the beaters return on rebound after each stroke, and maintains a neutral upper body. Speed comes from eliminating muscular tension, not increasing muscular effort. He builds tempo incrementally only after achieving even dynamics at the lower speed.

**Q: What are the best Angra songs to learn Aquiles' drumming?**  
A: Start with "Spread Your Fire" (Rebirth, 2001) for the relaxation-based even double bass at ~182 BPM. For progressive arrangement navigation, "Heroes of Sand" (Temple of Shadows, 2004) demonstrates how he moves through blast beats, double-bass runs, and atmospheric sections in one composition. Both have drum-cam or lesson breakdowns from Aquiles in his Inside My Drums series.

**Q: What sticks does Aquiles Priester play?**  
A: Vater Fusion 55A — balanced between 5A and 5B weight for power and control at high tempos. A Vic Firth Aquiles Priester Signature stick is also associated with his name. Vater Fusion 55A or Promark 5B are solid starting alternatives.

**Q: How can I develop Aquiles' double-bass technique without his exact gear?**  
A: The relaxation technique is entirely gear-independent — you can practice it on any kit. For gear approximation, Mapex Saturn shares Aquiles' classic-era brand DNA and is the most direct route to the Temple of Shadows sound at an accessible price. DW 5000 or Axis A double pedals are the best budget pedal path; the Axis A specifically mirrors his early-career pedal choice.

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**Full interactive guide:** [https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-aquiles-priester](https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-aquiles-priester)  
**Drummer profile:** [https://metalforge.io/drummer/aquiles-priester](https://metalforge.io/drummer/aquiles-priester)  
**Gear guide:** [https://metalforge.io/articles/aquiles-priester-drum-kit-guide](https://metalforge.io/articles/aquiles-priester-drum-kit-guide)  
**Licks & patterns:** [https://metalforge.io/drummers/aquiles-priester/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/aquiles-priester/licks)  
**Related guides:** [Mike Mangini](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-mike-mangini.md) · [George Kollias](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-george-kollias.md) · [Igor Cavalera](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-igor-cavalera.md)

*Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io) · Last updated: 2026-06-24*