# How to Sound Like Hellhammer — Mayhem / Dimmu Borgir Drum Sound Guide

**Drummer:** Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg)  
**Band:** Mayhem (also Dimmu Borgir)  
**Genre:** Black Metal  
**Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-hellhammer

## Overview

Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) is the most influential drummer in black metal history. As Mayhem's drummer since 1988, he played on the genre-defining "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" (1994) and shaped the rhythmic identity of an entire scene, later bringing that precision to Dimmu Borgir's symphonic black metal. What sets Hellhammer apart is the combination of raw aggression and genuine technical control — where early black metal drumming was often deliberately primitive, his blast beats had a clarity and evenness that gave the music shape rather than mere chaos. He could shift from a furious tremolo-locked hyper-blast to a half-time pummel in an instant, always serving the cold, atmospheric feel of the genre. His ride-cymbal-driven blasts, fast snare work, and disciplined double bass became the template that countless black metal drummers have studied.

## Kit Setup

Hellhammer plays articulate, fast-responding kits engineered to cut through dense tremolo guitars:

- **Kick Drums:** 22" x 18" (x2) with a fast double pedal (Axis Longboard or similar)
- **Snare:** 14" x 5.5" Steel — bright, cracking, tuned high
- **Rack Toms:** 10" x 8", 12" x 9"
- **Floor Toms:** 16" x 16", 18" x 16"
- **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 / Rude — bright, articulate, defined bell for blast riding
- **Pedals:** Axis Longboard Double Pedal (fast, light, direct)
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5A / 5B
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear (kick), Remo Ambassador X Coated (snare), Remo Emperor Clear (toms)

## Tuning & Setup

Hellhammer tunes for speed and clarity — at blast tempos every drum must speak instantly and decay quickly:

- **Kick:** Medium-tight with a foam pad on the batter and a port hole in the resonant head. Tuned for click and attack, not boom — at 260 BPM any sustain blurs the pattern.
- **Snare:** High tension, minimal muffling. Cranked high for a bright crack that penetrates tremolo guitars; the steel shell adds brightness.
- **Toms:** Medium-high, one Moongel each. Tuned close together for fast cascading fills with controlled sustain.

## Technique Tips

Hellhammer plays **matched grip** with a relaxed, rebound-driven approach optimized for sustained speed. Tension at black metal tempos kills endurance within seconds.

**Hellhammer's Core Technique System:**

- **The Mayhem Blast (200–260 BPM, Advanced):** Alternating snare and kick on continuous 16th notes with the hand riding cymbal or hi-hat. Notable for evenness — snare and kick lock together so the blast reads as one driving texture. Start at 140 BPM and lock the unit before adding speed.
- **Hyper-Blast / Tremolo Lock (240–300 BPM, Expert):** Extreme single-stroke kick and snare locked to the guitar's tremolo rate, creating the blizzard-like wall of De Mysteriis-era Mayhem. Build the feet to automatic single strokes first, then layer the snare.
- **Half-Time Pummel (100–140 BPM, Intermediate):** The dramatic drop from blast to heavy half-time groove that gives black metal songs their structure. Practice switching cleanly on a single downbeat.

**Key songs to study:** *Freezing Moon* (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, 1994) · *Funeral Fog* (1994) · *From the Dark Past* (1994) · *Mourning Palace* (Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, 1997) · *Spellbound (By the Devil)* (1997)

## Gear Shopping List

| Item | Hellhammer's Spec | Budget Alternative |
|------|-------------------|--------------------|
| Drum Kit | Sonor (custom config) | Pearl Export Series (~$700) |
| Snare | Steel 14" x 5.5" | Pearl Sensitone Steel |
| Cymbals | Paiste 2002 / Rude | Paiste PST 5 / Sabian B8X (~$250) |
| Pedal | Axis Longboard Double | Pearl P930 Double (~$130) |
| Sticks | Vic Firth 5A | Promark 5A |
| Kick Head | Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear | Evans EMAD Clear |

**Starter budget path (~$1,000):** Pearl Export + Paiste PST 5 + Pearl P930. See [/brands/sonor](https://metalforge.io/brands/sonor) and [/brands/paiste](https://metalforge.io/brands/paiste).

## Practice Routine

1. **Blast Beat Evenness (20 min daily):** At 140 BPM play a traditional blast and record yourself — snare and kick must land as a single unit. Increase 5 BPM only when the recording confirms perfect lock. Goal: even blast at 220+ BPM.
2. **Foot Independence Builder (15 min daily):** Continuous alternating 16th notes on double kick at 180 BPM, hands silent — both feet identical. Once automatic, layer the snare without disturbing foot timing.
3. **Dynamic Transition Drill (10 min daily):** Loop 4 bars blast into 4 bars half-time, switching on a single downbeat, then reverse. The switch must be instantaneous.

**Common mistakes:** Playing too tense; uneven blasts; ignoring the half-time dynamics; under-muffling the kick.

## FAQ

**Q: What albums did Hellhammer play on?**  
A: He is best known for Mayhem's De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994), the defining black metal album, and for his Dimmu Borgir work on Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. He has also recorded with Arcturus, Covenant/The Kovenant, and many others.

**Q: How does a black metal blast differ from a death metal blast?**  
A: Hellhammer's blasts emphasize a bright, cymbal-riding texture and serve atmosphere, often as fast single-stroke hyper-blasts locked to tremolo guitars. Death metal blasts tend to be heavier and groove-anchored. His evenness and clarity are his defining traits.

**Q: What pedals did Hellhammer use?**  
A: He favored fast, light double pedals such as Axis longboards to sustain extreme single-stroke double bass with minimal fatigue.

**Q: How do I get the De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas drum sound?**  
A: Tune the kick for click with heavy muffling, crank a steel snare high for a bright crack, and keep toms high for fast rebound — prioritize attack and clarity over warmth so every note reads through dense guitars.

**Q: Which Hellhammer songs should I study first?**  
A: Start with 'Freezing Moon' for the definitive blast and dynamics, then 'Funeral Fog' for sustained hyper-blast technique, and 'Mourning Palace' for his Dimmu Borgir precision.

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**Full interactive guide:** [https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-hellhammer](https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-hellhammer)  
**Drummer profile:** [https://metalforge.io/drummer/hellhammer](https://metalforge.io/drummer/hellhammer)  
**Licks & patterns:** [https://metalforge.io/drummers/hellhammer/licks](https://metalforge.io/drummers/hellhammer/licks)  
**Related guides:** [Pete Sandoval](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-pete-sandoval.md) · [George Kollias](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-george-kollias.md)

*Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io) · Last updated: 2026-06-26*