# How to Sound Like Inferno — Behemoth Drum Sound Guide

**Drummer:** Inferno (Zbigniew Robert Promiński)  
**Band:** Behemoth  
**Genre:** Black Metal / Blackened Death Metal  
**Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-inferno

## Overview

Inferno is the drummer of Polish blackened death metal titans Behemoth and one of the most technically accomplished extreme metal drummers on the planet. Joining Behemoth in 1997, Inferno has been the rhythmic engine behind the band's transformation from raw black metal into the grandiose, orchestral extreme metal sound heard on landmark albums like "Demigod," "The Apostasy," and "The Satanist." What separates Inferno from other extreme metal drummers is not just his ability to sustain blast beats at 240+ BPM — it's the musical precision and clarity he maintains at those tempos. Every note in an Inferno blast beat is defined and intentional. His Pearl Masters Premium kit, Paiste Black Alpha cymbals, and Axis Longboard pedals are the tools behind one of metal's most commanding drum sounds.

## Kit Setup

Inferno plays **Pearl Masters Premium** drums with a setup built for extreme power and definition:

- **Kick Drums:** 22" x 18" (x2) with Axis A Longboard Double Pedal
- **Snare:** 14" x 6.5" Pearl Masters Premium Maple Snare
- **Rack Toms:** 10" x 8", 12" x 9"
- **Floor Toms:** 16" x 14", 18" x 16"
- **Cymbals:** Paiste Black Alpha Series — dark, controlled character with reduced overtones
- **Pedals:** Axis A Longboard Double Pedal (direct drive, longboard footplate)
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear (kick), Remo Ambassador X Coated (snare), Remo Emperor Clear (toms)

## Tuning & Setup

Inferno tunes for power and definition. At 240+ BPM double bass, each kick note has approximately 125ms before the next — any sustain beyond that creates blur rather than definition:

- **Kick:** Medium-tight tension with heavy muffling — foam on batter head, pillow inside, port hole in resonant head. Zero sustained low-end; maximum attack transient.
- **Snare:** Medium-high tension, one Moongel strip. Maple shell produces a darker, fatter crack than steel — warm but powerful.
- **Toms:** Medium tension, one Moongel per tom. Quick attack and fast decay for precise cascading fills. Tuned a minor third apart for pitch separation.

## Technique Tips

Inferno plays **matched grip** with controlled wrist motion. His blast beats are hand-to-hand single-stroke patterns with kick drums alternating in continuous 16th notes underneath.

**Inferno's Core Technique System:**

- **The Behemoth Blast (200–250 BPM, Expert):** Alternating hand-to-hand single strokes between snare and crash cymbal, with both kick drums firing alternating 16th notes beneath. Build feet first — isolate alternating double bass at 180 BPM for 2+ minutes before adding hands. The feet must be completely automatic before hand patterns enter.
- **Gravity Blast Variation (260–300+ BPM, Expert):** Push-pull wrist motion on snare for ultra-fast 1/32nd note passages. Learn on a practice pad: 'drop and pull' motion where the stick never fully leaves the drum head. The rebound powers the next stroke; arm force is minimal.
- **Dark Ambient Groove (100–160 BPM, Intermediate):** Between blast sections, Inferno plays atmospheric grooves riding on the crash cymbal edge or bell for sustained wash. Emphasis on floor tom and open ride sound. The darkness of the Paiste Black Alpha sustain is central to this section's character.

**Key songs to study:** *Conquer All* (Demigod, 2004) · *Slaves Shall Serve* (Demigod, 2004) · *Ov Fire and the Void* (Evangelion, 2009) · *O Father O Satan O Sun!* (The Satanist, 2014) · *Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel* (The Satanist, 2014)

## Gear Shopping List

| Item | Inferno's Spec | Budget Alternative |
|------|---------------|-------------------|
| Drum Kit | Pearl Masters Premium | Pearl Export Series (~$650) |
| Snare | Pearl Masters Premium 14" x 6.5" Maple | Pearl Free-Floating Maple |
| Cymbals | Paiste Black Alpha Series | Paiste PST 7 Set (~$300) |
| Pedal | Axis A Longboard Double | Pearl P930 Double (~$150) |
| Sticks | Vic Firth 5B | Promark 5B |
| Kick Head | Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear | Evans EMAD Clear |

**Starter budget path (~$900):** Pearl Export + Paiste PST 7 + Pearl P930 Double. See [/brands/pearl](https://metalforge.io/brands/pearl) and [/brands/paiste](https://metalforge.io/brands/paiste).

## Practice Routine

1. **Blast Beat Precision Builder (25 min daily):** Start at 160 BPM. Alternating single strokes between snare and hi-hat while feet alternate 8th notes on double kick. Every element must be equally loud and timed. Increase 5 BPM every 4 minutes only when all elements are even. Goal: clean, even blast beats at 220+ BPM for 2+ minute intervals.
2. **Axis Longboard Ankle Technique (20 min daily, 4x/week):** Isolate one foot. Play continuous 16th notes at 200 BPM using only ankle motion — no calf engagement. If the calf burns, you're using the wrong muscle. 90 seconds per foot, rest 60 seconds, repeat 4 times.
3. **Gravity Blast Introduction (15 min daily on pad):** Practice drop-and-catch motion on a Remo practice pad. Drop the stick, let it rebound, catch it with a light upstroke. Make each cycle smaller and faster — speed comes from minimizing, not from applying more force.

**Common mistakes:** Gripping sticks too hard; rushing blast beats without metronome; ignoring foot technique; under-muffling kick drums (clarity requires heavy muffling at extreme tempos).

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit does Inferno use?**  
A: Inferno plays Pearl Masters Premium drums with maple shells. His setup features double 22" x 18" bass drums, rack toms at 10" x 8" and 12" x 9", and floor toms at 16" x 14" and 18" x 16". The Pearl Masters Premium maple construction provides projection and attack for Behemoth's dense, layered sound at extreme tempos.

**Q: What cymbals does Inferno use?**  
A: Inferno uses Paiste Black Alpha cymbals — a series characterized by a special surface treatment that reduces overtones for a darker, more controlled sound than standard cymbals. His setup includes 14" Black Alpha hi-hats, 18" and 19" Black Alpha Power Crashes, a 20" Black Alpha Ride, and an 18" Black Alpha China. The Black Alpha series is the defining element of Behemoth's dark sonic character.

**Q: What pedals does Inferno use?**  
A: Inferno uses Axis A Longboard double pedals. The direct-drive mechanism and extended longboard footplate allow ankle-driven technique at 240+ BPM with immediate feedback precision. Unlike chain-drive pedals, the direct connection eliminates mechanical lag — essential for Behemoth's extreme tempos.

**Q: How fast does Inferno play blast beats?**  
A: Inferno sustains blast beats at 230-250 BPM in live performance. In studio recordings on albums like Demigod and The Satanist, blast beat sections maintain these tempos with mechanical precision. His technique emphasizes definition at extreme speed — every note is intentional, never blurred.

**Q: What makes Paiste Black Alpha cymbals different?**  
A: Paiste Black Alpha cymbals feature a surface treatment that suppresses bright overtones common in standard B20 bronze. The result is darker, more focused sound with faster decay — the cymbal speaks and stops rather than ringing out. This dark character is central to Behemoth's controlled, sinister aesthetic.

---

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

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