# How to Sound Like Jocke Wallgren — Amon Amarth Drum Sound Guide

**Drummer:** Jocke Wallgren  
**Band:** Amon Amarth  
**Genre:** Melodic Death Metal / Viking Metal  
**Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-jocke-wallgren

## Overview

Jocke Wallgren joined Amon Amarth in 2016, replacing longtime drummer Fredrik Andersson and stepping into one of melodic death metal's most demanding drum chairs. Across Jomsviking, Berserker, and The Great Heathen Army, Wallgren has kept Amon Amarth's anthemic Viking-themed sound driving forward while adding his own dynamic sensibility to the band's established identity.

What makes Wallgren distinctive is groove-first support. Amon Amarth's songs live and die on the double-bass gallop locking tightly to the guitar riff — the drumming isn't there to show off, it's there to make the riff hit as hard as physically possible. His double bass is powerful and consistent rather than flashy, his backbeat is huge and anthemic, and his dynamic control lets the band's quieter, folk-tinged passages breathe before the choruses explode.

## Kit Setup

Wallgren plays a **Pearl Reference Pure** kit for the combination of low-end authority and articulate attack needed to project Amon Amarth's double-bass gallop across arena and festival stages:

- **Kick Drums:** 22" x 18" Bass Drums (double kick configuration)
- **Snare:** 14" x 6.5" Pearl Reference Brass
- **Rack Toms:** 10" x 8", 12" x 9"
- **Floor Tom:** 16" x 16"
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series — bright A Custom crashes and hi-hats with a warmer K Custom ride
- **Pedals:** Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5B (heavier weight for power)
- **Heads:** Evans EMAD Coated (kick), Evans Coated Ambassador (snare), Evans G2 Coated (toms)

## Tuning & Setup

Wallgren tunes for projection and clarity at arena scale — every gallop stroke and backbeat crack needs to reach the back of a festival field without losing definition:

- **Kick:** Medium-tight tension, foam pad and small port hole. Prioritize attack over boom so fast gallop patterns stay articulate even at high volume.
- **Snare:** Medium-high tension, minimal muffling. The brass shell provides the cut, not choking the drum — tune a few turns above finger-tight and let it ring.
- **Toms:** Medium tension, light Moongel. Tune toms a fourth apart for a big, cinematic descending fill sound that suits Viking metal's dramatic scope.

## Technique Tips

Wallgren plays **matched grip** with a powerful, relaxed stroke built for endurance across long headline sets. His double bass gallop is the foundation of the Amon Amarth sound, locked precisely to the guitar riff rather than run as an independent pattern.

**Signature patterns:**

- **The Viking Gallop (140–180 BPM, Intermediate):** A three-note double-bass pattern — kick, kick-kick — that generates forward-rolling momentum. Loop a simple downtuned riff and match the gallop to its exact rhythmic placement before chasing speed.
- **Groove-Driven Riff Support (100–160 BPM, Intermediate):** The kick tracks the riff directly rather than running independently. Transcribe a riff's rhythm first, then build the drum part note-for-note around it.
- **Dynamic Build and Release (Variable, Intermediate):** Restrained, folk-tinged verses give way to full-band choruses. Practice a groove at whisper, medium, and full volume while keeping tempo and feel identical.

**Key songs to study:** *First Kill* (Jomsviking, 2016) · *Raise Your Horns* (Jomsviking, 2016) · *Crack the Sky* (Berserker, 2019) · *Get in the Ring* (The Great Heathen Army, 2022) · *Saxons and Vikings* (The Great Heathen Army, 2022)

## Gear Shopping List

| Item | Wallgren's Spec | Budget Alternative |
|------|-------------|-------------------|
| Drum Kit | Pearl Reference Pure | Pearl Export or Decade Maple (~$700) |
| Snare | Pearl Reference Brass 14" x 6.5" | Pearl Sensitone Brass or Tama Bell Brass |
| Cymbals | Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series | Zildjian A Custom Pack (~$250) |
| Pedal | Pearl Demon Drive Double | Pearl P2000C Double (~$150) |
| Sticks | Vic Firth American Classic 5B | Promark 5B or Vater Power 5B |
| Kick Head | Evans EMAD Coated | Remo Powerstroke P3 |

**Starter budget path (~$1,000):** Pearl Export Series + Zildjian A Custom pack + Pearl P2000C double pedal. See [/brands/pearl](https://metalforge.io/brands/pearl) and [/brands/zildjian](https://metalforge.io/brands/zildjian).

## Practice Routine

1. **Riff-Lock Transcription (15 min daily):** Transcribe a mid-tempo riff's rhythm, then build a kick and snare part that matches every accent exactly before adding anything extra.
2. **Gallop Endurance Builder (15 min daily):** At 150 BPM, play the three-note gallop continuously for three minutes without losing consistency. Add a minute per week.
3. **Three-Level Dynamics Drill (10 min daily):** Play the same groove at whisper, medium, and full volume without changing tempo or feel.

**Common mistakes:** Playing the gallop as a technical exercise instead of locking it to the riff; losing dynamic contrast between verses and choruses; over-tensing the grip on long gallop passages; neglecting backbeat weight.

## FAQ

**Q: What makes Jocke Wallgren's drumming style unique?**  
A: Wallgren's defining trait is groove-first support — his double-bass gallop and kick patterns track Amon Amarth's guitar riffs exactly rather than running as independent technical showcases. Combined with a huge, anthemic backbeat and genuine dynamic control between quiet folk-tinged passages and explosive choruses, his playing makes the band's Viking-themed anthems hit with maximum physical weight.

**Q: What drums and cymbals does Jocke Wallgren use?**  
A: Wallgren plays a Pearl Reference Pure kit with a Pearl Reference Brass snare for a bright, cutting backbeat. His cymbals are Zildjian A Custom & K Custom — bright A Custom crashes and hi-hats paired with a warmer K Custom ride. He uses a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal and heavier Vic Firth 5B sticks.

**Q: How do I get the Amon Amarth drum sound?**  
A: Tune the kick for punchy, defined attack rather than boom, keep the snare bright and minimally muffled for cut, and prioritize locking every kick pattern to the guitar riff before adding fills. The Viking gallop only works when it's rhythmically identical to the riff it supports.

**Q: When did Jocke Wallgren join Amon Amarth?**  
A: Wallgren joined Amon Amarth in 2016, replacing longtime drummer Fredrik Andersson, and made his studio debut on Jomsviking (2016). He has since recorded Berserker (2019) and The Great Heathen Army (2022) with the band.

**Q: What Amon Amarth albums should I study for drumming?**  
A: Jomsviking (2016) establishes his gallop-driven approach — start with "First Kill" and "Raise Your Horns." Berserker (2019) shows his dynamic build-and-release structure on "Crack the Sky." The Great Heathen Army (2022) is the most refined version of his setup and technique, especially on "Get in the Ring" and "Saxons and Vikings."

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**Full interactive guide:** [https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-jocke-wallgren](https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-jocke-wallgren)  
**Drummer profile:** [https://metalforge.io/drummer/jocke-wallgren](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jocke-wallgren)  
**Related album article:** [Jocke Wallgren's Drum Setup — Amon Amarth](https://metalforge.io/guides/jocke-wallgren-drum-setup)  
**Related guides:** [Daniel Erlandsson](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-daniel-erlandsson.md) · [Vinnie Paul](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-vinnie-paul.md)

*Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io) · Last updated: 2026-07-01*