# Top 7 Metal Drummers Playing DW Kits — Complete Ranked Guide > **Last updated:** 2026-07-07 · **Source:** [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io) · [View full list →](https://metalforge.io/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-dw-kits) --- ## Overview DW — Drum Workshop — is the third drum-kit brand in MetalForge's gear-angle ranking series, and while its Collector's Series roster is smaller than Tama's or Pearl's in MetalForge's own data, every entry here is backed by a specific, sourced equipment relationship rather than a casual mention. Brann Dailor has been a longtime DW Drums endorser, running a DW Collector's Series Maple kit in custom blue finish with matching DW Collector's Series hardware for Mastodon's expansive, melodic tom work. Mike Portnoy spent 1994-2010 — sixteen years, including Dream Theater's most celebrated album run — on a DW Collector's Maple kit before returning to Tama, and Paul Bostaph closed out Slayer's four-decade recording career on a DW Collector's Series Maple/Mahogany kit for the band's Final World Tour, one stop in a career that also touched Pearl and Tama. Derek Roddy's DW Collector's and Performance Series kits became a reference setup for extreme metal's most technical death metal drummers, and Matt Greiner played DW Collector's Maple and Performance Maple kits across August Burns Red's 2010-2022 stretch before his current Pearl Reference Pure setup. Hannes Grossmann's DW Collector's Series kit powered Obscura's 2009 breakthrough "Cosmogenesis" before he moved to Tama Starclassic Maple, and Kevin Talley has cycled through Pearl, Tama, and DW kits across one of extreme metal's most prolific touring and session careers. Because every entry requires a specific, sourced DW relationship rather than an assumed brand association, this list ships as an honest top 7 instead of a padded top 10. The metal drummers with verified DW (Drum Workshop) kit setups, ranked. Brann Dailor's Collector's Series, Mike Portnoy's 16-year DW era, Paul Bostaph, Derek Roddy, Matt Greiner, Hannes Grossmann, and Kevin Talley — sourced from MetalForge's own gear guides, not guesswork. --- ## Rankings Ranked by documented performance records, genre-defining influence, and technical contribution. Top entries: Brann Dailor, Mike Portnoy, Raymond Herrera, Bill Ward, Drummer #62, and more. ### 1. Brann Dailor **Band:** Mastodon **Highlight:** DW Collector's Series Maple — Mastodon's melodic architect **Why ranked here:** Brann Dailor is a longtime DW Drums endorser, running a DW Collector's Series Maple kit in custom blue finish with a matching DW Collector's Series 14"x6.5" Maple snare and a DW 9000 Series double pedal — a large setup built to accommodate his expansive, melodic tom work across Mastodon's progressive sludge catalog. Dailor earns rank #1 as the most extensively documented current DW artist on this list. Brann Dailor (Mastodon) earns rank #1 for: dw collector's series maple — mastodon's melodic architect. Brann Dailor is a longtime DW Drums endorser, running a DW Collector's Series Maple kit in custom blue finish with a matching DW Collector's Series 14"x6.5" Maple snare and a DW 9000 Series double pedal — a large setup built to accommodate his expansive, melodic tom work across Mastodon's progressive sludge catalog. Dailor earns rank #1 as the most extensively documented current DW artist on this list.. Full drummer profile: [Brann Dailor on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/brann-dailor) ### 2. Mike Portnoy **Band:** Dream Theater / The Winery Dogs **Highlight:** Sixteen years on DW Collector's Maple, bookended by Tama **Why ranked here:** Mike Portnoy played a DW Collector's Maple kit (22"x18" dual bass, 10"x7", 12"x8", 14"x12", 16"x14" toms) from 1994 to 2010, a sixteen-year stretch covering Dream Theater's most celebrated album run, before returning to the Tama Starclassic kits he started on. Portnoy earns rank #2 for the longest single-brand DW tenure documented in MetalForge's gear data, even though Tama bookends it on both sides. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater / The Winery Dogs) earns rank #2 for: sixteen years on dw collector's maple, bookended by tama. Mike Portnoy played a DW Collector's Maple kit (22"x18" dual bass, 10"x7", 12"x8", 14"x12", 16"x14" toms) from 1994 to 2010, a sixteen-year stretch covering Dream Theater's most celebrated album run, before returning to the Tama Starclassic kits he started on. Portnoy earns rank #2 for the longest single-brand DW tenure documented in MetalForge's gear data, even though Tama bookends it on both sides.. Full drummer profile: [Mike Portnoy on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mike-portnoy) ### 3. Raymond Herrera **Band:** Fear Factory / Brujeria **Highlight:** DW Collector's Series — closing out Slayer's final chapter **Why ranked here:** Paul Bostaph has used Pearl, Tama, and DW Drums across his career, settling into a DW Collector's Series Maple/Mahogany kit with a DW 14"x6.5" Collector's Maple snare and DW 9000 Series double pedal for Slayer's Final World Tour, including the band's last-ever show at the Forum in Los Angeles in November 2019. Bostaph earns rank #3 for closing out Slayer's four-decade recording career on DW. Raymond Herrera (Fear Factory / Brujeria) earns rank #3 for: dw collector's series — closing out slayer's final chapter. Paul Bostaph has used Pearl, Tama, and DW Drums across his career, settling into a DW Collector's Series Maple/Mahogany kit with a DW 14"x6.5" Collector's Maple snare and DW 9000 Series double pedal for Slayer's Final World Tour, including the band's last-ever show at the Forum in Los Angeles in November 2019. Bostaph earns rank #3 for closing out Slayer's four-decade recording career on DW.. Full drummer profile: [Raymond Herrera on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/raymond-herrera) ### 4. Bill Ward **Band:** Black Sabbath **Highlight:** DW Collector's and Performance Series — extreme metal's reference setup **Why ranked here:** Derek Roddy has notable endorsements including DW Drums and Vater Drumsticks, running DW Collector's or Performance Series kits with a DW 14"x5.5" Maple or Brass snare and DW 9000 or Axis double pedals across Hate Eternal and his extensive session and touring work. Roddy earns rank #4 for a DW setup built specifically for extreme metal's playability and efficiency demands. Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) earns rank #4 for: dw collector's and performance series — extreme metal's reference setup. Derek Roddy has notable endorsements including DW Drums and Vater Drumsticks, running DW Collector's or Performance Series kits with a DW 14"x5.5" Maple or Brass snare and DW 9000 or Axis double pedals across Hate Eternal and his extensive session and touring work. Roddy earns rank #4 for a DW setup built specifically for extreme metal's playability and efficiency demands.. Full drummer profile: [Bill Ward on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/bill-ward) ### 5. Drummer #62 **Band:** Unknown **Highlight:** DW Collector's and Performance Maple — August Burns Red's 2010-2022 era **Why ranked here:** Matt Greiner played a DW Collector's Maple kit from 2010 and a DW Performance Maple kit through 2022 across August Burns Red's touring and recording work, before moving to his current Pearl Reference Pure setup with his own Pearl signature snare. Greiner earns rank #5 for a well-documented, decade-plus DW chapter in one of metalcore's most technical bands. Drummer #62 (Unknown) earns rank #5 for: dw collector's and performance maple — august burns red's 2010-2022 era. Matt Greiner played a DW Collector's Maple kit from 2010 and a DW Performance Maple kit through 2022 across August Burns Red's touring and recording work, before moving to his current Pearl Reference Pure setup with his own Pearl signature snare. Greiner earns rank #5 for a well-documented, decade-plus DW chapter in one of metalcore's most technical bands.. Full drummer profile: [Drummer #62 on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/drummer-62) ### 6. Hannes Grossmann **Band:** Obscura / Necrophagist **Highlight:** DW Collector's Series — Obscura's "Cosmogenesis" breakthrough **Why ranked here:** Hannes Grossmann played a DW Collector's Series all-maple 5-piece shell pack on Obscura's 2009 breakthrough "Cosmogenesis," before moving to the Tama Starclassic Maple kit he plays today. Grossmann earns rank #6 for a documented DW chapter behind one of technical death metal's most acclaimed albums. Hannes Grossmann (Obscura / Necrophagist) earns rank #6 for: dw collector's series — obscura's "cosmogenesis" breakthrough. Hannes Grossmann played a DW Collector's Series all-maple 5-piece shell pack on Obscura's 2009 breakthrough "Cosmogenesis," before moving to the Tama Starclassic Maple kit he plays today. Grossmann earns rank #6 for a documented DW chapter behind one of technical death metal's most acclaimed albums.. Full drummer profile: [Hannes Grossmann on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/hannes-grossmann) ### 7. Kevin Talley **Band:** Dying Fetus / Misery Index **Highlight:** A career built across Pearl, Tama, and DW **Why ranked here:** Kevin Talley has used Pearl, Tama, or DW kits at various points across a prolific death metal career spanning Dying Fetus, Misery Index, and Six Feet Under, favoring whichever setup could handle brutal death metal's extreme demands. Talley earns rank #7 for a documented, if less brand-exclusive, DW relationship across one of extreme metal's busiest touring careers. Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus / Misery Index) earns rank #7 for: a career built across pearl, tama, and dw. Kevin Talley has used Pearl, Tama, or DW kits at various points across a prolific death metal career spanning Dying Fetus, Misery Index, and Six Feet Under, favoring whichever setup could handle brutal death metal's extreme demands. Talley earns rank #7 for a documented, if less brand-exclusive, DW relationship across one of extreme metal's busiest touring careers.. Full drummer profile: [Kevin Talley on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/kevin-talley) --- ## Frequently Asked Questions --- ## Related Lists - [Top 10 Metal Drummers Playing Tama Kits](https://metalforge.io/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-tama-kits) — [LLM Reference](https://metalforge.io/llms/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-tama-kits.md) - [Top 10 Metal Drummers Playing Pearl Kits](https://metalforge.io/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-pearl-kits) — [LLM Reference](https://metalforge.io/llms/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-pearl-kits.md) - [Top 7 Metal Drummers Playing Zildjian Cymbals](https://metalforge.io/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-zildjian-cymbals) — [LLM Reference](https://metalforge.io/llms/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-zildjian-cymbals.md) ## More Resources - [Top 7 Metal Drummers Playing DW Kits — Full List](https://metalforge.io/lists/best-metal-drummers-playing-dw-kits) - [All MetalForge Top-10 Lists](https://metalforge.io/lists) - [Top-10 Lists Overview (LLM)](https://metalforge.io/llms/lists.md) - [All Metal Drummers](https://metalforge.io/drummers) --- *Last updated: 2026-07-07 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*