# Bill Ward vs Eloy Casagrande — Drum Kit Comparison > Side-by-side gear comparison between Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) and Eloy Casagrande (Slipknot). **Category:** Alternative / Nu-Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/bill-ward-vs-eloy-casagrande Black Sabbath's Bill Ward vs Sepultura/Slipknot's Eloy Casagrande. The jazz-swing originator who invented heavy metal drumming vocabulary compared to a modern technical powerhouse. Gear, technique, and generational influence compared. --- ## Bill Ward Setup - **Drums:** Ludwig Classic Maple - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 & Giant Beat Series (15" Giant Beat Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" 2002 Crashes, 24" 2002 Ride, 18" 2002 China) - **Snare:** Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 - **Pedals/Hardware:** Ludwig Atlas Pro Double Pedal, Ludwig Throne - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 2B ## Eloy Casagrande Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x16" & 24"x14" Bass Drums, 10", 12", 13" Toms, 16" & 18" Floor Toms) - **Cymbals:** Paiste (15" Masters Dark Hi-Hats, 20" Masters Dark Ride, 20" & 20" 602 Crashes, 10" Rude Splash, 20" Masters Dark Crash, 20" 2002 Heavy Ride, 20" 2002 Novo China, 10" 2002 Mega Bell, Symphonic Gong) - **Snare:** Tama Bell Brass 14x5.5" (BB146) - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal, Yamaha DTX Electronic Pads - **Sticks:** Promark Eloy Casagrande Signature ## Playing Style Bill Ward co-founded Black Sabbath in 1968 and, alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler, helped invent heavy metal's rhythmic template across the band's eight classic Ozzy-era albums, including "Paranoid" (1970), "Master of Reality" (1971), and "Sabotage" (1975). Eloy Casagrande became Sepultura's drummer in 2011 at just 20 years old, spending 13 years driving the Brazilian thrash institution's modern era before joining Slipknot in 2024, where his explosive speed and technical prowess earned him Modern Drummer magazine's No. 1 metal drummer honor in their 2024 Readers' Poll. ## Technique Ward's technique is rooted in jazz — a swinging, open-handed feel inherited from heroes Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich that prioritized groove and dynamics over speed, giving early Black Sabbath riffs like "Iron Man" and "War Pigs" their loose, hard-swinging heaviness rather than mechanical precision. Casagrande's technique is built for modern extreme dynamics — explosive double bass speed, technical fill construction, and the stamina to move between Sepultura's thrash-groove foundation and Slipknot's maximalist nine-member live show without losing precision. ## Key Differences Bill Ward played a Ludwig Classic Maple kit with a Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 snare and Paiste 2002 & Giant Beat Series cymbals (15" Giant Beat Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" 2002 Crashes, 24" 2002 Ride, 18" 2002 China), driven by a Ludwig Atlas Pro double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 2B sticks. Eloy Casagrande plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama Bell Brass 14x5.5" snare and Paiste cymbals (15" Masters Dark Hi-Hats, 20" Masters Dark Ride, 20" & 20" 602 Crashes, 20" 2002 Novo China), powered by a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal and Promark Eloy Casagrande Signature sticks. Ward's technique is rooted in jazz — a swinging, open-handed feel inherited from heroes Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich that prioritized groove and dynamics over speed, giving early Black Sabbath riffs like "Iron Man" and "War Pigs" their loose, hard-swinging heaviness rather than mechanical precision. Casagrande's technique is built for modern extreme dynamics — explosive double bass speed, technical fill construction, and the stamina to move between Sepultura's thrash-groove foundation and Slipknot's maximalist nine-member live show without losing precision. ## Influence & Legacy Ward's jazz-informed swing and dynamic sensibility created the rhythmic vocabulary an entire genre was built on, and his playing on Black Sabbath's first six albums remains the foundational reference point for heavy metal drumming. Casagrande represents metal drumming's modern generation — Modern Drummer's 2024 Readers' Poll No. 1 metal drummer, whose transition from Sepultura to Slipknot at the top of both bands' drum chairs demonstrates the technical standard contemporary metal now demands. ## Verdict Bill Ward and Eloy Casagrande stand at opposite ends of heavy metal drumming's generational arc. Ward invented the genre's rhythmic language in real time, bringing jazz swing and groove-first feel to Black Sabbath's foundational riffs more than five decades ago. Casagrande represents where that language has evolved — explosive technical speed and stamina honed across Sepultura and now Slipknot, validated by Modern Drummer's top ranking in 2024. The comparison is less a contest than a lineage: Ward's founding groove made Casagrande's modern power possible. ## FAQ **Q: What are the main differences between Bill Ward's and Eloy Casagrande's drum kits?** A: Bill Ward plays Ludwig Classic Maple with Paiste cymbals, while Eloy Casagrande uses Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x16" & 24"x14" Bass Drums, 10", 12", 13" Toms, 16" & 18" Floor Toms) with Paiste cymbals. Bill Ward played a Ludwig Classic Maple kit with a Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 snare and Paiste 2002 & Giant Beat Series cymbals (15" Giant Beat Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" 2002 Crashes, 24" 2002 Ride, 18" 2002 China), driven by a Ludwig Atlas Pro double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 2B sticks. Eloy Casagrande plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama Bell Brass 14x5.5" snare and Paiste cymbals (15" Masters Dark Hi-Hats, 20" Masters Dark Ride, 20" & 20" 602 Crashes, 20" 2002 Novo China), powered by a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal and Promark Eloy Casagrande Signature sticks. **Q: What drums does Bill Ward play vs Eloy Casagrande?** A: Bill Ward plays Ludwig Classic Maple. Eloy Casagrande plays Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x16" & 24"x14" Bass Drums, 10", 12", 13" Toms, 16" & 18" Floor Toms). **Q: Who is the better alternative / nu-metal drummer, Bill Ward or Eloy Casagrande?** A: Both are legends in their own right. Bill Ward and Eloy Casagrande stand at opposite ends of heavy metal drumming's generational arc. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/bill-ward-vs-eloy-casagrande](https://metalforge.io/vs/bill-ward-vs-eloy-casagrande). **Q: What cymbals do Bill Ward and Eloy Casagrande use?** A: Bill Ward uses Paiste 2002 & Giant Beat Series (15" Giant Beat Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" 2002 Crashes, 24" 2002 Ride, 18" 2002 China). Eloy Casagrande uses Paiste (15" Masters Dark Hi-Hats, 20" Masters Dark Ride, 20" & 20" 602 Crashes, 10" Rude Splash, 20" Masters Dark Crash, 20" 2002 Heavy Ride, 20" 2002 Novo China, 10" 2002 Mega Bell, Symphonic Gong). --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/bill-ward-vs-eloy-casagrande](https://metalforge.io/vs/bill-ward-vs-eloy-casagrande)* *[Bill Ward drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/bill-ward)* *[Eloy Casagrande drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/eloy-casagrande)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-02 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*