# Charlie Benante vs Scott Travis — Drum Kit Comparison

> Side-by-side comparison between Charlie Benante (Anthrax) and Scott Travis (Judas Priest) — two defining metal drummers of the 1980s generation.

**Category:** Thrash Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/charlie-benante-vs-scott-travis

Anthrax's Charlie Benante and Judas Priest's Scott Travis represent the 1980s golden generation of metal drumming at its peak. Benante pioneered the thrash skank beat; Travis delivered "Painkiller" — one of heavy metal's most celebrated drumming performances.

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## Charlie Benante Setup

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX & HHX Series (14" AAX X-Celerator Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" AAX Stage Crashes, 21" AAX Metal Ride)
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14x6.5"
- **Pedals/Hardware:** Pearl Eliminator Demon double pedal, Pearl rack system
- **Sticks:** Vater Power 5A

## Scott Travis Setup

- **Drums:** ddrum Dominion Series
- **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series (14" RUDE Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" RUDE Crashes, 22" RUDE Power Ride, 18" RUDE China)
- **Snare:** ddrum Scott Travis Signature 14x6.5"
- **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 Series Double Pedal, Gibraltar Rack System
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5B

## Playing Style

Charlie brings punk energy and groove creativity to thrash metal — the skank beat he popularized with Anthrax became one of the genre's defining rhythmic patterns. Scott brings American power drumming authority to British heavy metal, delivering the machine-like double bass precision that "Painkiller" demanded.

## Technique

Charlie combines hardcore-influenced aggression with tight pocket drumming, creative fills, and purposeful double bass that gives Anthrax's riffs space to breathe. Scott excels at powerful, consistent double bass at high tempos with authoritative snare authority — his "Painkiller" title track double bass performance is one of heavy metal's most studied passages.

## Key Differences

Charlie plays Pearl drums with Sabian cymbals for warm, punchy tones with thrash-groove versatility. Scott plays ddrum drums with Paiste RUDE cymbals for bright, cutting attack suited to Judas Priest's arena-scale heavy metal. Charlie's strength is groove creativity; Scott's is raw power precision.

## Influence & Legacy

Charlie Benante helped write the rhythmic language of American thrash metal and is part of the Big Four drumming legacy (with Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo, and Nick Menza). His work on "Among the Living" (1987) and "Persistence of Time" (1990) are thrash benchmarks. Scott Travis transformed Judas Priest's drumming identity — "Painkiller" (1990) would not have been possible without his modern American power drumming technique. His multi-decade Priest tenure makes him one of British heavy metal's most enduring drummers.

## Verdict

Charlie Benante and Scott Travis are elite contemporaries who each defined the sound of a legendary band. Benante wrote thrash metal's rhythmic vocabulary; Travis delivered one of heavy metal's greatest technical performances on "Painkiller." Both represent 1980s metal drumming at its absolute peak.

## FAQ

**Q: Who is a better drummer, Charlie Benante or Scott Travis?**
A: Both are elite drummers with equally legendary credentials from the same generation. Charlie Benante (Anthrax) pioneered the thrash skank beat and defined the Big Four's most rhythmically creative drumming voice. Scott Travis (Judas Priest) delivered "Painkiller" — one of heavy metal's most technically demanding and celebrated drumming performances. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/charlie-benante-vs-scott-travis](https://metalforge.io/vs/charlie-benante-vs-scott-travis).

**Q: What drums does Charlie Benante play vs Scott Travis?**
A: Charlie Benante plays Pearl Reference Series drums with Sabian AAX/HHX cymbals. Scott Travis plays ddrum Dominion Series drums with Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series cymbals.

**Q: What albums did Charlie Benante record with Anthrax?**
A: Charlie Benante recorded all Anthrax studio albums including "Among the Living" (1987), "Persistence of Time" (1990), "Sound of White Noise" (1993), "Worship Music" (2011), and "For All Kings" (2016).

**Q: What is Scott Travis's most famous drumming performance?**
A: Scott Travis's performance on Judas Priest's "Painkiller" (1990 title track) is widely considered one of heavy metal's greatest drumming moments — the relentless double bass and explosive fills at high tempos transformed what Judas Priest sounded like.

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*Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/charlie-benante-vs-scott-travis](https://metalforge.io/vs/charlie-benante-vs-scott-travis)*

*[Charlie Benante drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/charlie-benante)*
*[Scott Travis drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/scott-travis)*
*[Anthrax band page](https://metalforge.io/band/anthrax)*
*[Judas Priest band page](https://metalforge.io/band/judas-priest)*

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*Last updated: 2026-06-29 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*