# Chris Turner vs Jaska Raatikainen — Drum Kit Comparison

> Side-by-side gear comparison between Chris Turner (Oceans Ate Alaska) and Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom).

**Category:** Extreme / Death / Black Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/chris-turner-vs-jaska-raatikainen

Compare Oceans Ate Alaska's Chris Turner and Children of Bodom's Jaska Raatikainen — progressive metalcore technicality versus melodic death metal power.

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## Chris Turner Setup

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Series (15" Dual Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Extra Dry Medium Crashes, 22" Dual Ride, 18" Extra Dry China)
- **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. 14x5.5" G-Maple
- **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Speed Cobra 910 Double Pedal, Tama 1st Chair Throne
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A

## Jaska Raatikainen Setup

- **Drums:** Pearl Masters Premium Maple
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride)
- **Snare:** Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple
- **Pedals/Hardware:** Pearl Eliminator Double Pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A

## Playing Style

Chris Turner drives Oceans Ate Alaska's progressive metalcore with polyrhythmic, fusion-influenced patterns and Japanese-inspired arrangements. Jaska Raatikainen anchored Children of Bodom's melodic death metal with driving double bass and neoclassical-tinged aggression across 26 years.

## Technique

Turner incorporates complex time signatures and intricate blast beats influenced by Matt Halpern and Matt Garstka, pushing modern metalcore's technical ceiling. Raatikainen built his reputation on rapid, fluid double bass volleys and precise blast beats that anchored Alexi Laiho's dense guitar arrangements.

## Key Differences

Turner plays a Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch kit with Meinl Byzance cymbals and Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks. Raatikainen used a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Eliminator double pedal and Zildjian A Custom and K Custom cymbals. Turner incorporates complex time signatures and intricate blast beats influenced by Matt Halpern and Matt Garstka, pushing modern metalcore's technical ceiling. Raatikainen built his reputation on rapid, fluid double bass volleys and precise blast beats that anchored Alexi Laiho's dense guitar arrangements.

## Influence & Legacy

Turner has become a reference point for technical modern metalcore drumming through Oceans Ate Alaska's genre-blending catalog, especially "Hikari" (2017). Raatikainen co-founded and anchored Children of Bodom for its entire 26-year run, helping define Finnish melodic death metal's global template.

## Verdict

Chris Turner represents metalcore's push toward fusion-informed technicality, while Jaska Raatikainen's legacy is inseparable from melodic death metal's foundational sound. Both drummers built genre-defining identities around speed, precision, and compositional ambition.

## FAQ

**Q: What are the main differences between Chris Turner's and Jaska Raatikainen's drum kits?**
A: Chris Turner plays Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch with Meinl cymbals, while Jaska Raatikainen uses Pearl Masters Premium Maple with Zildjian cymbals. Turner plays a Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch kit with Meinl Byzance cymbals and Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks. Raatikainen used a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Eliminator double pedal and Zildjian A Custom and K Custom cymbals.

**Q: What drums does Chris Turner play vs Jaska Raatikainen?**
A: Chris Turner plays Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch. Jaska Raatikainen plays Pearl Masters Premium Maple.

**Q: Who is the better extreme / death / black metal drummer, Chris Turner or Jaska Raatikainen?**
A: Both are legends in their own right. Chris Turner represents metalcore's push toward fusion-informed technicality, while Jaska Raatikainen's legacy is inseparable from melodic death metal's foundational sound. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/chris-turner-vs-jaska-raatikainen](https://metalforge.io/vs/chris-turner-vs-jaska-raatikainen).

**Q: What cymbals do Chris Turner and Jaska Raatikainen use?**
A: Chris Turner uses Meinl Byzance Series (15" Dual Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Extra Dry Medium Crashes, 22" Dual Ride, 18" Extra Dry China). Jaska Raatikainen uses Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride).

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*Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/chris-turner-vs-jaska-raatikainen](https://metalforge.io/vs/chris-turner-vs-jaska-raatikainen)*

*[Chris Turner drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/chris-turner)*
*[Jaska Raatikainen drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jaska-raatikainen)*

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*Last updated: 2026-07-04 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*