# Dave Lombardo vs Pete Sandoval — Drum Kit & Gear Comparison | MetalForge > Side-by-side gear comparison between Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel). **Category:** Extreme / Thrash / Death Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/dave-lombardo-vs-pete-sandoval Dave Lombardo vs Pete Sandoval — two founding fathers of extreme metal drumming. Slayer's groove-based double kick pioneer vs Morbid Angel's gravity blast machine. The Slayer vs Morbid Angel drummer debate. --- ## At a Glance | Spec | Dave Lombardo | Pete Sandoval | |------|--------------|---------------| | Drums | Tama Starclassic Maple | Tama Artstar II | | Cymbals | Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series | Zildjian A Series | | Snare | Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple | Tama Artstar 14x6" Birch | | Pedals | Tama Iron Cobra 900 Double Pedal | Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal | | Sticks | Promark Dave Lombardo Signature 2Bx | Zildjian 2B Nylon | --- ## Gear Deep Dive ### Dave Lombardo Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series (15" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Crashes, 22" Reign Power Ride, 18" China) - **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 Double Pedal, Tama 1st Chair Throne - **Sticks:** Promark Dave Lombardo Signature 2Bx Lombardo's Tama Starclassic delivers the aggressive, punishing attack that defines Slayer's speed-thrash riffs. His Paiste RUDE cymbals — chosen for maximum volume and aggression — are among the most recognizable cymbal sounds in thrash metal history. The Tama Iron Cobra double pedal powers his groove-based double bass patterns with controlled, consistent action. ### Pete Sandoval Setup - **Drums:** Tama Artstar II - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Series (14" A New Beat Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" A Medium Crashes, 20" A Ping Ride, 18" A China) - **Snare:** Tama Artstar 14x6" Birch - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal, Tama HT50W Throne - **Sticks:** Zildjian 2B Nylon Sandoval's Tama Artstar II setup powered his peak-era Morbid Angel recordings from *Altars of Madness* (1989) through *Domination* (1995). Crucially, Sandoval achieved his legendary single-footed gravity blast using a standard double pedal — not through exotic gear, but through revolutionary physical technique that used gravity and stick rebound to exceed conventional speed limits. --- ## Style & Technique Comparison Dave Lombardo revolutionized thrash metal drumming with Slayer by combining ferocious speed with groove-oriented double kick patterns. Unlike many extreme metal drummers who prioritize pure speed above all, Lombardo's approach is fundamentally musical — his double bass drives the riffs with authoritative power rather than mechanical velocity for its own sake. His snare work is punishing and assertive, locking in with Slayer's guitar riffs to deliver the crack and drive that defined the thrash metal sound on *Reign in Blood* (1986) and beyond. Pete Sandoval invented the gravity blast — a single-footed technique that uses gravity and natural rebound between the bass drum beater and the drum head to generate blast beat speeds physically impossible with conventional push-pull technique. Sandoval drove Morbid Angel's occult death metal with savage intensity that defined Florida death metal's early sound and established the aggressive technical template for extreme drumming worldwide. Both drummers are founding fathers of extreme metal drumming, but they represent different archetypes: Lombardo's groove-powered thrash vs Sandoval's speed-maximal death metal. --- ## Key Differences - **Kick technique:** Lombardo uses groove-based alternating double kick; Sandoval invented the single-footed gravity blast. - **Genre:** Lombardo defined thrash metal; Sandoval defined Florida death metal. - **Musical approach:** Lombardo locks in with riffs for groove and power; Sandoval pursues extreme speed as the primary objective. - **Cymbal choice:** Lombardo chose Paiste RUDE for maximum aggression; Sandoval used Zildjian A Series for clarity and cutting attack. - **Legacy:** Lombardo shaped the sonic identity of Slayer and thrash broadly; Sandoval invented a technique that spread across all extreme metal. --- ## Influence & Legacy Dave Lombardo is one of the most influential drummers in the history of heavy music. His drumming on Slayer's *Reign in Blood* (1986), *South of Heaven* (1988), and *Seasons in the Abyss* (1990) defined the band's sound and influenced virtually every extreme metal act that followed. His groove-based double kick approach proved that extreme speed and musical feel are not mutually exclusive — a lesson embraced by generations of thrash and death metal drummers. Pete Sandoval's gravity blast invention is one of the most significant technical contributions in extreme metal history. The technique spread from Morbid Angel's Florida death metal scene through all of death metal, black metal, and extreme music globally — making Sandoval's technical impact permanent and far-reaching even beyond Morbid Angel's already substantial catalog. --- ## Verdict Dave Lombardo is the godfather of thrash metal drumming — his groove-powered double kick defined Slayer's sonic identity and inspired every extreme metal band that followed. Pete Sandoval invented a physical drumming technique that changed what was possible at extreme speeds, with the gravity blast becoming standard vocabulary in all extreme metal. Two different approaches to extreme drumming — groove vs pure speed — both irreplaceable pillars of metal history. --- ## FAQ **Q: Who is the better extreme metal drummer, Dave Lombardo or Pete Sandoval?** A: Both are legendary figures who represent different archetypes. Lombardo is the groove-based thrash pioneer whose double kick defined Slayer and influenced all of metal. Sandoval is the speed innovator who invented the gravity blast and pushed death metal drumming to new physical limits. The answer depends on whether you value groove and musicality or revolutionary technique and raw speed. **Q: What gear does Dave Lombardo use vs Pete Sandoval?** A: Dave Lombardo plays Tama Starclassic Maple drums with Paiste RUDE & 2002 cymbals and Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedals. Pete Sandoval used Tama Artstar II drums with Zildjian A Series cymbals and Tama Iron Cobra double pedals during his classic Morbid Angel years. **Q: What is the difference between Dave Lombardo's and Pete Sandoval's double kick technique?** A: Lombardo uses a groove-based alternating double kick approach — locking in with Slayer's riffs with power and snare authority. Sandoval invented the gravity blast: a single-footed technique that uses gravity and rebound to achieve blast beat speeds physically impossible with conventional technique. **Q: What are the defining albums for Dave Lombardo and Pete Sandoval?** A: Lombardo's defining work includes Slayer's *Reign in Blood* (1986), *South of Heaven* (1988), and *Seasons in the Abyss* (1990). Sandoval's defining performances are on Morbid Angel's *Altars of Madness* (1989), *Blessed Are the Sick* (1991), and *Covenant* (1993) — canonical Florida death metal recordings. **Q: Did Dave Lombardo influence Pete Sandoval?** A: Both emerged in overlapping extreme metal circles in the late 1980s, pushing extreme speed in their respective genres simultaneously. Lombardo's thrash drumming template was part of the broader extreme metal vocabulary that informed the Florida death metal scene where Sandoval developed his innovations. --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/dave-lombardo-vs-pete-sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/dave-lombardo-vs-pete-sandoval)* *[Dave Lombardo drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/dave-lombardo)* *[Pete Sandoval drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/pete-sandoval)* *[Related: Dave Lombardo vs Gene Hoglan](https://metalforge.io/vs/dave-lombardo-vs-gene-hoglan)* *[Related: Paul Mazurkiewicz vs Pete Sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/paul-mazurkiewicz-vs-pete-sandoval)* *[Related: George Kollias vs Pete Sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/george-kollias-vs-pete-sandoval)* --- *Last updated: 2026-06-25 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*