# Eloy Casagrande vs Shannon Larkin — Drum Kit Comparison

> Side-by-side gear comparison between Eloy Casagrande (Slipknot) and Shannon Larkin (Godsmack / Ugly Kid Joe / Amen).

**Category:** Extreme / Death / Black Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/eloy-casagrande-vs-shannon-larkin

Slipknot/Sepultura's Eloy Casagrande vs Godsmack's Shannon Larkin. Modern Brazilian technical extreme-metal drumming compared to hard-hitting hard rock/groove-metal power. Gear, technique, and legacy analyzed.

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## 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

## Shannon Larkin Setup

- **Drums:** ddrum Dios Series
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX & HHX Series (14" AAX Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" AAX X-Plosion Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" AAX Splash, 18" AAX Chinese)
- **Snare:** ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple
- **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 Series Double Pedal, ddrum Throne
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5B

## Playing Style

Eloy Casagrande spent 13 years driving Sepultura's thrash-death fusion before joining Slipknot in 2024, earning Modern Drummer's No. 1 Metal Drummer honor in their 2024 Readers' Poll for his explosive speed and dynamic control. Shannon Larkin has anchored Godsmack since 2002 with a powerful, groove-oriented style built for the band's heavy, riff-driven hard rock, hitting hard while keeping tracks like "I Stand Alone" and "Awake" locked into an accessible pocket.

## Technique

Casagrande combines dual-bass-drum power with controlled musicality, balancing explosive double bass runs with dynamic sensitivity across both Sepultura's and Slipknot's demanding live sets. Larkin favors hard-hitting, straightforward power over technical flash, prioritizing feel and impact — the same approach that let him briefly fill in for Black Sabbath's touring lineup for one show in 1997.

## Key Differences

Casagrande plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama Bell Brass 14x5.5" snare and an extensive Paiste array including Masters Dark and 2002 cymbals, driven by a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal. Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX & HHX Series cymbals, powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal. Casagrande combines dual-bass-drum power with controlled musicality, balancing explosive double bass runs with dynamic sensitivity across both Sepultura's and Slipknot's demanding live sets. Larkin favors hard-hitting, straightforward power over technical flash, prioritizing feel and impact — the same approach that let him briefly fill in for Black Sabbath's touring lineup for one show in 1997.

## Influence & Legacy

Casagrande's technical prowess and dual stints in two of metal's biggest bands have made him one of the most decorated modern metal drummers, voted the genre's best by Modern Drummer readers. Larkin became Godsmack's longest-serving drummer, giving the band's multi-platinum hard rock sound its consistent heavy backbone across two decades.

## Verdict

Eloy Casagrande and Shannon Larkin represent two generations of hard-hitting metal drumming built on very different foundations. Casagrande's Modern Drummer-crowned technical intensity carried Sepultura and now Slipknot through their heaviest, most demanding material. Larkin's straightforward, song-serving power turned Godsmack into one of hard rock's most consistent multi-platinum acts. Both prove that impact matters more than flash, whether it comes from dual-bass-drum virtuosity or a rock-solid, hard-hitting pocket.

## FAQ

**Q: What are the main differences between Eloy Casagrande's and Shannon Larkin's drum kits?**
A: Eloy Casagrande plays Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x16" & 24"x14" Bass Drums, 10", 12", 13" Toms, 16" & 18" Floor Toms) with Paiste cymbals, while Shannon Larkin uses ddrum Dios Series with Sabian cymbals. Casagrande plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama Bell Brass 14x5.5" snare and an extensive Paiste array including Masters Dark and 2002 cymbals, driven by a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal. Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX & HHX Series cymbals, powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal.

**Q: What drums does Eloy Casagrande play vs Shannon Larkin?**
A: Eloy Casagrande plays Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x16" & 24"x14" Bass Drums, 10", 12", 13" Toms, 16" & 18" Floor Toms). Shannon Larkin plays ddrum Dios Series.

**Q: Who is the better extreme / death / black metal drummer, Eloy Casagrande or Shannon Larkin?**
A: Both are legends in their own right. Eloy Casagrande and Shannon Larkin represent two generations of hard-hitting metal drumming built on very different foundations. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/eloy-casagrande-vs-shannon-larkin](https://metalforge.io/vs/eloy-casagrande-vs-shannon-larkin).

**Q: What cymbals do Eloy Casagrande and Shannon Larkin use?**
A: 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). Shannon Larkin uses Sabian AAX & HHX Series (14" AAX Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" AAX X-Plosion Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" AAX Splash, 18" AAX Chinese).

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*Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/eloy-casagrande-vs-shannon-larkin](https://metalforge.io/vs/eloy-casagrande-vs-shannon-larkin)*

*[Eloy Casagrande drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/eloy-casagrande)*
*[Shannon Larkin drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/shannon-larkin)*

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