# George Kollias vs Pete Sandoval — Drum Kit Comparison

> Side-by-side gear comparison between George Kollias (Nile) and Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel).

**Category:** Extreme / Death / Black Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/george-kollias-vs-pete-sandoval

Nile's George Kollias vs Morbid Angel's Pete Sandoval. Blast beats, speed, and extreme metal drumming mastery. Who is the fastest death metal drummer?

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## George Kollias Setup

- **Drums:** Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic (Piano Black with Gold Hardware)
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian (14" K Mastersound Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" K Custom Dark Crashes, 21" A Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" China)
- **Snare:** Pearl George Kollias Signature 14x6.5"
- **Pedals/Hardware:** Pearl Demon XR Double Pedal (Co-designed), Pearl D-3000 Throne
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth George Kollias Signature SGK

## Pete Sandoval Setup

- **Drums:** ddrum Dios Series
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX Series (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 20" Stage Ride, 18" Chinese)
- **Snare:** ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple
- **Pedals/Hardware:** ddrum Mercury Double Pedal, ddrum Throne
- **Sticks:** Ahead Lars Ulrich Signature

## Playing Style

George combines Greek precision with Egyptian-themed technicality. Pete brought Florida death metal intensity with relentless aggression.

## Technique

George uses heel-toe technique for sustained blast beats at extreme tempos. Pete pioneered gravity blasts with raw power.

## Key Differences

George plays Pearl drums with Pearl Demon Drive pedals for speed. Pete used Tama drums with Iron Cobra pedals. George uses heel-toe technique for sustained blast beats at extreme tempos. Pete pioneered gravity blasts with raw power.

## Influence & Legacy

George raised the bar for technical death metal drumming. Pete helped define the Florida death metal sound and blast beat vocabulary.

## Verdict

Pete Sandoval laid the foundation for extreme death metal drumming. George Kollias elevated it to new technical heights. Both are essential figures in death metal history.

## FAQ

**Q: What are the main differences between George Kollias's and Pete Sandoval's drum kits?**
A: George Kollias plays Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic (Piano Black with Gold Hardware) with Zildjian cymbals, while Pete Sandoval uses ddrum Dios Series with Sabian cymbals. George plays Pearl drums with Pearl Demon Drive pedals for speed. Pete used Tama drums with Iron Cobra pedals.

**Q: What drums does George Kollias play vs Pete Sandoval?**
A: George Kollias plays Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic (Piano Black with Gold Hardware). Pete Sandoval plays ddrum Dios Series.

**Q: Who is the better extreme / death / black metal drummer, George Kollias or Pete Sandoval?**
A: Both are legends in their own right. Pete Sandoval laid the foundation for extreme death metal drumming. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/george-kollias-vs-pete-sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/george-kollias-vs-pete-sandoval).

**Q: What cymbals do George Kollias and Pete Sandoval use?**
A: George Kollias uses Zildjian (14" K Mastersound Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" K Custom Dark Crashes, 21" A Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" China). Pete Sandoval uses Sabian AAX Series (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 20" Stage Ride, 18" Chinese).

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*Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/george-kollias-vs-pete-sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/george-kollias-vs-pete-sandoval)*

*[George Kollias drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/george-kollias)*
*[Pete Sandoval drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/pete-sandoval)*

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*Last updated: 2026-06-18 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*