# Jaska Raatikainen vs Nicko McBrain — Finnish Melodic Death Metal vs NWOBHM Power | MetalForge > Side-by-side comparison between Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom) and Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). **Category:** Melodic Death Metal vs Heavy Metal / NWOBHM · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/jaska-raatikainen-vs-nicko-mcbrain Children of Bodom's Jaska Raatikainen vs Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain pits two of European metal's most foundational drummers against each other from opposite ends of the genre. Raatikainen anchored Finnish melodic death metal's global breakthrough for 26 years with blast beats and double bass precision built around Alexi Laiho's neoclassical riffing. McBrain has powered Iron Maiden's galloping NWOBHM sound for over four decades — using nothing but a single bass drum pedal, one of the most distinctive technical feats in professional metal drumming. This comparison covers gear, technique, and legacy across both drummers' full careers. --- ## At a Glance | Spec | Jaska Raatikainen | Nicko McBrain | |------|--------------------|----------------| | Drums | Pearl Masters Premium Maple | Sonor SQ2 Series | | Cymbals | Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series | Paiste 2002 & Signature Series | | Snare | Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple | Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14x6.5" | | Pedals | Pearl Eliminator Double Pedal | Single Bass Drum Pedal (Sonor 600 Series Hardware) | | Sticks | Vic Firth American Classic 5A | Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature | --- ## Gear Deep Dive ### 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 Jaska Raatikainen's Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit is the large-format, double-bass configuration he developed across Children of Bodom's entire catalog, from the 1997 debut "Something Wild" through the band's 2019 farewell "Hexed." The Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple snare delivers a warm, articulate crack that projects clearly beneath Alexi Laiho's dense guitar and keyboard arrangements. Zildjian A Custom and K Custom Series cymbals round out the rig: bright, cutting A Custom hi-hats and crashes for fast-attack accents, paired with a darker, controlled K Custom ride for rhythmic work beneath Children of Bodom's neoclassical melodies. The Pearl Eliminator double pedal powers his precise, fluid bass drum patterns — essential for the rapid double bass volleys that became a Children of Bodom signature. ### Nicko McBrain Setup - **Drums:** Sonor SQ2 Series - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 & Signature Series (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China) - **Snare:** Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14x6.5" - **Pedals/Hardware:** Sonor 600 Series Hardware, Single Bass Drum Pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature Nicko McBrain's Sonor SQ2 Series kit is one of heavy metal's most recognizable setups, refined across four decades of arena touring with Iron Maiden. His Sonor signature snare (14x6.5") delivers the warm, authoritative crack that drives Maiden's twin-guitar arrangements with the presence needed for the band's massive live productions. Paiste 2002 and Signature Series cymbals define the kit's tonal character: 14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats for the precisely articulated patterns central to Maiden's gallop rhythm, 16" and 18" Power Crashes for explosive accents, a 22" Power Ride for clarity across marathon sets, and a 20" China for aggressive punctuation. What defines the McBrain setup above all else is its single bass drum pedal — no double bass, no second kick drum — proven across landmark albums including "Piece of Mind" (1983), "Powerslave" (1984), and "Somewhere in Time" (1986). --- ## Style & Technique Comparison Jaska Raatikainen co-founded Children of Bodom in 1993 (originally performing as Inearthed until the band adopted its final name in 1997) alongside the late Alexi Laiho, remaining the band's sole drummer for its entire 26-year run. His technique fuses death metal velocity — rapid double bass volleys, blast beats, aggressive snare attacks — with a musical sensibility shaped by Laiho's neoclassical guitar and keyboard counterpoint. The drums had to move with the melodic material rather than simply provide a rhythmic floor, and Raatikainen's fills are composed to support the song's hooks rather than overwhelm them across albums like "Hatebreeder" (1999), "Follow the Reaper" (2000), and "Hate Crew Deathroll" (2003). Nicko McBrain joined Iron Maiden in 1982, debuting on "Piece of Mind" (1983), and his technique runs counter to most modern metal drumming: he has never used a double bass pedal. Instead, McBrain achieves Iron Maiden's signature galloping speed entirely through single-pedal foot precision and stamina, combined with crisp, propulsive hi-hat work that drives the band's twin-guitar harmonies forward. That approach has powered every Maiden album since, from "Powerslave" and "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" through the Bruce Dickinson-era comeback records "Brave New World" (2000) and "The Final Frontier" (2010), all the way to 2021's "Senjutsu." --- ## Key Differences The fundamental divergence is genre and era: Raatikainen represents 1990s–2010s Finnish melodic death metal extremity, while McBrain represents 1980s British NWOBHM heavy metal foundations carried into the present day. Raatikainen's double bass volleys and blast beats sit at a different technical register entirely from McBrain's galloping single-pedal patterns. Pedal philosophy is the clearest gear contrast: Raatikainen's Pearl Eliminator double pedal is built for sustained extreme-metal speed, while McBrain has built an entire career proving that a single bass drum pedal — paired with foot precision — can deliver Iron Maiden's driving gallop without a second kick drum. Cymbal choice reflects the same divide. Raatikainen's Zildjian A Custom and K Custom cymbals are voiced for cutting through dense, modern death metal production. McBrain's Paiste 2002 and Signature Series cymbals are voiced for the warmer, more classic arena rock tone that defines NWOBHM-rooted heavy metal. --- ## Influence & Legacy Jaska Raatikainen helped build Finland's melodic death metal scene into a global commercial force — Children of Bodom sold over two million albums worldwide, and his drumming on records like "Hatebreeder" and "Follow the Reaper" influenced a generation of melodic death and metalcore drummers. His 26-year tenure as the band's only drummer, ending with 2019's "Hexed," makes him one of the defining figures of Finnish extreme metal. Nicko McBrain is one of heavy metal's most enduring and recognizable drummers. His galloping single-pedal style on songs like "The Trooper," "Aces High," and "Powerslave" became a rhythmic template studied by metal drummers worldwide, and his four-decade tenure with Iron Maiden — spanning from "Piece of Mind" (1983) to "Senjutsu" (2021) — makes him one of the genre's most influential and instantly identifiable players. --- ## Verdict Jaska Raatikainen and Nicko McBrain represent two foundational pillars of European metal drumming from opposite ends of the genre. Raatikainen built Finnish melodic death metal's global reputation across 26 years anchoring Children of Bodom's neoclassical aggression. McBrain has powered Iron Maiden's galloping NWOBHM sound for over four decades using nothing but a single bass drum pedal — one of metal's most celebrated technical feats. Comparing them is comparing two different eras and schools of European metal: 1990s Finnish extremity vs 1980s British heavy metal foundations, both essential listening for anyone studying the genre's drumming history. --- ## FAQ **Q: Who is the better drummer, Jaska Raatikainen or Nicko McBrain?** A: Both are foundational drummers in their respective styles. Jaska Raatikainen anchored Children of Bodom's neoclassical melodic death metal for 26 years with blast beats and double bass precision. Nicko McBrain has powered Iron Maiden's galloping heavy metal sound since 1982 using only a single bass drum pedal — a technical feat almost unheard of in modern metal. The comparison comes down to Finnish melodic death metal extremity vs British heavy metal foundational power. **Q: What gear do Jaska Raatikainen and Nicko McBrain use?** A: Jaska Raatikainen plays a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with Zildjian A Custom & K Custom cymbals and a Pearl Eliminator double pedal. Nicko McBrain plays a Sonor SQ2 Series kit with Paiste 2002 & Signature Series cymbals and, notably, only a single bass drum pedal. **Q: Why does Nicko McBrain use a single bass drum pedal instead of a double pedal?** A: Nicko McBrain has built his entire career on single-pedal technique, achieving Iron Maiden's signature galloping speed through foot precision and stamina rather than a second kick drum or double pedal. It remains one of the most distinctive technical traits among professional metal drummers, proven across landmark albums like "Piece of Mind" (1983), "Powerslave" (1984), and "Somewhere in Time" (1986). **Q: What albums did Jaska Raatikainen record with Children of Bodom?** A: Jaska Raatikainen recorded every Children of Bodom studio album as the band's sole drummer, including "Something Wild" (1997), "Hatebreeder" (1999), "Follow the Reaper" (2000), "Hate Crew Deathroll" (2003), "Are You Dead Yet?" (2005), "Blooddrunk" (2008), "Relentless Reckless Forever" (2011), "Halo of Blood" (2013), "I Worship Chaos" (2014), and the band's 2019 farewell album "Hexed." --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/jaska-raatikainen-vs-nicko-mcbrain](https://metalforge.io/vs/jaska-raatikainen-vs-nicko-mcbrain)* *[Jaska Raatikainen drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jaska-raatikainen)* *[Nicko McBrain drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/nicko-mcbrain)* *[Jaska Raatikainen drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/jaska-raatikainen-drum-setup)* *[Brave New World drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/brave-new-world-drum-setup)* --- *Last updated: 2026-06-30 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*