# Paul Mazurkiewicz vs Pete Sandoval — Drum Kit Comparison > Side-by-side gear comparison between Paul Mazurkiewicz (Cannibal Corpse) and Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel). **Category:** Death Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/paul-mazurkiewicz-vs-pete-sandoval Cannibal Corpse's Paul Mazurkiewicz vs Morbid Angel's Pete Sandoval. The Tampa vs Miami school of US death metal compared. Alternating-leg double kick vs single-footed hyperblast — the defining technical divide in early death metal drumming. --- ## Paul Mazurkiewicz Setup - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" A Custom Ride, 18" A Custom China) - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating 14x6.5" Steel - **Pedals/Hardware:** Pearl Demon Drive Double Pedal, Pearl D-3500 Throne - **Sticks:** Vater Paul Mazurkiewicz Signature ## 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 ## Drummer Profiles ### Paul Mazurkiewicz Paul Mazurkiewicz (born October 8, 1968, in Buffalo, New York) is the founding drummer of Cannibal Corpse and one of the longest-tenured drummers in death metal history. A founding member since 1988, Paul has recorded every Cannibal Corpse studio album from "Eaten Back to Life" (1990) through the modern era — an unbroken 35+ year tenure behind the kit of the world's best-selling death metal band. His alternating-leg double kick approach delivers the thunderous, punishing drive that defines Cannibal Corpse's brutality, while his straightforward, song-serving drum parts prioritize maximum impact over technical showboating. Paul represents the Tampa, Florida school of death metal: direct, brutal, and relentless. ### Pete Sandoval Pete Sandoval (born March 15, 1964, in Guatemala City, Guatemala) is the drummer for Morbid Angel and the inventor of the gravity blast — a technique that revolutionized how drummers approach extreme speed. Pete joined Morbid Angel in time for their landmark debut "Altars of Madness" (1989) and drove their classic run through "Domination" (1995). His invention of the gravity blast — using gravity and drum stick rebound to achieve single-footed blast beat speeds that were physically impossible with conventional technique — spread throughout all of extreme metal. Pete's drumming defined the Miami/Tampa Florida death metal sound alongside Morbid Angel's occult themes, establishing the aggressive, technical template for death metal drumming worldwide. ## Playing Style Paul anchors Cannibal Corpse's relentless brutality with thunderous alternating-leg double kick that drives some of death metal's most violent riffs. Pete defined Morbid Angel's occult intensity with single-footed hyperblasts and savage gravity blast technique that pushed the physical limits of human drumming. ## Technique Paul uses a traditional alternating-leg double kick approach to sustain brutal tempos across marathon brutal death compositions — his power comes from consistency, drive, and staying locked in with Alex Webster's bass. Pete pioneered the gravity blast — letting gravity and rebound do the work — enabling inhuman single-footed blast beat speeds that redefined what was physically possible in extreme metal. ## Key Differences - **Kick technique:** Paul uses traditional alternating-leg double kick; Pete invented the single-footed gravity blast. - **Bands:** Paul with Cannibal Corpse (Tampa, FL); Pete with Morbid Angel (Tampa/Miami, FL). - **Drum brand:** Paul plays Pearl Reference; Pete played Tama Artstar. - **Recording output:** Paul has appeared on every Cannibal Corpse album across 35+ years; Pete drove Morbid Angel's peak 1989–1995 run. - **Legacy:** Paul represents brutal consistency; Pete represents revolutionary technique invention. ## Influence & Legacy Paul Mazurkiewicz has been the backbone of the world's best-selling death metal band for over 35 years, anchoring every Cannibal Corpse record from "Eaten Back to Life" through the modern era. Pete Sandoval's gravity blast invention spread through all of extreme metal — virtually every death and black metal drummer since the mid-1990s has learned the technique. The Tampa vs Miami rivalry between Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel produced two of the most influential drummers in death metal history, each defining their respective band's sound absolutely. ## Verdict Paul Mazurkiewicz is the definition of consistent, punishing death metal drumming — 35 years of brutal reliability behind the world's biggest death metal band. Pete Sandoval invented a physical technique that changed how drummers approach extreme speed. The Tampa vs Miami rivalry produced two of the most influential death metal drummers in history, each defining their band's sound absolutely. ## FAQ **Q: What is the main technical difference between Paul Mazurkiewicz and Pete Sandoval's drumming?** A: The defining difference is double kick technique. Paul Mazurkiewicz uses traditional alternating-leg double kick pedals for sustained brutal tempos. Pete Sandoval invented the gravity blast — a single-footed technique that uses gravity and stick rebound to achieve blast beat speeds physically impossible with conventional methods, revolutionizing extreme metal drumming. **Q: What drums does Paul Mazurkiewicz play vs Pete Sandoval?** A: Paul Mazurkiewicz plays Pearl Reference Series drums with Pearl Demon Drive double pedals. Pete Sandoval played Tama Artstar II drums with Tama Iron Cobra double pedals during his classic Morbid Angel years. **Q: Which Florida death metal drummer is more influential — Paul Mazurkiewicz or Pete Sandoval?** A: Both are enormously influential in different ways. Pete Sandoval's gravity blast invention had broader technical impact across all extreme metal. Paul Mazurkiewicz's 35+ year tenure with Cannibal Corpse — the best-selling death metal band — gives him unmatched longevity. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/paul-mazurkiewicz-vs-pete-sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/paul-mazurkiewicz-vs-pete-sandoval). **Q: What is the gravity blast technique and who invented it?** A: The gravity blast (also called the "Morrisound blast" or "rebound blast") is a drumming technique where the drummer uses gravity and natural rebound to generate extremely fast single-stroke rolls between the bass drum and snare. Pete Sandoval is credited with pioneering its widespread use in death metal. It enabled blast beat speeds that were physically impossible with conventional push-pull technique. **Q: What albums define Paul Mazurkiewicz and Pete Sandoval's drumming legacies?** A: Paul Mazurkiewicz's performances on Cannibal Corpse's "The Bleeding" (1994) and "Gallery of Suicide" (1998) showcase his brutal consistency. Pete Sandoval's drumming on Morbid Angel's "Altars of Madness" (1989) and "Blessed Are the Sick" (1991) are canonical extreme metal recordings that defined Florida death metal drumming. --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/paul-mazurkiewicz-vs-pete-sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/paul-mazurkiewicz-vs-pete-sandoval)* *[Paul Mazurkiewicz drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/paul-mazurkiewicz)* *[Pete Sandoval drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/pete-sandoval)* *[Related: George Kollias vs Pete Sandoval](https://metalforge.io/vs/george-kollias-vs-pete-sandoval)* *[Related: Altars of Madness drum setup](https://metalforge.io/setup/altars-of-madness)* --- *Last updated: 2026-06-24 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*