# Pete Sandoval vs George Kollias — Drum Kit & Gear Comparison | MetalForge > Side-by-side gear comparison between Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel) and George Kollias (Nile). **Category:** Extreme / Death Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/pete-sandoval-vs-george-kollias Morbid Angel's Pete Sandoval vs Nile's George Kollias. The ultimate blast beat speed head-to-head — two death metal legends who hold the record for extreme drumming velocity. --- ## At a Glance | Spec | Pete Sandoval | George Kollias | |------|--------------|----------------| | Drums | ddrum Dios Series | Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic | | Cymbals | Sabian AAX Series | Zildjian K & A Custom Series | | Snare | ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple | Pearl George Kollias Signature 14x6.5" | | Pedals | ddrum Mercury Double Pedal | Pearl Demon XR Double Pedal (Co-designed) | | Sticks | Ahead Lars Ulrich Signature | Vic Firth George Kollias Signature SGK | --- ## Gear Deep Dive ### 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 Pete Sandoval's move to ddrum came after his legendary tenure with Morbid Angel. His setup prioritizes raw functionality — nothing about Sandoval's gear is about aesthetics. The ddrum Mercury double pedal is robust and reliable under extreme use. His Sabian AAX cymbals deliver the bright, cutting attack needed to be heard above death metal's sonic assault. Interestingly, his stick of choice is the Ahead Lars Ulrich Signature — a heavy, thick stick suited to powerful playing. ### 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 George Kollias plays at the absolute peak of drum hardware performance. His Pearl Masterworks kit is a top-of-the-line custom build, and he co-designed the Pearl Demon XR double pedal specifically to meet the mechanical demands of sustained extreme speed playing. The Vic Firth George Kollias Signature stick is designed for balance and control at maximum velocity. His Zildjian K and A Custom cymbals blend dark complexity with cutting attack. --- ## Style & Technique Comparison Pete Sandoval is widely credited as a co-inventor of the modern blast beat alongside Dave Lombardo. His gravity blast technique — using controlled stick rebound to achieve extreme speeds — became foundational vocabulary for all death and grindcore drummers who followed. His work on Morbid Angel's classic albums (*Altars of Madness*, *Blessed Are the Sick*, *Covenant*) established the sonic template for Florida death metal drumming. George Kollias represents the next generation of extreme speed, taking Sandoval's foundation and pushing it further through technique refinement and physical conditioning. Kollias uses the heel-toe double bass technique, which allows him to sustain extreme blast beat speeds for longer than most players. His performances with Nile combine speed with the compositional complexity of Egyptian mythology-inspired death metal. Both players are obsessively focused on technique and pushing the limits of human drumming speed, but Sandoval comes from the first generation of death metal and Kollias from its technical evolution. --- ## Key Differences Sandoval's gear is functional and battle-worn; Kollias invests in premium equipment built for extreme performance optimization. Sandoval's ddrum setup reflects the no-frills ethos of early death metal; Kollias's Pearl Masterworks represents modern death metal's embrace of premium gear. Their pedal choices tell the deepest story: Sandoval uses a standard ddrum double pedal; Kollias co-designed his own Pearl Demon XR for maximum speed performance. This reflects Kollias's more scientific approach to extreme drumming technique. Cymbal philosophy differs too: Sandoval uses Sabian AAX for consistent bright attack; Kollias uses Zildjian K Custom Dark for more tonal complexity, balancing speed with musicality. --- ## Influence & Legacy Pete Sandoval's influence is foundational — without his pioneering work, modern extreme metal drumming would look very different. His gravity blast technique is studied and emulated by generations of death and grindcore drummers worldwide. George Kollias extended that legacy, demonstrating that extreme speed and technical complexity could coexist in death metal drumming. His instructional content, clinics, and online presence have made advanced techniques accessible to a global audience of developing drummers. --- ## Verdict Pete Sandoval and George Kollias are the two most important names in death metal drumming speed. Sandoval laid the groundwork through raw innovation and pioneering technique; Kollias refined and extended it through disciplined practice and physical optimization. Together, they represent the full arc of extreme metal drumming's evolution. --- ## FAQ **Q: Who holds the blast beat speed record, Pete Sandoval or George Kollias?** A: George Kollias holds verified speed records for sustained extreme drumming. Pete Sandoval pioneered the techniques that make such speeds possible. Both have been measured at extraordinary tempos; Kollias's scientific approach to heel-toe technique gives him an edge in sustained speed performance. **Q: What gear does Pete Sandoval use vs George Kollias?** A: Pete Sandoval plays ddrum Dios Series drums with Sabian AAX cymbals and ddrum Mercury double pedals. George Kollias plays Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic drums with Zildjian K and A Custom cymbals and the Pearl Demon XR double pedal he co-designed. **Q: How do Pete Sandoval's cymbals compare to George Kollias's?** A: Sandoval uses Sabian AAX Series for consistent, bright cutting attack suited to raw death metal aggression. Kollias uses Zildjian K Mastersound Hi-Hats and K Custom Dark cymbals for darker, more complex tonal character — reflecting his more compositionally sophisticated approach to extreme metal. --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/pete-sandoval-vs-george-kollias](https://metalforge.io/vs/pete-sandoval-vs-george-kollias)* *[Pete Sandoval drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/pete-sandoval)* *[George Kollias drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/george-kollias)* --- *Last updated: 2026-06-20 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*