Adrian Erlandsson vs Martin Axenrot — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Adrian Erlandsson (At the Gates) vs Martin Axenrot (Opeth). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Adrian Erlandsson use?
Adrian Erlandsson uses Tama Starclassic Bubinga with Sabian AAX/HHX Series (15" HHX Xcelerator Hi-Hats, 20" AAX Iso Crash, 19" AAX Paragon China). Adrian Erlandsson tracked "Slaughter of the Soul" on a budget Pearl Export-style birch kit with Zildjian A-Series cymbals anchored by an 18" China, and now plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama Starclassic Bubinga 14x6.5" snare and Sabian AAX/HHX Series cymbals, driven by a Monolit Czarcie Kopyto double pedal and his own Vic Firth Adrian Erlandsson Signature sticks. Martin Axenrot plays a custom hand-made DW kit with maple/gum shells, per his own account in a 2016 MusicRadar interview, with SABIAN HHX/AAX cymbals per SABIAN's own artist page, and Pro-Mark sticks. His hardware setup has not been independently verified.
What drum kit does Martin Axenrot use?
Martin Axenrot uses DW (Drum Workshop) — custom, maple/gum shells with SABIAN HHX / AAX Series (HHX Groove Hats, HHX Evolution O-Zone Crash, HHX Legacy Ride, HHX Chinese, AAX Splash). Adrian Erlandsson tracked "Slaughter of the Soul" on a budget Pearl Export-style birch kit with Zildjian A-Series cymbals anchored by an 18" China, and now plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama Starclassic Bubinga 14x6.5" snare and Sabian AAX/HHX Series cymbals, driven by a Monolit Czarcie Kopyto double pedal and his own Vic Firth Adrian Erlandsson Signature sticks. Martin Axenrot plays a custom hand-made DW kit with maple/gum shells, per his own account in a 2016 MusicRadar interview, with SABIAN HHX/AAX cymbals per SABIAN's own artist page, and Pro-Mark sticks. His hardware setup has not been independently verified.
Which is better, Adrian Erlandsson or Martin Axenrot?
Adrian Erlandsson and Martin Axenrot represent Swedish extreme metal drumming from two generations and two philosophies. Erlandsson helped write melodic death metal's founding rulebook on a shoestring budget with At the Gates' "Slaughter of the Soul," a template that shaped an entire genre. Axenrot inherited one of progressive death metal's most demanding drum chairs at Opeth, carrying the band through a dramatic stylistic evolution while doubling down on twin-kick power. Erlandsson is melodic death metal's raw originator; Axenrot is progressive death metal's modern powerhouse — both are first-mover figures whose gear and technique tell two very different stories about Swedish extreme metal drumming.