Hellhammer vs Gene Hoglan — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Hellhammer (Mayhem) vs Gene Hoglan (Death / Testament / Dethklok). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Hellhammer use?
Hellhammer uses Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech with Paiste (14" RUDE Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" RUDE Crashes, 20" RUDE Ride, 18" RUDE China). Hellhammer's classic "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" rig was a developing-endorsement Sonor 5-piece shell pack (22"x16" kick, 10"x9" and 12"x10" racks, 16"x16" floor tom) with a Sonor 14"x5.5" steel snare tuned bright for maximum crack — a stripped-down, unpolished setup that suited early Norwegian black metal's raw production values. His modern rig has been a Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech kit since 1999 for his Dimmu Borgir symphonic work. Gene Hoglan plays a Pearl Reference Pure kit (a maple/mahogany hybrid shell chosen for tonal clarity at extreme tempos) with a Pearl Reference 14"x6.5" Brass snare, Sabian AAX Series cymbals (15" Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Crashes, 22" Ride, 20" China), a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal, and Promark 5B sticks.
What drum kit does Gene Hoglan use?
Gene Hoglan uses Pearl Reference Pure with Sabian AAX Series (15" Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Crashes, 22" Ride, 20" China). Hellhammer's classic "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" rig was a developing-endorsement Sonor 5-piece shell pack (22"x16" kick, 10"x9" and 12"x10" racks, 16"x16" floor tom) with a Sonor 14"x5.5" steel snare tuned bright for maximum crack — a stripped-down, unpolished setup that suited early Norwegian black metal's raw production values. His modern rig has been a Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech kit since 1999 for his Dimmu Borgir symphonic work. Gene Hoglan plays a Pearl Reference Pure kit (a maple/mahogany hybrid shell chosen for tonal clarity at extreme tempos) with a Pearl Reference 14"x6.5" Brass snare, Sabian AAX Series cymbals (15" Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" Crashes, 22" Ride, 20" China), a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal, and Promark 5B sticks.
Which is better, Hellhammer or Gene Hoglan?
Hellhammer and Gene Hoglan represent two different engines built for the same job: playing faster and longer than seems humanly possible. Hellhammer's blast beats carry black metal's cold, chaotic atmosphere — speed as texture and aggression. Gene's gravity blast turns extreme tempo into a controlled, repeatable discipline sustainable across entire albums and 20+ bands. Hellhammer built the black metal blueprint; Gene built the technical death/thrash blueprint. Extreme metal drumming owes its foundational vocabulary to both.