Jaska Raatikainen vs Nicko McBrain — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom) vs Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Jaska Raatikainen use?
Jaska Raatikainen uses Pearl Masters Premium Maple with Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride). Jaska Raatikainen plays a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple snare, Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series cymbals (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride), a Pearl Eliminator double pedal, and Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks. Nicko McBrain plays a British Drum Co. kit with his Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14x6.5" snare, Paiste 2002 & Signature Series cymbals (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China), a single bass drum pedal, Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature sticks, and Remo Emperor drumheads.
What drum kit does Nicko McBrain use?
Nicko McBrain uses British Drum Co. with Paiste 2002 & Signature Series (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China). Jaska Raatikainen plays a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple snare, Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series cymbals (14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" A Custom Crashes, 20" K Custom Ride), a Pearl Eliminator double pedal, and Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks. Nicko McBrain plays a British Drum Co. kit with his Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14x6.5" snare, Paiste 2002 & Signature Series cymbals (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China), a single bass drum pedal, Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature sticks, and Remo Emperor drumheads.
Which is better, Jaska Raatikainen or Nicko McBrain?
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.