Mario Duplantier vs Hellhammer — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit does Mario Duplantier use?

Mario Duplantier uses Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x18" Bass Drums x2, 12"x9" & 13"x10" Toms, 16"x16" Floor Tom) with Zildjian (14" K Sweet Hi-Hats, 14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 18" K Custom Hybrid Crash, 19" A Custom Crash, 20" K Sweet Crash, 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" & 20" Chinas). Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with dual 22"x18" bass drums and a Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple snare, paired with a sprawling Zildjian cymbal array including a 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride. Hellhammer plays a Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech kit with a Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech snare and Paiste RUDE Series cymbals, driven by an Axis Double Pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks.

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). Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with dual 22"x18" bass drums and a Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple snare, paired with a sprawling Zildjian cymbal array including a 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride. Hellhammer plays a Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech kit with a Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech snare and Paiste RUDE Series cymbals, driven by an Axis Double Pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks.

Which is better, Mario Duplantier or Hellhammer?

Mario Duplantier and Hellhammer represent two entirely different philosophies of extreme metal rhythm. Duplantier builds Gojira's progressive death metal around organic, dual-bass-drum polyrhythms that feel ritualistic rather than mechanical, prioritizing tribal groove over raw velocity. Hellhammer built his reputation on cold, icy blast-beat precision that turned speed itself into black metal's defining texture on "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas." Both are foundational figures in extreme metal's more demanding corners — one through organic, tribal complexity, the other through mechanical, atmosphere-first speed.