Shannon Larkin vs Jaska Raatikainen — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Shannon Larkin (Godsmack / Ugly Kid Joe / Amen) vs Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Shannon Larkin use?
Shannon Larkin uses ddrum Dios Series with Sabian AAX & HHX Series (14" AAX Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" AAX X-Plosion Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" AAX Splash, 18" AAX Chinese). Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX & HHX Series cymbals, powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal. Raatikainen played a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple snare and Zildjian A Custom & K Custom cymbals, powered by a Pearl Eliminator double pedal.
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). Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX & HHX Series cymbals, powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal. Raatikainen played a Pearl Masters Premium Maple kit with a Pearl Masters 14x5.5" Maple snare and Zildjian A Custom & K Custom cymbals, powered by a Pearl Eliminator double pedal.
Which is better, Shannon Larkin or Jaska Raatikainen?
Shannon Larkin and Jaska Raatikainen show two ways hard-hitting drumming can define a band's identity. Larkin's straightforward, song-serving power turned Godsmack into one of hard rock's most consistent multi-platinum acts across two decades. Raatikainen's surgical, locked-in precision gave Children of Bodom's neoclassical melodic death metal its rhythmic backbone for 26 years. Both prove that reliability and impact, not just technical flash, can build a lasting legacy in heavy music.