Best Cymbals For Metal

OUR TOP PICK

Meinl Cymbal Set Box Pack

This first set on cymbals is certainly amazing to look at, with a great pedigree. They come recommended by bands such as Mastodon and Iron Maiden, two of metal’s most impressive groups.

These cymbals will give you amazing projection when you hit them, easily complimenting any aggressive guitar sounds - introducing the Meinl Cymbal Set Box Pack.

These custom series of cymbals come with 14-inch hi-hats and a whopping 16-inch crash and a 20-inch ride. Having these impressive beasts in your arsenal will be amazing for pumping your beats over the shredding guitars and the throbbing bass. They also look amazing, making them perfect if you are playing live.

The crash gives you a very deep and punching sound, which is exactly what you need for rising above metal music. Having cymbals that will cut through the guitars will be very important, with a crisp-sounding hi-hat that will easily be able to tear through the distorted guitars, getting almost as loud as the crash at times!

Pros

• The hi-hat is very punchy, giving you everything that you need for solid sound quality, either live or in the studio.
• These cymbals are very solid sounding and don’t sound too brittle. If you are playing groove metal, having cymbals that will cut right through that music will be very important.
• These cymbals are probably the best looking on this list, with a mottled design that will certainly set you apart from other metal bands on the live circuit.
• These metal cymbals will allow you to establish a groove unlike no other band out there. Having that dynamic splash will give your sound that added grandeur which a lot of prog metal bands certainly covet.

Cons

• They might lack some of the punch of the higher-end cymbals, although for this price point there certainly isn’t much to complain about.

EDITORS CHOICE

Zildjian A Custom Cymbal Pack

This next set of cymbals come from the highly-rated Zildjian company, which has been manufacturing quality cymbals for drummers for decades now.

These cymbals are very bright, allowing them to cut through the guitar sound and create that very dynamic flow, which will be very important for metal music - introducing Zildjian A Custom Cymbal Pack.

These cymbals are very hefty, with a durable brass construction that will ensure that you can keep pounding them for years to come. These come with wide hi-hats, cymbals and crashes that will ensure that you have dynamic hits which won’t cause you issues when you are attempting to rise above the shredding guitars and bass.

These have a little more weight than a regular pair of cymbals, which makes them ideal for touring bands. If you want a set of cymbals that will do you well when you’re out on the road, then you can’t go wrong with a set such as this. These cymbals also look great on your kit, which is perfect if an image is important to you.

Pros

• A sleek and professional-looking kit, this set will give you everything that you need for a solid playing style.
• The wide and deep cymbals are perfect for pounding day and night - we know how metal players like to thrash their drums and this is the perfect kit to take out all your aggression on.
• These are very versatile cymbals, so if you are a session musician who plays metal as well as other styles of music, having this cymbal set will complement the various dynamics of your playing really well.
• These cymbals give you a very bright and cutting sound, so you won’t have to worry about them getting swamped under the layers of distorted guitars and bass.

Cons

• The price - these cymbals are certainly higher end, so you should only buy them if you are taking your drumming seriously, looking to use them both live and in the studio.

BEST VALUE

Sabian B8X Performance Set Cymbal Pack

This next set of drum cymbals are for the drummer who is trying to tighten the purse strings. These are great if you are on a budget, giving you that high and bright sound that you will certainly need to rise above the shredding of the distorted guitars - introducing the Sabian B8X Performance Set Cymbal Pack.

This set contains a wide variety of crashes, hi-hats and cymbals. They will give you a very rich and bright sound, which is perfect for cutting through that sludgy guitar and bass. This is great for a beginner drummer who is looking to upgrade their kit to something a little more intermediate.

But the main attraction to this set of cymbals is the price. If you are getting your first drum kit, then this would be a great set of cymbals to have. They are a great brand name at a competitive price.

Pros

• The price - this is one of the most affordable sets of cymbals that you can get, which is perfect if you are a beginner who is looking to get started playing metal music.
• The sound - these cymbals are almost indistinguishable from the more expensive sets, with bright and cutting sound that will rise over even the loudest of music.
• This cymbal set comes with very wide crashes and rides, both of which are very important when it comes to metal.
• The durability - these cymbals will give you everything you need for a quality sound. You can play them for years and years without having to worry about them splitting.

Cons

• Some users have reported that the crashes on this cymbal set are a little muted, 

RUNNER UP

Zildjian I Family Pro Gig Cymbal Pack

This series of cymbals is another one by the very famous Zildjian brand, with 14-inch hi-hats and 20-inch rides that will give you an amazing sound output.

These cymbals sound amazingly bright and will cut through any level of distorted guitars - introducing the Zildjian I Family Pro Gig Cymbal Pack.

These cymbals are made from solid bronze, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking when you hit them hard over a few months. You can have very pleasing sounds from this set of cymbals, with a tone that has been described as ‘spry’ and ‘zingy’ by certain drummers.

This will give you everything you need to complement the harsher sound of the guitars and bass. These cymbals also have that booming and shining quality that will compliment the verses in your metal band. These cymbals are also excellent value for money, making the perfect accompaniment to a double guitar metal setup.

Pros

• This is a very affordable kit - if you are new to metal drumming, then you can be sure that you’ll have plenty of brightness to be able to cut through that rasping guitar music.
• These cymbals are made from solid bronze, so you won’t have to worry about them splitting if you are a particularly hard player, like a lot of metal drummers are.
• These drums are exceedingly well made, giving you everything that you need for that hard and thrashing style that will set you apart from the rest of the competition.
• As we all know, you’ll want a crisp sound out of your drum cymbals, and these are made with that exact purpose in mind. You can pound for as long and hard as you want with these very well-made cymbals.

Cons

• Some drummers have complained that these are a little too thin, which results in a slightly tinny sound.

RUNNER UP

Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Cymbal Pack

This final set of cymbals is another one from Zildijan, with a K custom set with an ultra lathed edges cymbal set that will give you everything that you need for that bombastic style of drumming.

The inner part of the cymbal will give you everything that you need for your set to shine - introducing the Zildijan K Custom Hybrid Cymbal Pack.

This set of cymbals are very much protected from harder hitters that are often more commonly found in metal music. You can be sure that this is a very durable kit, with a set that will last you for years to come if maintained correctly. This is a cymbal set for what we would call a ‘career drummer’.

These cymbals are used to having a very bright and shiny sound, which is the perfect compliment for metal playing.

You can also be sure that you’ll have everything that you need for cutting through those loud and distorted guitars. You can be sure that you’ll have everything that you need for a metal setup. 

These also come with mastersound hi-hats, which will give you the ability to retain that bright sound that will cut through all other instruments.

Pros

• These cymbals are great for achieving bright and dark sounds, each one giving you everything that you need for that versatility - this is a great set of cymbals if you are a session musician playing metal as well as a few other different styles.
• These cymbals look and feel great to play, you won’t have to worry about them breaking or diminishing when set to distorted guitars.
• These have lathed edges that will give you that quality sound no matter how long and hard that you happen to be playing for.
• If you are a first-time metal player and you want the same sound as Lars Ulrich from Metallica, then you can’t go wrong with this set of cymbals.

Cons

• The price - if you want quality cymbals, then be prepared to pay the price. For first-time drummers, you might want to give this set a miss.