There are countless incredible drummers in the black metal world. Thus, compiling a list of the greatest seemed to pose an especially daunting task. However, the musicians below are all so outstanding that our choices made themselves.

Since this list is rather long, we’ll keep our intro brief. Please allow the following 20 drummers to dazzle you with their Satan-sent talent! Numbered in no particular order. 

20) Hellhammer

Mayhem’s Hellhammer is regarded by many as the very best black metal drummer. Past and present, he has played with an incredible number of groups: Arcturus, Mortem, Dimmu Borgir, Shining, Umoral, Troll, etc. Hellhammer has made guest appearances with the likes of Thorns, Immortal, Fleurety, and the Christian band Antestor. Hellhammer’s drum sound on De Mysteriis Dom. Sathanas (1994) is regarded by many as a blueprint, thanks in no small part also to the famed producer Pytten. Needless to say, his work has served as a huge inspiration to generations of artists.

Hellhammer has received Spellemann Awards / “Norwegian Grammys” for three albums of the year in the metal and hard rock categories. He earned these with Covenant / The Kovenant in 1998 and in 1999 as well as with Mayhem in 2007. In addition, Hellhammer celebrated Dimmu Borgir’s music video of the year victory in 2007 and Mayhem’s win of the Honorary Spellemann in 2020. In 2023, Hellhammer was named the recipient of the Trysil municipality culture award. To honor this accomplishment, Arcturus delivered a special set in January 2024.

19) Rainer Tuomikanto

Finland’s Rainer “Raikku” Tuomikanto is a truly amazing piece of artillery. Over the years, Tuomikanto has performed with a long list of bands, including Ajattara and the post-punk outfit Grave Pleasures. However, we are most impressed by his miraculous achievements with Høstsol and Shining. Tuomikanto delivered such a phenomenal performance on Høstsol’s Länge Leve Döden that we weren’t even disappointed that Hellhammer didn’t appear on the album as originally planned. Tuomikanto’s participation was definitely for the best because the drums couldn’t have been improved. For those interested, we must note that a very interesting acoustic song was created in Tuomikanto’s honor by one of his special collaborators, the lovely individual who closes this list.

18) V. Einride

The revered V. Einride saw the release of Manii’s Innerst I Mørket in 2023. Last year, we also heard his guest appearance on Enevelde’s En Gildere Død. This year, we eagerly await V. Einride’s new album with Whoredom Rife, for whom he composes all the music. We greatly appreciate V. Einride’s work with the outstanding outfit Syning, which boasts an all-star lineup. Notably, V. Einride served as the original drummer for Keep of Kalessin, with whom he won a Spellemann Award. We very much enjoy the underrated Aptorian Demon, with whom V. Einride likewise played. V. Einride furthermore formerly performed live with Gorgoroth and currently assists Vemod during concerts.

17) Faust

Faust ranks among the most important and respected figures in the black metal scene. He is best known for his past feats with Emperor. Faust has likewise played with the pioneering Stigma Diabolicum / Thorns, Aborym, the supergroup Scum, and many others. Faust has been garnering much acclaim as part of Djevel, who earned a Spellemann Award for Naa Skrider Natten Sort (2022). We can expect the album’s follow-up, Natt Til Ende, to drop this October. It will constitute the final installment in Djevel’s current trilogy.

16) Malach Adonai

Dødsengel’s Malach Adonai is not only an excellent drummer, but this scholar is also one of the genre’s best lyricists. Malach Adonai’s partner in crime, Kark, has stated: “He’s basically one of my favorite drummers in the world maybe because he’s so musically oriented, and he’s not really too technical. He feels things, it just comes so natural to him… it’s emotive… it’s the rawness and the roughness…” Dødsengel has been recognized as one of the genre’s greatest outfits due to both Malach and Kark’s supreme brilliance and individualistic vision.

15) Fenriz

We are all well aware of the massive influence of Darkthrone’s Fenriz. This vocalist and multi-instrumentalist has an eccentric flare on drums, as with everything else he does. Once overdosed on Darkthrone, listeners can continue to admire Fenriz’s drumming skills on old recordings from a variety of other endeavors like the stoner doom band Valhall, the legendary solo project Isengard, the Viking outfit Storm, etc.