Whether you want to sound like Eloy or you’re just curious about the gear that makes his playing possible, this is the guide for you. We’re about to break down every component in Eloy’s kit, discussing how the heads and sticks he uses contribute to that killer sound. Along the way, you'll discover practical insights that can help you make more informed decisions when choosing drumheads, drumsticks, and tuning for your own kit.
Key Takeaways
- Eloy uses a Tama Starclassic Bubinga drum kit with a snare drum, three rack toms, two floor toms, and four bass drums (but he only uses one).
- His EVANS drumhead setup includes EMAD Heavyweight Clear on kicks, G2 Clear on toms, and Heavyweight on the snare drum for attack, durability, and consistent tuning.
- The Eloy Casagrande Signature ProMark drumsticks feature a 5B base diameter with a fortified shoulder that flares out to a 2B diameter, teardrop wood tip, and raw natural finish built for power and control at extreme tempos.
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He prefers an old-school style without electronic triggers, relying on head choice, tuning, and mic placement to get that incredible live sound.
Who Is Eloy Casagrande?
Eloy Casagrande first picked up the sticks when he was in first grade. At 13, he won the Batuka International Drummer Fest. A year later, he took first place in Modern Drummer’s Undiscovered Drummer Contest. He was a prodigy, but his incredible technique was only part of what put him on the map. Eloy eventually developed a style entirely his own, inspired by heavy metal and the rhythms of his native Brazil.
In 2011, at just 20 years old, Casagrande joined Sepultura, the legendary groove metal band who formed seven years before he was born. Eloy would spend the next 12 years with the band, recording four albums and visiting five continents on tour. Two months after Eloy left Sepultura in early 2024, Slipknot announced a new drummer. He couldn’t be recognized behind the mask, but fans could recognize Eloy’s unique blend of speed, finesse, and power anywhere. Later that year, he was voted as the Best Metal Drummer in Modern Drummer’s annual poll.
What Makes Eloy Casagrande’s Playing Style Unique?
Eloy’s playing style blends extreme metal with traditional Brazilian rhythms, producing a sound that is punishing and musical in equal measure. Key characteristics include:
- Speed: Blazing double bass footwork and blast beat agility across songs that demand relentless tempo.
- Precision: Clean rimshots and ghost notes that cut through dense, distorted mixes.
- Endurance: Touring with Slipknot requires consistent performance over long, physically painstaking sets, multiple nights in a row.
- Dynamic control: He matches brutal power with more subtle textures, keeping the music breathing even at extreme volumes.
- Powerful footwork: Eloy’s kick patterns are clear and defined, and all without electronic assistance.
- Aggressive but articulate sound: Eloy tunes his toms high for projection, prioritizing attack and clarity over boomy sustain.
Achieving a style that distinctive and sharp demands reliable drumheads that hold tuning under heavy hitting, balanced sticks that reduce fatigue, and a drum kit built for projection. It’s no wonder he gravitated towards EVANS heads and ProMark sticks at an early age.
Breaking Down Eloy Casagrande’s Drum Kit Setup
Drum Kit
Eloy uses Heavyweight batter heads on all four bass drums (although he only plays one), and EQ3 reso heads that feature a custom Slipknot graphics. For the rack toms, he uses G2 clear batter drumheads which are tuned high for projection, along with G1 Clear on the reso side. For the snare drum, he uses a Heavyweight coated batter, and a Snare Side 300 for the snare side.
Snare Drum
Eloy’s primary snare is a Stewart Copeland Signature model from Tama: a 14"×5.5" chrome over brass snare drum, tuned tight enough to cut through heavy guitars, but with enough warmth to avoid brittleness. The metallic shell delivers a sharp attack and excellent wire response for both rimshots and ghost notes.
Cymbals and Hi Hat
Eloy plays Paiste cymbals, including 15" Formula 602 Modern Essentials, hi hats, a 20" Formula 602 Modern Essentials Ride cymbal, Rude Thin Crashes, and a Novo China. He also uses a cymbal stack for accents. The larger hi hat size provides a fuller, darker "chick" that remains audible over high-gain guitars on loud stages.
Which EVANS Drumheads Does Eloy Casagrande Use?
Snare
He uses the EVANS Heavyweight Snare Batter. The two plies of 10mil film and center dot tame overtones and improve articulation under heavy rimshots. This head is perfect for Eloy’s high velocity, high-volume playing style without needing external damping.
Toms
The G2 Clear is his batter head of choice. The two-ply construction provides attack, projection, and durability under hard hits. The clear, uncoated finish enhances projection and delivers a clean decay, which is essential when playing fast fills at high tuning.
Bass Drum
Eloy prefers EMAD Heavyweight for his bass drum batter head, and an EQ3 Resonant bass drum heads with a custom Slipknot design. The externally mounted adjustable damping system (EMAD) controls low-end without sacrificing punch.
Eloy Casagrande Signature ProMark Drumsticks
ProMark recently released the Eloy Casagrande Signature Stick (TXECW). Featuring graphic art designed by Eloy himself and building on the foundation of the Forward 5B Raw, this stick features a fortified shoulder that flares out to a 2B diameter for enhanced durability and power.
Key Specs:
- Diameter: .590" (5B base)
- Length: 16" (406.4 mm)
- Tip: Teardrop wood tip for a wide cymbal sweet spot
- Balance: Forward-weighted for extra momentum
- Finish: Raw natural (no lacquer) that enhances grip under sweaty hands
- Material: Hickory
