I bought this as part of a pair along with it's 18" bigger brother. I checked a lot of reviews first and was able to hear the cymbals on a few youtube videos before I made up my mind.
Even listening back now, the sound samples on thomanns website are very accurate also, but the youtube videos allowed me to hear the cymbals as part of a drum kit, or with music.
I bought these to record music with my band, and our style might not be described as extreme metal, but these cymbals work great with loud modern distorted music.
And they definitely look and sound more expensive than they are. Very shiny, loud and with a definite dark, evil element in their sound.
Also, I have these nearly a year now, and they dont look or feel like they're ever going to crack, Bonus!!