Are you searching for the ideal drumheads for heavier music like rock, metal, and hardcore but not sure where to begin? No worries! We surveyed drummers at Sweetwater to find out which are their go-to kick, snare, and tom heads for hard-hitting styles. We’ve broken them down into these three categories, offering up three of the best choices for each category based on their ability to withstand abusive playing while producing a big, powerful tone. So, let’s explore nine of the best drumheads for rock!
Best Drumheads for Rock: Kick
Remo Powerstroke 3 Clear
Constructed from a single ply of 10-mil clear film and a 10-mil underlay ring, the Remo Powerstroke 3 Clear bass drum batter head is forceful, punchy, and focused. The 10-mil underlay ring controls overtones without ringing the life out of your kick drum. Drummers at Sweetwater find that the Remo Powerstroke 3 is equally effective onstage and in the studio and sounds great whether you play it wide open or dampen it for a tighter kick sound.
Evans EMAD Heavyweight
Darker in tone than the Remo Powerstroke 3, the Evans EMAD Heavyweight bass drum batter head is made from two identical 10-mil plies for enhanced durability and a thick, compressed attack. What makes the Evans EMAD Heavyweight unique is the inclusion of Evans’s proprietary Externally Mounted Adjustable Damping system (EMAD), which consists of an externally mounted ring and two interchangeable dampening rings that let you dial in low end and focus your kick drum’s attack.
Aquarian Superkick II
The Aquarian Superkick II sits somewhere between the Remo Powerstroke 3 and the Evans EMAD Heavyweight, boasting two 7-mil plies and an internally mounted felt dampening ring. The Aquarian Superkick II is ultra-durable and delivers a sharp, focused sound. The felt dampening ring is partially glued to the drumhead’s inner surface, which allows it to float over the head, shortening sustain and controlling overtones yet still allowing for a brighter attack and ample projection.
Best Drumheads for Rock: Snare
Remo Emperor X
Specifically designed for heavy-hitting hard rock drummers, the Remo Emperor X coated drumhead is composed of two 10-mil plies and a 5-mil bottom black dot, which yield an aggressive and impactful tone. The outer edges of the Remo Emperor X have enhanced sensitivity, and its center dot provides a controlled crack with a hearty mid- and low-frequency bark. The Remo Emperor X is a popular choice among touring drummers due to its extreme durability, which can stand up to even the most lead-handed drummers show after show.
Evans EC Reverse Dot
Like the Remo Emperor X, the Evans EC Reverse Dot snare drumhead features a two-ply design for enhanced durability and a controlled tone with a 7-mil outer ply and a 10-mil inner ply. An Evans Sound Shaping Technology (SST) ring is mounted on the underside of the drumhead and is effective at eliminating muddy midrange frequencies, resulting in crisper-sounding highs and more focused lows. The 5-inch center dot imparts the Evans EC Reverse Dot drumhead with an impressive attack capable of slicing through dense distorted guitars and overdriven bass.
Aquarian Triple Threat
If two’s company, then, according to Aquarian, three’s a party. The Aquarian Triple Threat snare drumhead is molded from three plies of 7-mil Nu-Brite film for 21 mils of total thickness for a dry, weighty tone and a sensitive response. Engineers and drummers at Sweetwater love how the Aquarian Triple Threats sound under a close-positioned microphone — crisp, full-bodied, and requiring minimal EQ.
Best Drumheads for Rock: Toms
Remo Clear Pinstripe
One the world’s most popular drumheads, Remo Clear Pinstripe drumheads can be found on the kits of countless top drummers, including Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam, Stewart Copeland of the Police, and Abe Cunningham of Deftones. Featuring dual layers of 7-mil mylar, Remo Clear Pinstripe drumheads are renowned for their pronounced midrange and low-end tones, and they include an integrated outer dampening ring for taming high-frequency overtones. And Remo Clear Pinstripes are remarkably consistent, creating a unified sound across your kit.
Evans G2 Clear
Like Remo Clear Pinstripes, Evans G2 Clear drumheads are constructed from two plies of 7-mil film. Where they differ is in Evans’s unique manufacturing techniques and design elements, including Level 360 Technology. This proprietary feature pairs an extended level playing surface and a vertically enhanced collar design to ensure even contact with the edge of the drum shell for more consistent and stable tuning. While Evans G2 Clear drumheads are a staple rock and metal drumhead, they are a superb all-around performer and sound great in most musical contexts.
Aquarian Super-2 Texture Coated
The Aquarian Super-2 Texture Coated drumheads combine a 5-mil and a 7-mil ply for a pleasing musical tone with plenty of body, a satisfying punch, and a crisp attack. By a textured coating, the Super-2 drumheads deliver a slightly mellower tone with additional low-end warmth. These drumheads are a great choice if your style leans more toward classic rock than modern rock. The Super-2 drumheads are equipped with Aquarian’s innovative Sound Curve collar, which provides highly responsive tuning for making accurate tuning changes on the fly.
Conclusion
Choosing drumheads is ultimately a matter of personal taste. But, to find the drumheads that work for your playing style, it’s helpful to experiment with different brands and types. If you’re into rock, metal, or heavier styles of playing, then the nine drumheads listed above are a great place to start. However, if have more questions about drumheads, please reach out to your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700. They have the knowledge and experience to help you find the perfect gear and accessories.
