The existence of drums can be traced back to the very beginning when dried animal skin was stretched over wooden shells to create a sort of monotonous percussive sound. Flash forward to recent times, and you find drum heads made of Mylar polyester film. Now drums come with two heads, the top head as in the side that you hit is called the batter head, while the bottom is called the resonant head. Let’s look at the best drum heads for playing metal.
You can also read: Best Drumheads for Rock
Types of Drum Heads
Single Ply
Single plies are the more common drum head. They’re made from a single sheet of Mylar film, this drum head ultra-sensitive. Despite being the head most used, it is the least durable batter head in the market. This head is ideal for lighter styles such as jazz or light rock as they produce brighter sounds.
Double Ply
Double plies are generally made from two layers of 7 mm plies, but some are made thicker for distinct tones. They are more durable and produce deeper controlled sound. Double-ply heads are ideal for louder music styles such as metal, fusion, and R&B.
Dotted Heads
Some batter heads may have a black or clear dot on either the top or the bottom in order to muffle excess ring. This helps the sound to come out more focused and removes overtones. Previously, duct tapes were used to help soften the excess sound.
Coated Heads
Drum heads are also available in clear with a white or black coating for the excess ring. While coated drum heads muffle the sound, it almost has a wet tone, clear heads are open with more attack.
Bass Heads
What makes bass drum heads different, is the internal dampening system on the batter head for controlled sound. Port hole in the resonant head is available for when you want to fit a mic.
Best Drum Head for Metal
Product Name |
Features |
Price |
Check on Amazon |
Evans Heads |
|
$ |
|
Remo Powerstroke P4 |
|
$$ |
|
Evans Heads EMAD |
|
$$ |
|
Remo ES0616PS Ebony |
|
$ |
|
Aquarian Drumheads |
|
$$ |
1. Evans Heads Heavyweight Snare Drum Head
The Evans Heads Heavyweight Snare Drum Head is made of two identical 10 mil Mylar film. The total 23 mil thickness provides maximum durability. Available in three size range, 12 inches, 13 inches, and 14 inches, the drum head is an excellent choice for heavy hitters.
It has reverse dots on the underside of the head for focus, attack, and of course, extra durability. The 360 collar design secures contact between the drum head and drum shell. This ensures that not only will tuning be easier but when the drum head is tuned properly; it will provide a great sound with a wide pitch range.
Pros
- High Durability, great for heavy hitting
- Provides wide pitch range
- Very versatile drumhead
- Three size range to choose from
Cons
- You might not want to switch to another drumhead anytime soon
2. Remo Powerstroke P4 Bass Drumhead
The Remo Powerstroke P4 Bass Drumhead is the next generation of the single-ply Powerstroke 3. This model is made up of 7 mm and 5 mm mylar film and available in six sizes, 18 inches, 20 inches, 22 inches, 24 inches, 26 inches, and 28 inches.
Extremely durable and comes with a built-in damping ring which dampens the sound and can take a hard beating. This drumhead is definitely one of the more expensive ones on our list.
Pros
- Six size options
- Durable and long-lasting
- Built in damping ring
Cons
- May not be cost effective
3. Evans Heads EMAD Heavyweight Bass Drumhead
The EMAD series drum head is known for its adjustable damping system. This system lets you choose between two removable foam damping rings that help control the attack and focus on the drumhead. Available between sizes 18 to 26, this drumhead is very versatile for every genre of music.
Pros
- Adjustable damping system
- Variety of size options
- Versatile
- Easy to tune
Cons
- Tuning can be a bit time consuming
4. Remo ES0616PS Ebony Pinstripe
For the second time on our list, this feels like a battle between Remo and Evans. The Ebony Pinstripe is made from 7 mm and 5 mm Mylar film with a layer of ring reducing agent to dampen high frequency overtones.
Quick decay makes it ideal for “fat” sounds. This essentially means that it is powerful but with slight brightness, the best for metal music. Given that this drumhead is from Remo, you can rest assured that the quality is up to the mark and the durability is top notch.
Pros
- Wide range to sizes to choose from
- Ring reducing agent for high frequency overtones
- Great responsiveness
Cons
- Muffling effect
5. Aquarian Drumheads SKII22 Super-Kick II
In a market clearly dominated by Remo and Evans, Aquarian drumheads are a fresh change. Made from a set of two 7 mm plies, it has a floating felt muffle ring, to avoid extra muffles.
The plies make it seriously durable and tough to handle hard beatings, perfect for metal. They produce sharp, focused, pronounced sounds that will cut through the band. Aquarian has been able to provide high quality drumhead best for producing a variety of metal subgenres.
Pros
- Comes with a floating muffle ring
- Great for heavy hitting
- High durability
Cons
- Muffle ring can’t be removed
Conclusion
And that’s it! We’re done with the review of the best drum heads for metal. Before you choose one, make sure you assess its features against what you’re looking for. Also, make sure to consider the price range if you’re on a tight budget. Hope this article was helpful to you!
