Best Drum Skins For Metal
Alright, let's talk drums! Specifically, the gooey, stretchy, sometimes surprisingly loud bits that make all the noise: drum skins. For us metalheads, this isn't just about keeping the dust out. Nope. This is about tone. This is about punch. This is about making your kit sound like it's about to devour the entire universe. Fun, right?
Think of drum skins like the vocal cords of your drums. The wrong ones? Might sound like a frog with laryngitis. The right ones? Pure, unadulterated sonic fury. And in metal, we want fury. We want thunder. We want that satisfying thwack that rattles your teeth.
The Skin Deep Dive: Why Bother?
So, why all the fuss about skins? It’s simple, really. The drum head is what your sticks hit. It's the first point of contact. It dictates how the drum resonates, how it rings, and crucially, how it sounds in the mix. In metal, where everything is big and loud and in-your-face, your drum sound needs to cut through. It needs personality. It needs that oomph.
Ever heard a drum that sounds flat and lifeless? Yeah, that’s probably a skin situation. But change it up, and BAM! Suddenly, your snare has more crack than a whip in a desert storm. Your toms rumble like an approaching earthquake. Your kick drum… well, it’s the foundation of everything. It needs to be a monster.
Snare Drum: The Ringmaster of the Ruckus
Let's start with the snare. This is your primary source of attack. That sharp, biting sound. For metal, you generally want something that cuts. Think single-ply coated heads. They offer a good balance of durability and a bright, articulate sound. Brands like Remo Pinstripe or Evans Genera HD Dry are metal staples for a reason. They’re tough cookies that can handle serious abuse. And they give you that beautiful, crisp crack that makes double bass drumming sound even more epic.
Ever seen those snare heads with little holes in them? Those are the “dry” heads, like the Evans HD Dry. They’re designed to choke out some of the sustain, giving you a tighter, more controlled sound. Perfect for fast, intricate drumming where you don’t want a wash of overtones. It’s like giving your snare a really good shave – clean and precise!
And the snare side head? The one on the bottom that makes the snare wires buzz? This is where the magic happens. Thicker snare side heads give you a snappier, more aggressive buzz. Thinner ones are more subtle. For metal, you want that snappy, authoritative sizzle. Think 3-mil snare side. It’s the secret weapon for a snare that screams “I’m here, and I mean business!”
Tom-Toms: The Thunderous Companions
Next up, the toms. These are your melodic rumble-makers. In metal, we love a good, deep, powerful tom sound. You’re often looking for heads that will give you a fat, resonant tone with plenty of sustain, but not so much that it muddies up the whole kit. This is where two-ply heads really shine.
Think Remo Pinstripe again, or Evans EC2. These have two plies of film, often with a dampening layer in between. This controls overtones and gives you a really focused, punchy sound. They’re built like tanks, too, so they can take a beating from those heavy-handed metal drummers. You know who you are!
The “Pinstripe” name comes from the thin ring of dampening material around the edge. It’s like a little halo of sonic control. It makes the toms sound controlled, not just a chaotic mess of noise. And the EC2? It has plies that are slightly different thicknesses, giving it a really beefy tone. Imagine a grizzly bear giving your toms a friendly hug – that’s the kind of power we’re talking about.
Some folks like to experiment with different ply combinations. A two-ply clear head on the batter side (top) and a single-ply coated on the reso side (bottom) can give you a nice balance of attack and sustain. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where your toms sound HUGE, but still defined.
The Mighty Kick Drum: Heartbeat of the Apocalypse
Ah, the kick drum. The undisputed king of the metal drum kit. This is where the low-end power comes from. This is the sound that makes the floorboards vibrate. For metal kicks, you want something that delivers a big, fat, thudding impact with controlled sustain. You’re usually looking at two-ply heads again, often with internal muffling or dampening rings.
Brands like Aquarian and Remo have some killer options. The Aquarian Super Kick II is a classic. It’s a two-ply head with a built-in port hole, which helps to control resonances and give you that punchy, defined sound right out of the box. It’s like the kick drum got its own personal trainer and got super fit.
Another popular choice is the Remo Powerstroke 3. This is a two-ply head with a thin dampening ring on the outer edge. It gives you a great balance of impact and controlled sustain. It’s the go-to for so many metal drummers because it just works. It delivers that chest-beating boom you crave.
Don’t forget about the resonant head (the one on the back). This is where you control how much the kick drum rings out. A completely open resonant head gives you maximum sustain. But for metal, you often want to muffle it a bit. A felt strip, a pillow, or even a specific resonant head with built-in muffling can tame that boom and make it more focused. It’s like putting a nice, warm scarf on a roar – still powerful, but a bit more refined.
Quirky Bits and Fun Facts
Did you know that some drum skins are made with a special coating that’s supposed to be more resistant to sweat and moisture? Because, let’s face it, metal drummers sweat. A lot. It’s practically a requirement. These special coatings help keep your skins looking and sounding good, even after a particularly brutal set.
And what about those weird, textured skins? Some of them are designed for brushes, but others are for sheer sonic effect. They can alter the attack and sustain in really interesting ways. It’s like giving your drums a fuzzy sweater – it changes the sound entirely!
Also, some drummers swear by tuning their drums differently* based on the room they’re playing in. A small, dead room might need brighter, more open heads. A big, live hall might need something more controlled. It’s a whole science, but also kind of an art form. It’s like being a mad scientist, but with drums!
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment!
The absolute best drum skin for *your metal kit is the one that sounds best to you. Don’t just listen to what everyone else is doing. Grab a few different types, throw them on your drums, and see what happens. You might be surprised by what you discover.
Are you going for that super tight, controlled sound for blast beats? Or do you want those toms to sing with a bit more sustain for melodic passages? The skins are your playground. They’re the knobs and levers you can tweak to get exactly the sound you’re after.
So go forth, brave drummer! Explore the wonderful world of drum skins. Experiment, have fun, and remember: the louder and more awesome your drums sound, the better your metal will be. Now go make some noise!