# Best Drum Heads for Djent — MetalForge **Guide URL:** https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-heads-for-djent ## Who This Guide Is For Djent drummers who want to know which drum heads deliver the tight, controlled attack the genre demands — and what Tomas Haake, Matt Halpern, Matt Garstka, and Blake Richardson actually use. Covers Evans EC2 SST, Evans Hydraulic, Remo Emperor X, and more across all budgets. --- ## Why Djent Needs a Different Drum Head Philosophy Djent's polyrhythmic, palm-muted, high-gain riffing demands toms and snares that speak instantly and decay fast — the opposite of what most metal drum heads are built for. A head that rings too long smears the pocket between the kick and a syncopated guitar riff. Tomas Haake built Meshuggah's mechanical precision around drum heads that respond immediately and get out of the way. Matt Halpern (Periphery) and Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders) both need every tom hit to read as a distinct pitch. Blake Richardson of Between the Buried and Me runs a documented combination of Evans Hybrid on snare, EMAD on kicks, and EC2 SST on toms — chosen specifically to control ring at different points across the kit. --- ## Recommended Drum Heads for Djent ### 1. Evans EC2 SST Coated — Best Overall - **Construction:** 2-ply coated with Sound Shaping Technology edge ring - **Price range:** €30–€50 per head - **Best for:** Controlled tom attack for polyrhythmic, high-gain djent **Who uses it:** - **Blake Richardson** ([/drummer/blake-richardson](https://metalforge.io/drummer/blake-richardson)) — EC2 SST on toms for controlled prog-djent fills - **Tomas Haake** ([/drummer/tomas-haake](https://metalforge.io/drummer/tomas-haake)) — Evans EC2 for ultra-controlled polyrhythmic attack The SST edge ring dramatically reduces overtones without deadening the fundamental pitch, giving toms an instantly readable "thock" that sits perfectly under palm-muted, syncopated riffing. It's the head to reach for first if your toms sound too open for modern progressive metal production. --- ### 2. Evans Hydraulic Coated — Best for Maximum Dryness - **Construction:** 2-ply with oil layer between plies - **Price range:** €35–€55 per head - **Best for:** Ultra-dry, "dead" tom tone in recording contexts The oil layer between plies gives the most dramatic natural sustain reduction short of a fully muffled head, while retaining low-mid warmth that keeps dry toms from sounding thin. A popular choice for drummers recording djent who want the driest possible starting point before any additional dampening. --- ### 3. Remo Emperor X Coated — Best Remo Alternative - **Construction:** 2-ply coated with reinforced impact dot - **Price range:** €28–€45 per head - **Best for:** Djent drummers who prefer Remo's warmer voice with built-in control **Who uses it:** - **Tomas Haake** ([/drummer/tomas-haake](https://metalforge.io/drummer/tomas-haake)) — Remo endorser, controlled attack for polyrhythmic patterns Combines the double-ply Emperor's durability with a built-in muffling dot bonded beneath the top ply, giving a controlled, focused attack similar in spirit to Evans SST but with Remo's characteristically warmer overall voice. --- ### 4. Evans EMAD2 Clear — Best Kick Head - **Construction:** 2-ply with removable muffle ring system - **Price range:** €35–€50 per head - **Best for:** Tight, adjustable bass drum control under high-gain mixes **Who uses it:** - **Blake Richardson** ([/drummer/blake-richardson](https://metalforge.io/drummer/blake-richardson)) — EMAD-family heads for adjustable kick control A removable internal muffle ring plus a pre-installed foam damper lets you dial in exactly how controlled the low end is — from wide open to fully dead. Ideal for djent's palm-muted, syncopated bass drum patterns that need to sit tight under the guitar. --- ### 5. Evans G2 Coated — Best Versatile Pick - **Construction:** 2-ply coated (7mil + 7mil) - **Price range:** €25–€45 per head - **Best for:** A slightly more organic djent tone across the whole kit **Who uses it:** - **Matt Halpern** ([/drummer/matt-halpern](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-halpern)) — Evans endorser, crisp controlled attack - **Matt Garstka** ([/drummer/matt-garstka](https://metalforge.io/drummer/matt-garstka)) — Evans heads for instrumental djent clarity Not every djent tom needs SST-level control. The standard G2 gives a warm, focused attack with natural sustain reduction, letting a mix engineer add controlled gating rather than baking maximum dryness into the head itself. --- ## Evans vs Remo for Djent **Evans:** SST edge-ring technology (EC2 SST) is the closest thing to a djent-standard head. Hydraulic construction offers the driest tone available from either brand. Preferred by Matt Halpern, Matt Garstka, and Blake Richardson. **Remo:** Emperor X and Ambassador X built-in dot muffling offer a warmer alternative to SST. Preferred by Tomas Haake. **Verdict:** Evans EC2 SST is the default if you want the tightest, most consistent controlled tone across a full kit. Remo Emperor X is the pick for a slightly warmer voice with the same built-in muffling philosophy. --- ## FAQ **What drum heads do djent drummers use?** Djent drummers overwhelmingly favor controlled, muffled heads. Tomas Haake uses Remo, while Matt Halpern, Matt Garstka, and Blake Richardson use Evans. Blake Richardson's documented setup — Evans Hybrid on snare, EMAD on kicks, EC2 SST on toms — is the most detailed public reference for a djent-ready head combination. **Why do djent drummers use so much muffling on their drum heads?** Djent's polyrhythmic, palm-muted guitar riffing needs every drum hit to read as a distinct, short event rather than a ringing wash of overtones. Built-in muffling systems achieve this without tape or gel, keeping the kit tight enough to lock in with heavily gated, high-gain guitar tone. **What's the best kick drum head for djent?** Evans EMAD2 is the most flexible choice — its removable internal muffle ring lets you dial in exactly how tight or full the low end is. Blake Richardson uses an EMAD-family head on his kicks specifically for this adjustability. **Should djent toms use coated or clear heads?** Coated is the standard — it warms the attack and reduces brightness that would clash with scooped-mid, high-gain guitar tone. **Do I need SST or hydraulic heads to play djent?** A standard double-ply coated head like Evans G2 will get you most of the way there, especially live where a mix engineer can gate the toms. For recording or the tightest possible tone straight off the kit, SST-ring or hydraulic-construction heads remove the need for extra dampening entirely. --- ## Related Guides - [Best Drum Kits for Djent](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-kits-for-djent) - [Best Snare Drums for Djent](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-snare-drums-for-djent) - [Best Drum Heads for Metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-drum-heads-for-metal)