What happens when a pop-punk drummer takes on one of metal’s heaviest anthems?
Johnny Keefe has spent his career bringing tight grooves and big energy to the stage with Boys Like Girls. So when we invited him to react to a heavy, aggressive track he’d never heard before, we expected fireworks.
But what we didn’t expect? That it would take seven songs to find one he hadn’t already heard.
We ran through a gauntlet of tracks — from Nine Inch Nails and Alice In Chains to Van Halen, James Brown, Marilyn Manson, and even 311. Johnny knew them all. Finally, we hit play on “Roots Bloody Roots” by Sepultura — and struck gold.
What followed was a reimagining that fused punk energy with tribal heaviness, turning a legendary metal anthem into something fresh and unexpected. Here’s Johnny’s gear breakdown of the Drums, Snares, Cymbals and Heads that powered his take during the Drumeo YouTube performance.
To deliver the kind of low-end wallop this track demands, Johnny sat behind a 1976 Ludwig Vistalite — the kind of kit that looks as bold as it sounds.
The big sizes gave Johnny a thunderous foundation to build from — especially crucial for mimicking the tribal intensity of the original without losing his punk edge.
🎯Modern Option:
Ludwig Vistalite Zep 4-piece (Europe – 3-piece option) offers the same massive acrylic sound and sizes inspired by the Bonham-era setup — making it the closest current production model for anyone chasing that same tone and presence.
Johnny alternated between two snares to shift between textures: one for a deep, authoritative backbeat, and one for tighter, higher-end definition.
To deliver both impact and atmosphere, Johnny reached for a carefully chosen set of Zildjians that gave him fast crashes, dirty accents, and plenty of wash.
This cymbal setup let him move from quick jabs to enormous splashes of sound — great for both punk chorus crashes and atmospheric tribal moments.
Johnny used Remo Controlled Sound Clear Drumheads w/ Black Dot (Europe) heads across the toms — delivering balanced tone with extra durability, perfect for hard-hitting passages.
These Remo Controlled Sound heads gave him the projection needed to cut through the wall of sound without overwhelming the groove.
It’s not every day you hand a pop-punk drummer a Sepultura track and get a version that grooves this hard.
Johnny Keefe may have come from a different world sonically, but his instincts for rhythm, space, and feel made his performance not only compelling — but surprisingly faithful to the spirit of the original.
Tribal. Pummeling. Groovy. Punk.
If you’re looking to recreate Johnny’s massive sound, you can find this gear at Sweetwater or Thomann if you are overseas. If this video lit a spark to start drumming (or sharpen your chops), take the next step and click the link to try Drumeo, free for 7 Days.
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Drumeo Team - We're professional, award-winning drummers and drum teachers, coaches, recording artists, and content specialists who are passionate about drums and helping drummers around the world. This post was written and/or edited by Brandon Toews, Jared Falk, Dave Atkinson, or another pro on our team (which has a combined 1000+ years of drumming experience). Are you looking for inspiration, education, and support to take your playing to the next level? Join the Drumeo community today!
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