A song with a cool drum intro
When you hear “songs with cool intros,” many people probably think of striking guitar riffs.
After all, the standout part in a rock band is the guitar—naturally.
That said, drums can be incredibly cool too! In this article, we’ll introduce a bunch of rock classics—both Western and Japanese—featuring songs with awesome drum intros.
We’ve got everything from tracks that kick off with flashy drum solos to more connoisseur-friendly picks where a simple beat overflows with groove and sounds unbelievably cool.
The playlist centers on timeless rock classics, but if you love drums, this is a must-see for everyone, young and old!
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Songs with cool drum intros (1–10)
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
The signature song of the American grunge band Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” After that striking guitar cutting in the intro, many people probably admired the drums that come in and go wild during the introduction.
It’s drumming that feels like it speaks for teenagers’ emotions.
By the way, Teen Spirit, which is also the title of the song, is the name of a deodorant used by young people, and after the song became a hit, the company that made the product reportedly used the song’s title in their advertising.
2×4Metallica
Reigning at the pinnacle of thrash metal, Metallica made a major shift away from their traditionally fast tempos toward a groove-centric, louder sound with their 1991 album Metallica and 1996’s Load.
Although this change of direction drew considerable criticism, it undeniably had a significant impact on the next generation of young metal bands, and these albums were major hits.
The intro to 2×4 epitomizes Lars Ulrich’s drumming from that period, conveying a focus on the weight of each stroke rather than cramming in dense note patterns.
Omoide In My HeadNUMBER GIRL
Number Girl, the legendary foursome from Fukuoka! Formed in 1995, they disbanded roughly three years after their major-label debut in 1999—a brief career like a gust of wind—yet countless musicians openly name them as an influence.
In 2019, they suddenly announced a reunion, creating a buzz among people who remembered their heyday and younger music fans who had long admired them as legends.
The band’s backbone, drummer Ahito Inazawa, is known for a playing style that seems to embody the band’s runaway emotion, as well as for his astonishingly dense fills.
In live shows, their iconic anthem “OMOIDE IN MY HEAD” famously kicks off after frontman Shutoku Mukai’s introduction—“Drums, Ahito Inazawa”—and its intro distills the essence of Inazawa’s style and the sheer coolness of the drum kit.
The studio recordings are great, but be sure to check out the live tracks!
Songs with cool drum intros (11–20)
city[Alexandros]
![city[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9diDOTtnneY/sddefault.jpg)
In the early band track “city,” released during their [Champagne] era, it marked the first recording after drummer Akihiro Shomura joined, and it came out in 2010.
The song begins with a guitar arpeggio, then unfolds into a tight, punchy intro where all the members are perfectly in sync.
Here, the drums center on the snare, and the phrases skillfully alternate between open and closed hi-hats, creating a tense, gripping introduction.
crimsonX JAPAN
It’s one of the signature songs by the legendary band X JAPAN, who dominated Japan’s music scene in the ’90s and have remained popular ever since! At BPM 156, the bass drum plays continuous sixteenth notes while incorporating tom runs and two-beat phrases.
Even just the 12-bar intro features a highly dynamic performance that uses the full drum set! Each part of this song is quite challenging—it’s something of a rite of passage—and many drummers probably dream of trying to play it at least once.
Blue TrainASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Speaking of songs with cool drum intros, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION’s “Blue Train” is also incredibly striking.
It’s a track that underpins the album “Fanclub,” which many would surely call their masterpiece.
When I first heard it, it was the first time I’d encountered a song like this, and it blew me away.
Beyond the meticulously tight band ensemble, I’m utterly intoxicated from start to finish by Kiyoshi’s tricky yet melodious drumming.
The drums keep a train-like rhythm, exactly as the title suggests.
Listening to “Blue Train” while riding a train is a wonderful way to spend the time.
TemptationGLAY
GLAY’s hit song “Yuwaku,” a defining track of the ’90s.
It’s something only players might notice, but the song actually shifts into odd time signatures here and there, starting right from the intro! And that intro is a showcase for the drums.
The opening snare phrase is simple yet striking, and the groove that follows is just so cool.
Especially the section that switches to 3/4—it’s not a particularly difficult phrase, but when you nail it, it sounds awesome.
Drummers, definitely give it a try!