Famed for their aluminum sticks, Ahead have ventured into a new area. On the Ahead stand were some new metal snares. Now, I must admit to not being tremendously excited by the prospect of another new snare drum, but at the risk of sounding like an advert… "That was before I heard it!" The shells are very thin and are 14" or 13" x 6" in black chrome over brass. They have tube lugs, Fat Cat snares (with the adjustable tension inner wires), S-Hoops (triple flange hoops with a larger top flange angled over the bearing edge, which sound more like cast hoops), Tight Screw tens rods (which have an insert of nylon to guarantee they never de-tune) and a choice of Dunnett or Trick throw offs. Now, on paper, they should sound good, but I think that Gerry and I decided they were they best snare we had heard so far at NAMM. When the person who was showing us them first hit one, a guy who was passing stopped and came over and asked what the snare was as it sounded 'incredible!' It is stupidly loud (making us blink in a hall with 20m high ceilings) but also REALLY musical. One to check out.

Ahead have expanded their already well established line of aluminium drumsticks with the Bamstix, Rockstix, Tipstix and switch mallet.

The Bamstix come in heavy and light models and feature the sturdy aluminium handle, with bamboo rods.

The Rockstix feature sturdy fibre rods with the signature Ahead aluminium handle, and are available in heavy and light models.

The Tipstix feature the same durable fibre rods as the Rockstix, but end with an Ahead hi-tensile plastic tip.

The switch mallet is an Ahead 5A stick with a mallet head at the butt end. These sticks are easily switched round for timpani or cymbal work. Giving you all the benefits of Ahead sticks which ever way round you need to use it.

Ahead sticks provide many benefits. Giving more power for less effort and 50% less shock than wooden sticks, lasting 6 to 10 times longer than their standard wooden contemporaries. They also cause less damage to cymbals due to shock absorption, and are the only stick with a 60 day warranty.

The precision alloy core guarantees weight and balance variations of less than 1 %, compared to as much as 20% with wood.

Super hard polyurethane replacement covers protect your sticks and your gear.

The expansive range of Ahead sticks covers all the standard models and much more besides. Innovative new models like the 5AB hybrid prove Ahead as a forward thinker. The hybrid blends the 5B handle into a 5A taper giving the new 5ABs superb balance and versatility.

Signature models include: Lars Ulrich, Joey Jordison, Tommy Lee and Travis Smith amongst other top names.

Apart from the visionary aluminium sticks, Ahead also produce top quality accessories. Including drumming gloves with reinforced "hotspots" for longer life. Grip tape offering superior feel and durability, so you use less energy gripping the stick, and more on what's important, drumming. The Ahead stick bag is a luxurious item allowing easy organisation of all those drumming essentials, able to withstand life on the road. The klip-it drumkey can be clipped anywhere, easily fastened and unfastened when you need it. Ahead also produce high quality T-shirts, wallets and key rings for the enthusiast.