Bundle Drum Sheet Easy – Royal Blood – Where Are You Now

When Royal Blood unveiled “Where Are You Now” in 2016, it stood apart from their core catalogue as something both cinematic and urgent. The track wasn’t born out of a typical album session but was created specifically for HBO’s Vinyl, a series steeped in the chaos and grit of the 1970s music scene. The producers wanted a sound that captured that wild era while staying true to Royal Blood’s lean, ferocious two-piece setup. What emerged was a song that feels both haunting and explosive, a perfect marriage of Mike Kerr’s brooding bass and Ben Thatcher’s commanding drums.

The writing process leaned into their chemistry: Kerr built a distorted, riff-heavy bassline that carried the track’s tension, while Thatcher provided its pulse and power. What makes the song particularly thrilling for drum fans is Thatcher’s ability to shape its narrative through rhythm. The drums open with a deliberate restraint, giving the impression of a slow burn, before bursting into dramatic fills that punctuate the song’s emotional intensity. His snare cracks like gunfire, and the toms roll with a stormy weight, turning the rhythm into a voice of its own.

The track first reached listeners through its placement in Vinyl’s season finale, where it underscored the show’s climactic energy. But the real transformation happened when Royal Blood took it to the stage. Live, Thatcher played with even greater ferocity, making the drums not just the backbone of the song but its most dominant feature. Fans often remarked how the live version felt heavier, darker, and more visceral—thanks largely to the drumming that shook the venues.

For drumming enthusiasts, “Where Are You Now” is a study in contrasts. Thatcher moves seamlessly between restraint and aggression, knowing when to let silence breathe and when to unleash thunder. It’s this balance that keeps the track gripping from start to finish. In a band without guitars, the responsibility on drums is immense, and Thatcher rises to it with precision and power, proving that rhythm can be just as expressive as melody.

Though it was conceived as a one-off for television, the song has remained a fan favorite, not only for its intensity but also as a showcase of Thatcher’s artistry. “Where Are You Now” reminds us that the drums in Royal Blood don’t simply keep time—they set the stage for the storm.