My name is Luca Bastian Romeo, known professionally as Luca B Drums. I’m a 16-year-old extreme metal drummer originally from Australia, now based in Las Vegas. I started playing drums in August 2019 at 9½ years old. By 14, I was touring the east coast and southern states of Australia with a blackened death metal band from Newcastle, gaining early professional live experience.
My chosen genre is extreme metal. Through my drum covers and performance content, I’ve built a strong online following. In 2025, I received the Artist and Creator Award at the Lake Mac Awards, Australia. I’m proudly endorsed by Pearl Drums, Vratim, and Footblaster, and I have a collaborative drumstick partnership with Scorpion Percussion. My goal is to continue growing as a player and join an established act within the extreme metal genre.
Luca’s Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luca_b_drums
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KLDmMU8sj
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lucabdrums
Luca Romeo Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Luca: I was about 9 1/2 years old
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Luca: No
SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
Luca: The top influences that really shaped my playing are:
- Rob Hirst – Midnight Oil (RIP)
- Eric Carr – Kiss (RIP)
- Mike Dupke – Wasp/Wednesday 13
- Nils “Dominator” Fjellström
- Steve Asheim
SDM: Who are some of your other favorites?
Luca: Currently…
- Nils “Dominator” Fjellström
- Simon Schilling
- Steve Asheim
- Fredrik Widigs
- Eugene Ryabchenko
- Frost
- Pete Sandoval
- George Kollias
- Brennan Shackelford
- Marthyn Jovanovic
- Anthony Barone
SDM: Let us know 5 bands in your current personal rotation.
Luca:
- Belphegor
- Marduk
- Dark Funeral
- 1349
- Nile
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Luca: I’m not currently performing with anyone at the moment but my routine is as follows.
On-Kit Warm-Up for 10 Minutes – Drum Fills Around the Kit I move through controlled fills across toms and cymbals to loosen my hands, improve coordination, and build flow around the kit.
10 Minutes – Single Leg Warm-Up. I isolate each leg to build strength, speed, and endurance, gradually increasing tempo while locking into the music.
25 Minutes – Blast Beat Practice.
Focused Work On:
- Traditional blast beats
- Endurance drills
- Timing precision with a click
Then I commence my session.
Post-Practice Recovery
- Wrist band resistance work
- Foam rolling for legs
- Light stretching every night
Recovery is just as important as the session itself to maintain long-term speed and durability.
SDM: Do you read music? Whether you answered yes or no, please tell us how it might have affected your playing.
Luca: I play everything by ear and I’m about 90% self-taught. Learning this way has really shaped my style — it’s developed naturally over the years through listening, experimentation, and the influences that inspire me.
Playing by ear has strengthened my musical instinct, timing, and feel, especially within extreme metal where dynamics, aggression, and flow are just as important as precision.
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Luca:
Pearl Maple Masters Black Mist 10” Tom
Pearl Maple Masters Black Mist 12” Tom
Pearl Maple Masters Black Mist 16” Tom
Pearl Export 18” Floor Tom
Pearl Maple Masters Black Mist 22 “ Kick Drum
Matt McGuire Signature 14″ x 6.5” Tour Edition Snare Drum
Pearl P-3502D Demon XR Double Bass Drum Pedal
Pearl DR513C Icon 3 Sided Curved Drum Rack
Pearl Mounted Hardware
Roland SPDSX Pro
Yamaha MG06X Mixer w/ Digital FX
Meinl 10” Classic Custom Splash
Meinl 10” Classic Custom Dark Splash
Meinl 12” Byzance Splash
Meinl 14” Metal Classic Custom Hi Hats
Meinl 15” Big Apple Dark Hi Hats
Meinl 16” Classic Custom Powerful Crash
Meinl 16” Byzance Traditional Trash
Meinl 17” Classic Custom Extreme Metal Crash
Meinl 18” Classic Custom Extreme Metal China
Meinl 19” Classic Custom Extreme Metal Crash
Meinl 20” Metal Classics Custom Ride
Pearl E-Merge Hybrid Kit
Scorpion Percussion Drumsticks
Roland Drum Triggers and Modules
Footblaster Practice Drum and Kick Pads
Vratim drum shoes
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…
Luca: Work hard, follow your heart, and most importantly — have fun. Discipline will make you better, but passion is what keeps you going.
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Luca: One of the best live performances I’ve experienced was Enmore Theatre in 2024, where I was invited by Pete Webber from Fear Factory and got to watch the band side stage. Seeing that level of precision and power up close was unforgettable. Most recently, watching Belphegor and Incantation at The Brooklyn Monarch in February 2026 was incredible — pure intensity and atmosphere from start to finish.
SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
Luca: I enjoy watching football (soccer), walking my dog, traveling, and spending time with my family.
