For an 8" tom, I don't think I'd go with a more muffled head than this, as the sustain and tone with a smaller tom is already fairly limited. I find that the 8" tom is the first to start suffering from dead sounds when a more muffled head begins to lose its tone. A basic clear two-ply head is a great choice and will give you good results for a punchy sound.
Every Evans head I've ever owned have had good quality, sound, and durability, and the G2s are my go-to drum heads for heavier music. Clear G2s give more attack and clarity than their coated counterparts. Easy to tune, good tuning range, durable, and great tone, what more can you ask for.
