Founding Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo reflected on the band’s Reign in Blood to mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic album, saying, “It still gives me chills.”
In an interview with Loaded Radio, Lombardo was asked about Reign in Blood, which landed at No. 3 on Consequence‘s 75 Best Metal Albums of All Time.
He responded, “It still gives me the chills when I listen to that album. The palms of your hands get sweaty, your heart rate increases, and you’re in the moment. I performed those songs so many times in my life… When I listen to those songs, it triggers that adrenaline. I get charged. If I go into cardiac arrest, play ‘Angel of Death’ or ‘Raining Blood’ or something… watch me just pop up like, ‘hey, what’s going on?'”
Lombardo also discussed the benefits of Slayer’s raw approach to recording at the time, explaining, “Since computer software, music recording software, a lot of the music has turned very sterile. And so you kind of miss that push and pull of those albums that were almost restless… When we were recording those songs, we would look at each other and say, all right, let’s go. Come on, let’s fuckin’ kill it. Let’s nail this one. Let’s get this song faster. Play it just a little faster. Okay, let’s go. Count four.’ And the band would come in with ‘angst and adrenaline. And anger. Anxious, angst, adrenaline, everything.”
He also reflected on late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, the legendary songwriter of both “Angel of Death” and “Raining Blood,” among many, many others. “He was a great guy. He was funny. Amazing songwriter,” Lombardo said. “He was a trailblazer, man. He was, for the band, self-taught, and took it from there, and created some of the most amazing music of our genre.”
Lombardo parted ways with Slayer in 2013, but remains one of the most in-demand metal drummers in the world, currently playing with the Misfits and Mr. Bungle, among other acts.
Slayer, meanwhile, recently announced a “blood”-filled vinyl edition of Reign in Blood. The band has also been playing a series of shows in North and South America where they are performing Reign in Blood in its entirety, including an upcoming two-night stand at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on November 13th and 14th. Get tickets here.
See the full interview with Dave Lombardo below.