Dave Lombardo recently commented on his current relationship with Slayer’s landmark 1986 album Reign in Blood. He shared his thoughts in a new interview.
The statement focused on how the record still affects the original Slayer drummer physically and emotionally decades after its release.
“Oh, it still gives me the chills when I listen to that album,” Lombardo said. “The palms of your hands get sweaty, your heart rate increases, and you’re in the moment.”
Lombardo went on to explain that performing the material on stage over the years has kept that rush alive for him.
“I’ve performed those songs so many times in my life on stage, and that adrenaline, just thinking about it, and when I listen to those songs, it triggers that adrenaline, I get charged,” he said. “If I go into cardiac arrest, play ‘Angel Of Death’ or ‘Raining Blood’ or something, and watch me just pop up, like, ‘Hey, what’s going on?'”
The comments arrive at a fitting moment. Reign in Blood reached its 40th anniversary on October 7.
The album has a lasting reputation as one of the most uncompromising records in metal. It runs 10 songs in roughly 29 minutes. Its stripped-back production left no room for filler. Critics have called it “the first and last word on speed metal.”
Its commercial run was modest at first. The album debuted at No. 127 on the Billboard 200. It later peaked at No. 94. It was certified gold in the United States in 1992. That certification confirmed its long-term influence.
Lombardo’s own history with Slayer was far from straightforward. He briefly left the band during the tour that followed the album’s release. He returned in 1987. He departed again in 1992 and rejoined in 2001. He left for the final time in 2013.
Since then, Lombardo has stayed active across several projects. His credits include Testament, Mr. Bungle, Dead Cross and Fantômas. His remarks suggest that the album he helped define in 1986 still sparks the same adrenaline today.
Source: Loaded Radio
