Drum Destroyers Part I
February 26, 2007 by Jo Minor
Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
Dave Lombardo has been with thrash metal titans Slayer since their inception in the early 80s - and has achieved tremendous success as a versatile percussionist. Before he teamed up with the guys in Slayer, he was a pizza delivery man - and has now been credited for contributing to classical music albums.
Lombardo possesses a great amount of stamina and speed in his drumming, but this Cuban born musician has a groovy feel to his percussion skills as well. His double bass drum playing sounds meaty and full, and his multi-tom fills have been a signature of Slayer since the very beginning - so much so that no other drummer really fit completely in the band in the time he was away.
Having drummed in Slayer’s classic albums (Hell Awaits, Reign In Blood, South Of Heaven and Seasons In The Abyss) he has also lent his drumming prowess to other such acts like Apocalyptica, Grip Inc. and Fantomas.
Lombardo left Slayer in the early 90s, due to differences with guitarist Kerry King - but returned to the fold a decade later, to the joy of Slayer fans worldwide. This original lineup is still recording and performing, and Lombardo’s first studio album since his return to the band was last year’s Christ Illusion - the album was a sure sign that he has only gotten better during his time away from the band that carved him a professional career in music.
Nicholas Barker (Testament)
It would be difficult to credit Nicholas Barker to just one band: this man has played for Cradle Of Filth, Brujeria, Dimmu Borgir, Old Man’s Child, Lock Up and Benediction prior to joining American thrash metal legends Testament for their upcoming recording - who are in the studio working on the follow up to their 1999 album The Gathering.
Although it would be unfair to remember the man for his numerous band changes, Barker’s main drumming weapon would be his multi-tom drum fills, and technical double bass drum work.
Barker’s incredible versatility and speed, coupled with his fearful appearance has made him one of the premier Black Metal drummers of all time - especially for his work with Cradle Of Filth, Old Man’s Child and Dimmu Borgir. Barker is also a master of the blast beat - rapid, machine-gun like drumming prevalent in death metal.
Richard Christy (Iced Earth)
Currently doing comedy on Howard Stern’s show, Richard Christy is an avid amateur movie director and comedian, as well as being one of the greatest drummers in the extreme metal genre.
Christy has worked with pioneering death metal band Death, Iced Earth and Demons & Wizards - among other bands - and is known for his rapid double bass drum playing and versatility. He found considerable comfort playing in death metal band and power metal bands alike.
Although he has almost totally quit playing, he still is a band member of the band Burning Inside, and continues to perform as a stand up comedian.
Chris Adler (Lamb Of God)
Perhaps post-thrash metal band Lamb Of God’s most destructive weapon, Chris Adler is the man responsible for the hyper-speed drum work of the band. Although relatively new in the metal scene, Adler has been hailed, again and again, as the spearhead of the next generation of talented extreme metal drummers - alongside newer names in the business like George Kollias, Tim Yeung and Joey Jordison. Adler has proven his worth through the bands six studio album and their terrifying live album Killadelphia, and we know that the man will continue to wreak havoc through speakers the world over for many years to come.
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