Dave Lombardo: “Reign in Blood” still gives me chills after forty years

Dave Lombardo, the founding drummer of Slayer, stated in a recent interview with Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio that the landmark extreme metal album Reign in Blood still induces physical reactions four decades after its release. The uncompromising thrash record marked its fortieth anniversary on Wednesday, October 7, maintaining a visceral impact on its primary creator.

The Record’s Enduring Physical Impact:
• Lombardo reported that listening to tracks like “Angel of Death” or “Raining Blood” still causes his palms to sweat, heart rate to accelerate, and adrenaline to spike.
• The drummer contrasted the raw, aggressive dynamics of recording sessions against modern software-assisted music production, which he characterized as sterile and lacking a “tira e molla” (push and pull) feel.
• The original tracking process relied on band members pushing each other to increase tempos in real time while looking at each other in the studio.

Physical and Psychological Reactions to Reign in Blood

Reflecting on how he views the album four decades later, Lombardo described a bodily response during an interview with Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio. “Oh, that record still gives me chills when I listen to it,” Lombardo said. “Your palms sweat, your heart rate speeds up and you feel completely immersed in the moment.” Having performed the material live many times, the drummer noted that the mere thought or playback of those songs triggers an immediate rush. “If I were to go into cardiac arrest, just put on ‘Angel of Death’, ‘Raining Blood’ or something like that and you’d see me bolt upright saying, ‘Hey, what’s going on?'”

Critique of Modern Recording Software and Studio Dynamics

When asked if thrash metal retains a special place in his heart, Lombardo expressed appreciation for quality work while criticizing contemporary production methods. “I appreciate thrash when it’s good quality,” Lombardo stated. “There are a lot of really positive — or rather, commendable — attempts, but with the advent of music recording software, much of the music has become very sterile.” He pointed out the absence of dynamic tension, describing older albums as “restless” and aggressively transparent in their execution.

Recalling the physical environment of tracking sessions, Lombardo detailed how the band’s collective performance decisions shaped the final product. “When we recorded those pieces, we would look at each other and say, ‘Ok, let’s go. Come on. Let’s smash everything. Let’s make it perfect. Let’s get the track done,'” he explained, noting how spontaneous prompts for faster tempos defined the aggressive momentum captured on tape.