What's left to be said about Dave Lombardo? The dude is a beast — as he's proven drumming with Slayer, Misfits, Suicidal Tendencies, Testament and any number of Mike Patton-fronted projects, from Mr. Bungle to Dead Cross.
What does Lombardo have left to say? A helluva lot, it turns out. Indeed, the master timekeeper has just announced his first-ever solo record, a "drum album" fittingly titled Rites of Percussion, and offered up its lead single, the jaw-dropping "Journey of the Host." Blast it above.
The 13-track collection was recorded with a simple mantra — drums had to be drums — and it features a massive range of instruments: a large concert bass drum, a timpani, a grand piano, and an array of shakers, maracas, Chinese and symphonic gongs, Native American drums, congas, timbales, bongos, batás, wood blocks, djembes, ibos, darbukas, octobans, cajóns and cymbals.
"Patton originally gave me the idea as far back as 1998," Lombardo commented. "He introduced me to Tito Puente's Top Percussion album. I was already familiar with Tito and was a bit shocked that Patton was so musically diverse, and that he surrounded himself with musicians of the same mindset. That inspired me. I have had ideas that I've recorded on cassette over the years, but Patton kept insisting that I had to do a 'drum album.' So, the idea behind the album is years in the making. I just had to find the right time — for me — to do it."
He continued: "When the pandemic hit, I thought, 'Well, I can't tour now.' I immediately started working on the record. It was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. I had my studio, all my drums. Nothing was in storage for once! My home became a place where I could be free and creative. On the one hand, the touring part of my livelihood had been taken away, but on the other, I finally had the time to educate myself on different software and recording techniques. It was a very educational and gratifying experience."
Rites of Percussion is due out May 5th via Ipecac Recordings and available for pre-order now.
