by JOHNSON CUMMINS

When Slayer released their third record, 1986’s thrash-metal classic Reign in Blood, they defined the genre perfectly and crowned themselves the undisputed kings of speed. Future albums like South of Heaven and their last studio release, 2001’s God Hates Us All saw them branching out past the light-speed BPMs, but their pummelling proved no less punishing. True, they have always been ones for pushing buttons, and true, that they may be Beelzebub’s favourite lounge band, but their violent, demonic imagery and lyrics hardly tell the whole picture.

While their contemporaries, like Metallica, began wearing eyeliner and feather boas, and snuggling up to Limp Bizkit, Slayer always stuck to their guns, ignoring the mainstream and ascending to the ranks of the heaviest bands happening today.

Despite providing the beats for such brutal anthems like “Eyes of the Insane,” “Dead Skin Mask” and “Angel of Death,” Slayer (and currently, Fantômas) drummer Dave Lombardo proved to be quite polite and mild-mannered throughout the interview. The Mirror talked to this father of three over the phone during a tour stop, prior to his meet and greet at Steve’s Music, preceding Slayer’s headlining of the Unholy Alliance mega-show.

Mirror: First off, congratulations on June 6, 2006 [06/06/06] being unofficially declared Slayer Appreciation Day.

Dave Lombardo: Thanks.

M: What did you do to celebrate?

DL: Nothing really too evil. I think I actually just cleaned out my garage (laughs).

M: You left the band for almost 10 years. How did you get back in?

DL: There were some problems with Paul [Bostaph, Slayer’s second drummer], and I just found out last night that it was Jeff [Hanneman, guitarist] that really wanted me back in the band. I think Kerry [King, guitarist] had his reservations over whether I would be able to play Slayer songs. I was playing in Testament for a while, and Kerry came to our show in L.A. and kind of gave me a bad review. It’s really water under the bridge now, we’re really comfortable with each other again. When I started in this band, I was fresh out of high school and we got to create this style of music together. Having grown up playing in Slayer, it was easy to come back and do it again. I haven’t heard a single complaint yet.

M: I have seen Slayer a lot, and you consistently have the most violent pits. What was the scariest one you ever saw?

DL: The one that instantly comes to mind is the Paladium in L.A., in 1986, on the Reign in Blood tour. We played the first song, “Reign in Blood,” and this giant pit just opened up. Then two other slightly smaller pits opened up behind the big pit. I just remember playing and looking out at these three pits and that it looked like Mickey Mouse with the giant pit being his face and the two smaller pits behind looking like his ears.

M: You’ve been called the ultimate thrash-metal drummer. After playing such outside and challenging music with Fantômas, does that title irk you?

DL: Well, I guess it does feel good to be number one at something. It’s nice to know that people think I’ve mastered that style of drumming, but there are always new guys coming up.

At Steve’s Music on Monday, July 3, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., free. Slayer join Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, Mastodon and Thine Eyes Bleed at the Bell Centre on Monday, July 3, 5:30 p.m., $34.50-$49.50, all ages

>> Music Listings