The Examiner.com’s Mark Morton recently conducted an interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo. Read excerpts from the interview below.

Examiner.com: It is also interesting to note that while Slayer is rooted in its history, it strives to be a forward-looking band. Are there things you proactively try to bring to the table to keep from repeating yourself?

Dave Lombardo: “Every album I put out, I give 100%. For me, the goal is to make each song that much better than the previous one, and not to try to perfect yourself. I think with perfection, you lose the spontaneity of your playing, and it becomes very sterile. I try to keep things very loose, and marry the rolls with the guitar riff or the change that’s occurring. I guess that’s an artistic side of me.”

I don’t try to out-create myself, or create the most complex drum roll or whatever. It has much more to do with “feel” and how those two parts go together – how the drums go together with the music. I like to be one of those drummers who actually add to the music, not one of those guys who sit in a room 24/7 trying to outwit or outplay another drummer. You have to be able to apply what you’ve done to the music.

Examiner.com: Do you ever feel haunted by the shadow of Reign Of Blood? To most metal fans, that album is heralded as the pinnacle of your achievements.

Dave Lombardo: “Hey, it’s great; I love it. Let that record haunt me all it wants! You see, bands strive to have a record like that, that becomes the pinnacle or the focal point – The record to listen to if you want to get into this kind of music. It sets a mood, it’s aggressive, and it’s brutal. To be a shadow or something negative is the wrong thing to say. I think it’s good to have under your belt.”

Examiner.com: And every Slayer show reflects that sort of celebratory feeling, despite all the violence. Does the sometimes overzealousness of the fans ever bother you?

Dave Lombardo: “Well, there are a lot of people who don’t get hurt at Slayer shows. It’s usually the ones in the pit and throwing punches. They just don’t know how to mosh. They think that throwing their arms around and karate-kicking is moshing, and all they are doing is inviting conflict. That’s when people get hurt.

It amazes me, because when we play shows in Europe, in places like Spain, Italy, and Greece, those people know how to mosh – they mosh the way it used to be, with kids all running in a big circle. It’s unfortunate, because the modern North American version of moshing is simply throwing your fists around. It’s more dangerous than fun now, and I think a lot of kids don’t even bother going into the pit because of that.

Examiner.com: Since we’re on the topic of moshing, what is your impression of the resurgence in the thrash metal genre, with new bands cropping up directly influenced by 20-25 year-old metal albums?

“I think it’s great! It just shows that everything comes around full circle. More power to thrash! It’s like what Jack Black said in that Tenacious D song, “You can’t destroy the metal!” And you can’t, because it’s real! It’s not produced by some wannabe musician who can’t go on stage or has to hire people to play his music. This is real musicians playing their music. I think that’s why it has lasted so long.”

Read the entire interview here.