Mike Bax at Canada's Lithium Magazine caught up with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo at Heavy T.O., held July 23rd-24th at Downsview Park in Toronto, Ontario. An excerpt is available below:

Mike: It feels to me that there’s kind of a re-investment in the genre of thrash metal right now.

Dave: "There is, thanks to METALLICA and their high visibility and commercial appeal. They kind of crossed over into that and it’s good, it’s helping all of us. I think it’s amazing."

Mike: I watched the footage on that Big Four DVD. It’s thrilling as a consumer and a fan, but it’s got to be pretty special to you guys back stage as well.

Dave: "It is. It’s amazing. I mean Lars (Ulrich) and I have always gotten along. I never ever had any problems with Lars, and no, I’m not just kissing ass. After hanging out backstage, they come and visit us, we go on stage with him; I visit him behind his drum riser - its cool. And also seeing Trujillo (Robert Trujillo, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE bassist and current bass player for Metallica), and having Gary on board, Gary Holt from EXODUS, and the connection between Kirk Hammett and Gary. They had not played together in thirty something years until the big four."

Mike: Even as early as three years ago, people who have been following the genre would’ve been like, “There’s no way those four bands would play together”. The fact that it’s happening, and I take a look at all the photographs that were taken backstage with all the players hanging out and having fun, its looks pretty fucking good.

Dave: "It puts away any doubts that these bands can’t get along, or any stories and all that shit, it puts it to rest. That’s the thing that gets to me, if we can’t all get on stage… the one time I had to get a tattoo done and that was the only time I was able to do it. It was a four and a half hour session; don’t get mad because I’m not up on stage doing the Big Four jam. Or if Slayer doesn’t make it, or Tom (Araya) doesn’t make it, it is what it is."

Click here for the complete interview.

As previously reported, BW&BK;/Bravewords.com founder/commander-in-chief Tim Henderson caught up with Lombardo at Heavy T.O. Check out the interview below:

Cameras: Dave Cardoso & Jason Deaville

Edited by: Dave Cardoso

(Photo by Mike Bax)