Speaking with That Metal Show's Eddie Trunk on his official podcast, former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo discussed the possibility of returning to the band at some point in the future. 

Lombardo: "Would I go back? For the fans, and to retire that band correctly, I'm not gonna close any doors. Like I said before, when all this went down, my door's open, and that's basically all I have to say."

In a new interview with music writer Joel Gausten, former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo discusses a variety of topics including his new fine art series Rhythm Mysterium, his current project Philm and his guest appearance on Sepultura's 2013 album, The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart.

Thanks to a collaboration with the Los Angeles-based visual team SceneFour, Lombardo recently unveiled Rhythm Mysterium, a fine art series comprised of 12 different pieces. After accepting an invitation to be one of SceneFour's artist drummers, Lombardo was photographed in the dark using an array of drumsticks and rhythmic accessories that produce light, much like a painter utilizing brushes and oils. The movements featured within the captured rhythms were then studied and developed into abstract artwork. Lombardo selected and named the dozen pieces featured in the collection, while each numbered canvas in the series is signed by the man himself.

From the moment he first sat down to do the session, Lombardo knew it would be an unforgettable experience.

“Where we photographed the pieces was very inspiring,” he says. “It was in a kind of warehouse in Downtown Los Angeles, so it sounded really good. It was just a big, cavernous room. I just went off, and they started snapping pictures... At certain points, as I noticed the way they were shooting the pictures and everything, I realized, 'Wow, I could really make this picture look better if I give it my flair or my style. When I’m on stage, I’ve noticed that I swing my arms a little more. My movements are more exaggerated. I don't restrain myself when I play; my arms are swinging all over the place. So in this environment, instead of just doing a solo for myself, I gave it that live performance feel. That's why I feel that these pictures show a little more excitement, because of the way I approached the drumming.”

Although a great deal of Lombardo's recent musical exploits have been experimental in nature, that's not to say that he's done with metal. Anyone who picked up Sepultura's blistering 2013 album The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart was treated to a special appearance by the timekeeper on the track “Obsessed”. Always open to new experiences behind a drum kit, he jumped at the chance to create something special with his old friends.

“I was basically walking on the beach with my dog and my daughter,” he remembers. “I text messaged Ross Robinson, who was the producer of their new record. I said, 'Hey, man. How are you? I'm here with my dog. Can I go by? I want to introduce my dog to your dog.' They're both kind of the same; one's a Labrador and the other one's a Pointer. He said, 'Do you feel like playing drums?' That's how he answered; he didn't answer me with, 'Hey, man. How are you?' It was like, 'Hey, wanna play some drums?' I was like, 'Of course!' He said, 'Okay, come on over.' I went upstairs, and there were all the Sepultura guys, and they were setting up two drum sets face to face. That's when I met (current Sepultura drummer) Eloy (Casagrande). I had seen of video footage of his performances, and I was definitely impressed. We got together and started jamming, and we recorded that little section. Man, it was good fun. It was spontaneous, and it was creative. I thrive in that environment. I don't need no preparation; just put me in a situation and let's see what happens.”

The complete interview is available here.

Photo by Christy Borgman