DAVE LOMBARDO Says SLAYER's Next Album Will Offer 'Nothing New'

Metal Wani editor in chief Owais "Vitek" Nabi recently conducted an interview with former SLAYER and current PHILM drummer Dave Lombardo. You can now listen to the chat below.

Asked how he feels about the material that SLAYER is recording right now and whether he agrees with the statement that it is the band's "best ever" — a comment which Nabi attributes to SLAYER guitarist Kerry King, but offers no source for — Lombardo said: "Do I feel the same about the material? It's the best ever? That's pretty much a very self-absorbed comment to say about your music."

He continued: "I, quite honestly, don't have an opinion about the music. What I do know is that we've been working on those same songs that they're recording right now, I've worked on those songs since 2011, with Kerry. So those songs are not new. And all they're doing is replacing my drums; that's all they're doing. They're replacing my drums with the other drummer [Paul Bostaph], his playing.

"I mean, I have all the tracks, I have all the songs. It's typical SLAYER. If you wanna listen to this album, you might as well just pick up the last album. It's nothing new."

Lombardo also spoke about the "business side of metal" and how important it is for people to learn the ins and outs of the industry before attempting to pursue a career in music. He said: "I think, like in any business that you become a part of, you need to always educate yourself in the business. Artists, musicians sometimes turn their backs in trying to understand the business side of the music industry, but I think it's very important that musicians, drummers, anybody involved in this industry, they need to educate themselves. And it's just a very important part that you need as a career."

Lombardo recently told the "Let There Be Talk" podcast about SLAYER's tendency to write riffs that sound alike:"When you get to a point, like I get on stage with my former band [SLAYER], where the riffs start sounding similar to other riffs. So I'm playing 'Chemical Warfare', and I think I'm in another fucking song, and I'm, like, 'Oh, fuck. I thought I was in…' That really fucks with me. And then I'm trying to see what the guys are playing on the frets to distinguish what song… Oh, man. That's happened to me a couple of times, and that's a little frustrating. That's when you know, for sure, that your music is starting to sound the same."

Lombardo was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the band's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. Filling in for him was Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX).

In an interview with Brazil's Portal 7, Lombardo was asked if he has any plans to ever get back together with the members of SLAYER. He replied: "I have no plans. I mean, they can knock on my door, but I don't know if I'll answer. [Laughs]"

Lombardo continued: "I don't know. Right now I'm focused on my new band, I'm focusing on my drum clinics, writing music, on staying creative. And I just stay focused and don't let what happened in the past bother me or in any way inhibit my progress with the future."

PHILM released its sophomore album, "Fire From The Evening Sun", on September 16 (one day earlier internationally) via UDR. The band's lineup is completed by guitarist/vocalist Gerry Paul Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE),and bassist Francisco "Pancho" Eduardo Tomaselli (WAR).