Rites Of Percussion

Album review

Dave Lombardo's drumming in Slayer inarguably altered the course of thrash metal, but his musical journey was hardly limited to mere metal excellence. In addition to multiple phases of activity with Slayer, Lombardo's decades-long career included projects as wide-ranging as the bizarre art rock fusion of Fantômas, stints with hardcore legends like Suicidal Tendencies and the Misfits, and collaborations with experimentalists like John Zorn and DJ Spooky. His solo album, Rites of Percussion, draws on pieces of Lombardo's various approaches to rhythm and sound, keeping drums and percussion instruments at the core of its 13 songs but incorporating other atmospheric sounds and textures into its cinematic design. Recorded mostly at Lombardo's home studio, Rites of Percussion is a combination of improvisation and composed pieces. The procession of the playing makes it difficult to discern which parts are charted-out compositions and which parts fly out as they happen. "Separation from the Sacred" begins with booming kettle drums before launching into runs of Lombardo's signature style of unflinching double-bass runs and technically precise playing. The song feels like a classic rock drum solo until it momentarily breaks down into a section of watery hand percussion before ending in a storm of industrial, percussive noise. "Journey of the Host" is similar, moving through multi-tracked rhythms into short bursts of synth/Theremin noise and digital effects that briefly sideswipe the entire mix. A ghoulish piano and sheets of eerie atmosphere start "Interfearium," one of many tracks on Rites of Percussion with a horror movie soundtrack feel. Lombardo uses percussion sparingly but effectively here, with gongs and washes of cymbals filling in the space around the chilling melodies and growing into a brief but gnawing patter of hand drums. In moments of both skittering free form ("Blood Let") and tightly wound technicality ("Inner Sanctum"), Lombardo has complete control over the entire musical picture. This control, combined with ambitious stylistic explorations, keeps an album that's primarily comprised of solo drum performances engaging and dynamic as it travels through its various pockets of intensity and calm.

© Fred Thomas /TiVo