Dave Lombardo

As the engine that drove the ultimate speed metal machine, Slayer, Dave Lombardo cemented his place as one of metal's best drummers with his combination of technical playing and incredible speed. His contributions to Slayer's masterpieces like Reign in Blood (1986) and Seasons in the Abyss (1990) would have been enough to merit a place in music history, but Lombardo worked extensively outside of Slayer with projects as wide ranging as the impressionistic fusion of Fantômas (a band with Faith No More's Mike Patton and the Melvins' King Buzzo), drumming for punk institutions like the Misfits and Suicidal Tendencies, and working across multiple genres with John Zorn, DJ Spooky, Philm, and many others. Lombardo also explored a wide range of drums, atmospheres, and rhythmic instruments on his 2023 solo album Rites of Percussion.