Dave Lombardo's Drum Setup on Slayer's World Painted Blood (2009) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Dave Lombardo use on World Painted Blood?

Dave Lombardo recorded World Painted Blood (2009) using a Tama Starclassic Maple kit — a return to Tama after using Pearl Masters MCX on Christ Illusion. The setup included two 22x18-inch bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. The all-maple shells delivered a tighter, punchier attack suited to Greg Fidelman's dry, direct production approach.

Was World Painted Blood Dave Lombardo's last Slayer album?

Yes. World Painted Blood (2009) was Dave Lombardo's final Slayer studio album. He was dismissed during sessions for Repentless in 2013, closing a 30-year association with the band that began with Show No Mercy in 1983. Paul Bostaph recorded Repentless (2015) as his replacement. World Painted Blood is the definitive endpoint of the Lombardo Slayer recording arc.

What cymbals did Dave Lombardo use on World Painted Blood?

Dave Lombardo used Zildjian K Custom Dark series cymbals on World Painted Blood — a shift from the brighter Zildjian A Custom series he had used on Christ Illusion. The K Custom Dark's hand-hammered construction produces a darker, more complex tone with deeper lows. His setup included K Custom Dark 14" Hi-Hats, 16" and 18" Crashes, a 20" Ride, and an 18" China in the traditional position above the floor tom.

What pedals did Dave Lombardo use on World Painted Blood?

Dave Lombardo used Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide pedals for World Painted Blood — two single pedals on separate bass drums, consistent with his double-bass configuration across all Slayer albums. The Power Glide cam design produces a smooth, linear feel across the full stroke range, which suited his need for sustained precision across high-tempo double-bass passages. This represented a return to Tama hardware after using Pearl Demon Drive pedals on Christ Illusion.

What is the song "Psychopathy Red" about?

"Psychopathy Red" from World Painted Blood is about Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, who murdered at least 52 people in the Soviet Union between 1978 and 1990. The track was one of the album's most discussed songs and contributed to its controversy narrative. It became associated with significant search traffic around the World Painted Blood album and was banned or restricted in several markets due to its subject matter.