# Reign in Blood Drum Setup: Dave Lombardo's Gear Breakdown

> The complete drum gear breakdown for Slayer's Reign in Blood. Discover Dave Lombardo's kit, cymbals, and the recording techniques that created the most intense thrash album ever.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Dave Lombardo](/llms/drummers/dave-lombardo.md)
**Band / Album:** Slayer — *Reign in Blood* (1986)
**Genre:** Thrash Metal

## Overview

On October 7, 1986, Slayer released Reign in Blood — 29 minutes of the most intense, uncompromising thrash metal ever recorded. At the center of this sonic assault was Dave Lombardo, whose drumming set new standards for speed, precision, and controlled chaos in heavy music.

Produced by Rick Rubin at Eldorado Recording Studios in Hollywood, Reign in Blood stripped away the excess of mid-80s metal production. The drums were dry, punchy, and in-your-face — no reverb-soaked power ballad sounds here. Rubin captured Lombardo's playing with brutal honesty.

From the opening seconds of "Angel of Death" (a song so controversial it delayed the album's release), Lombardo's double bass assault announces that this album would be different. The sustained blast beats, the Cuban-influenced fills, the sheer stamina required for songs like "Necrophobic" and "Criminally Insane" — all captured with clarity and impact.

This article examines every piece of gear Dave Lombardo used to create this landmark recording, plus the techniques that made Reign in Blood's drum sound the template for extreme metal.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Tama Artstar II (Piano Black finish)
- **Snare:** Tama Tama Superstar Steel, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Paiste — Paiste RUDE / 2002
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra (prototype); Tama Titan; Tama 1st Chair; Pro-Mark 2B Wood Tip
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** High tension, tight snare wires for maximum attack

### Lombardo's Weapon: The Tama Setup

For Reign in Blood, Dave Lombardo used a Tama Artstar II kit in Piano Black finish. The Artstar II was Tama's professional series, featuring birch shells known for their punchy attack and focused low-end — perfect for the aggressive thrash sound Slayer was developing.

The double bass drum setup was essential to Lombardo's style. Unlike many drummers who use a double pedal on a single bass drum, Dave insisted on two separate 22" drums for maximum impact and consistency. Each drum was independently miked, giving engineer Andy Wallace complete control in the mix.

The tom configuration was relatively standard for the era: two rack toms and two floor toms. However, Lombardo's playing was anything but standard — his lightning-fast fills moved around the kit with precision and power that few could match.

The birch shells of the Artstar II provided the attack and projection needed to cut through Slayer's wall of guitars. The die-cast hoops added sustain control and durability, essential for Lombardo's aggressive stick attacks.

### The Crack of Doom

The snare sound on Reign in Blood is one of the most imitated in thrash metal — tight, cutting, with a crack that pierces through the fastest passages. Lombardo achieved this with a Tama Superstar steel snare, a workhorse drum known for its bright, articulate sound.

The 14" x 6.5" dimensions gave the drum both the cutting attack and enough body to hold its own against the guitars. The steel shell provided more high-frequency overtones than brass or wood, essential for the album's aggressive aesthetic.

Rick Rubin's production approach was minimal: close-mic the drum, capture the performance, don't overthink it. The snare was recorded with a Shure SM57 on top and nothing else — no bottom mic, no room mics specifically for snare ambience. This gave the sound its dry, direct character.

Lombardo tuned the snare high and cranked the snare wires tight, eliminating excessive ring and maximizing attack. The result was a snare that could be heard clearly even during blast beats and double bass onslaughts.

### Paiste Power

Dave Lombardo's cymbal choices for Reign in Blood reflected his aggressive style. He combined Paiste's RUDE series — specifically designed for heavy hitting — with select pieces from the classic 2002 line.

The RUDE series cymbals were revolutionary when introduced in 1984. Made from CuSn8 bronze but with special tempering, they could withstand the abuse of extreme metal playing while maintaining a raw, aggressive sound. The "Wild" crashes got their name from their unlathed, raw bells and wild overtones.

For hi-hats, Lombardo used Paiste 2002 Sound Edge, known for their crisp attack and clean "chick" sound. The rippled bottom cymbal gave articulation that cut through even the fastest playing — essential for songs like "Piece by Piece" with their relentless hi-hat work.

The multiple China cymbals were crucial to Slayer's sound. The trashy, explosive accents punctuated riffs and announced transitions. Lombardo's use of Chinas influenced generations of metal drummers who adopted them as essential to the genre.

## Key Facts

- Recorded in just three weeks at Eldorado Studios, Hollywood
- Rick Rubin's production emphasized raw power over polish
- Album runs only 29 minutes but contains no filler
- Lombardo's performance influenced every extreme metal drummer since
- Double bass drums for maximum attack, not a double pedal
- Birch shells provided attack and projection
- Piano Black finish matched Slayer's stage aesthetic
- This kit would remain Dave's preference through the 80s
- Estimated kit value: $2,500-3,500 (1986)
- Estimated snare value: $250-350 (1986)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/reign-in-blood-drum-setup

**More LLM resources:** [Site index](/llms.txt) · [Full database](/llms-full.txt) · [Master FAQ](/llms/faq.md) · [Drummer index](/llms/index.md)

*Last updated: 2026-06-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*