# Dave Lombardo's Drum Setup on Slayer's Seasons in the Abyss (1990)

> Dave Lombardo's full range on one album: blast-speed 'War Ensemble,' groove-metal 'Dead Skin Mask,' and the iconic mid-tempo title track. Complete gear breakdown of the Pearl Masters Custom kit and Zildjian A/K cymbals on Slayer's commercial peak.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Dave Lombardo](/llms/drummers/dave-lombardo.md)
**Band / Album:** Slayer — *Seasons in the Abyss* (1990)
**Genre:** Thrash Metal
**Producer:** Rick Rubin
**Studio:** Eldorado Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

## Overview

Released on October 9, 1990, Seasons in the Abyss was Slayer's most commercially successful album to that point — reaching #40 on the Billboard 200 and topping the Heatseekers chart. But the chart performance almost undersells the artistic achievement: on a single record, Dave Lombardo delivered the complete range of his drumming, from the relentless speed assault of "War Ensemble" to the half-time groove of "Dead Skin Mask" to the iconic mid-tempo swagger of the title track.

No other Slayer album documents Lombardo's versatility so completely. [Reign in Blood](/articles/reign-in-blood-drum-setup) (1986) showed what he could do at maximum speed. [South of Heaven](/articles/south-of-heaven-drum-setup) (1988) showed he could groove. Seasons in the Abyss showed he could do both on the same album.

Rick Rubin produced for the third consecutive Slayer record at Eldorado Recording Studios in Hollywood. Lombardo came to these sessions with a new kit: Pearl Masters Custom (maple) and Zildjian A/K cymbals — a complete gear transition from the Tama Artstar II and Paiste RUDE combination that had defined Reign in Blood and South of Heaven.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Masters Custom (Natural Maple finish) — significant transition from Tama Artstar II
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Series + K Series — transition from Paiste RUDE/2002
- **Hardware / Pedals:** DW 5002 chain-drive single pedals (two separate drums); DW 5500 hi-hat stand; Pro-Mark 2B Wood Tip
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter snare), Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass kick), Remo Emperor Clear (toms)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension — bright attack, minimal ring

### The Pearl Transition

The switch from Tama Artstar II birch to Pearl Masters Custom maple is the most audible gear change between South of Heaven and Seasons in the Abyss. Maple shells are warmer and more open than birch. Where the Artstar II delivered a punchy, focused attack optimized for extreme speeds, the Pearl Masters Custom produced a fuller, more sustaining tone suited to the groove contexts Lombardo was being asked to deliver more frequently.

The ISS (Independent Suspension System) tom mounting allowed the Pearl toms to resonate freely without frame contact — producing more open sound than the Tama's die-cast hardware. This character is clearly audible on "Dead Skin Mask" and the title track, where the toms have body and warmth that Reign in Blood's tight Artstar II sound didn't offer.

### Zildjian A and K: The New Palette

The switch from Paiste RUDE and 2002 series to Zildjian A and K is equally significant. Paiste RUDE cymbals are unlathed, intentionally raw, and aggressively textured — built for thrash metal's abrasive aesthetic. Zildjian A series cymbals are fully lathed, with a brighter, more articulate response and faster decay characteristics.

The Zildjian A New Beat hi-hats produce crisp, cutting articulation — each stroke individually defined at any tempo. The A Medium Thin Crashes respond and decay faster than the RUDE Wild Crashes, suiting both the album's fastest and slowest tracks. The K series China adds dark, controlled texture on groove-oriented tracks.

### Track Highlights

**War Ensemble (~200 BPM):** Album opener — double bass patterns at Reign in Blood-adjacent tempos. The Pearl performs at extreme velocity; the DW pedal's chain drive provides consistent feel at maximum speed. One of the most studied double bass tracks in thrash metal education.

**Dead Skin Mask (116 BPM):** Half-time groove on an album that also contains "War Ensemble" — the contrast defines Lombardo's range. Pearl maple toms carry warmth in the half-time arrangement. K series China adds dark accent texture. The snare on the 3 and "and" of 2 is deliberate and heavy.

**Seasons in the Abyss (92 BPM):** Title track and album closer — the most studied mid-tempo Slayer drum performance. Lombardo locks precisely with Jeff Hanneman's iconic riff; every kick and snare placement is intentional. The Zildjian A New Beat hi-hats provide articulate pulse at 92 BPM. The tom fill into the chorus is one of metal's most replicated drum moments.

**Spirit in Black (175 BPM):** Mid-fast tempo demonstrating command across the middle of the range — continuous double bass with snare marking the phrase structure.

## The Evolution Arc

Seasons in the Abyss completes the Rick Rubin trilogy arc for Lombardo — Show No Mercy (1983) → Reign in Blood (1986) → South of Heaven (1988) → Seasons in the Abyss (1990).

**Gear progression:**
- Reign in Blood: Tama Artstar II birch / Paiste RUDE/2002 / Iron Cobra
- South of Heaven: Same Tama Artstar II / Same Paiste setup / Same pedals
- Seasons in the Abyss: Pearl Masters Custom maple / Zildjian A+K / DW 5002

The gear change between South of Heaven and Seasons marks a transition in how Lombardo's drums sit in the mix. The Tama/Paiste combination had raw, aggressive character optimized for extreme thrash. The Pearl/Zildjian combination produces a more open, articulate sound with broader tonal range — better suited to an album that covers 92 to 200 BPM within the same tracklist.

This was the final full Lombardo studio album before his first departure from Slayer. After the Decade of Aggression live album (1991), Lombardo left; Paul Bostaph replaced him for Divine Intervention (1994). Lombardo returned for Diabolus in Musica (1998) and Christ Illusion (2006). Seasons in the Abyss is thus the apex of the first Lombardo era.

## Key Facts

- Released October 9, 1990 — two years after South of Heaven
- Reached #40 US Billboard 200; #1 on the Heatseekers chart
- Third consecutive Rick Rubin production at Eldorado Recording Studios, Hollywood
- Major gear transition: Tama Artstar II → Pearl Masters Custom; Paiste → Zildjian
- Double bass: two separate 22" drums with DW chain-drive pedals (not a double pedal)
- Final full Lombardo studio album before his 1992 departure from Slayer
- Estimated kit value: $3,000–4,500 (1990)
- Estimated snare value: $300–450 (1990)

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit did Dave Lombardo use on Seasons in the Abyss?**
Dave Lombardo used a Pearl Masters Custom kit for Seasons in the Abyss (1990), switching from the Tama Artstar II he had used on Reign in Blood (1986) and South of Heaven (1988). The Pearl Masters Custom featured maple shells with ISS tom mounting, two 22-inch bass drums, 10-inch and 12-inch rack toms, and 14-inch and 16-inch floor toms. The Pearl's maple shells are warmer and more open than the Tama's birch — the gear change is audible across the album's range of tempos.

**Q: How does Lombardo's double-bass technique work on "War Ensemble"?**
On "War Ensemble," Lombardo drives two separate 22-inch Pearl bass drums at approximately 200 BPM using DW chain-drive pedals. The technique uses two independent pedals on two separate drums — not a double pedal on one bass drum. The pattern locks with Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman's guitar riff rather than functioning as pure blast texture, creating the forward momentum that makes "War Ensemble" one of thrash metal's most studied tracks. The riff-locked approach distinguishes Lombardo's double bass from drummers who use continuous blast patterns as texture.

**Q: How does Seasons in the Abyss differ from Reign in Blood drumming?**
Reign in Blood is a 29-minute endurance test at 220-250+ BPM — blast beats, maximum speed, no variation in core tempo. Seasons in the Abyss covers 92 BPM ("Seasons in the Abyss") to 200 BPM ("War Ensemble") on the same album. The gear is completely different: Tama Artstar II birch and Paiste RUDE cymbals on Reign in Blood; Pearl Masters Custom maple and Zildjian A/K on Seasons. The Pearl's warmer tone and the Zildjian's brighter, more articulate response are both audible in the wider dynamic range Seasons accommodates.

**Q: What cymbals did Dave Lombardo use on Seasons in the Abyss?**
Dave Lombardo switched from Paiste RUDE and 2002 series to Zildjian A and K series for Seasons in the Abyss. The setup included Zildjian A 14-inch New Beat Hi-Hats, Zildjian A 18-inch and 19-inch Medium Thin Crashes, a Zildjian A 20-inch Medium Ride, Zildjian K 18-inch China, and Zildjian A 10-inch Splash. The Zildjian A series is fully lathed with brighter, more articulate response than the Paiste RUDE's unlathed aggressive character.

**Q: Why is "Seasons in the Abyss" considered one of Lombardo's best performances?**
The title track is studied by drumming educators because it demonstrates controlled mid-tempo playing at its highest level. At 92 BPM, Lombardo locks precisely with Jeff Hanneman's iconic guitar riff — every kick and snare placement intentional, every tom fill timed to phrase structure. There are no blast beats, no speed demonstrations: the power comes entirely from groove and precision. Combined with "War Ensemble's" 200-BPM double bass assault on the same album, Seasons documents the full spectrum of Lombardo's ability in a single record.

## Related Articles

- [Reign in Blood drum setup](/articles/reign-in-blood-drum-setup) — the 1986 blast beat peak, Tama Artstar II and Paiste RUDE era
- [South of Heaven drum setup](/articles/south-of-heaven-drum-setup) — the 1988 groove transition, same Tama/Paiste gear at slower tempos
- [Show No Mercy drum setup](/articles/show-no-mercy-drum-setup) — the 1983 origin, 19-year-old Lombardo before the Tama endorsement
- [Dave Lombardo drummer profile](/drummers/dave-lombardo) — complete career across both Slayer eras, Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies, and beyond

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/seasons-in-the-abyss-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-25 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*