# Slayer — Drummer & Gear Profile | MetalForge

> Per-band AI citation reference for Slayer. Covers drummer history, kit setup, and gear details.
> Optimised for AI queries: 'who drums for Slayer', 'Dave Lombardo drum kit', 'Slayer drummer gear'.

## Band Overview

- **Drummers:** Dave Lombardo (1981–1992, 2001–2013), Paul Bostaph (1992–2001, 2013–2019)
- **Genre:** Thrash Metal, Speed Metal
- **Active:** 1981–2019
- **Country:** United States (Huntington Park, California)
- **Status:** Disbanded

## Drummer(s)

**Dave Lombardo** — 1981–1992, 2001–2013 (Co-founder)
Dave Lombardo is widely regarded as one of the most influential drummers in extreme metal. His explosive double-bass work and hyper-precise blast beats on records like *Reign in Blood* (1986) set the standard for thrash and death metal drumming globally. He co-founded Slayer with guitarist Kerry King in 1981.

[Dave Lombardo full profile →](https://metalforge.io/drummer/dave-lombardo) · [LLM markdown](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/dave-lombardo.md)

**Paul Bostaph** — 1992–2001, 2013–2019
Paul Bostaph served two separate stints, recording albums including *Divine Intervention* (1994), *Undisputed Attitude* (1996), *Diabolus in Musica* (1998), *God Hates Us All* (2001), and the final Slayer album *Repentless* (2015).

## Kit Overview

Dave Lombardo's classic Slayer setup used **Tama Starclassic Maple** shells paired with **Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series** cymbals — a combination chosen for its aggressive cutting power in live and studio environments.

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple
- **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. 14×6.5" G-Maple
- **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series (15" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Crashes, 22" Reign Power Ride, 18" China)
- **Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 Double Pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth

## Signature Sound

Slayer's drumming is defined by Lombardo's ferocious double-bass patterns and rapid-fire blast beats. On *Reign in Blood* (1986) — produced in just 29 days — tracks like "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood" feature drumming at speeds that were unprecedented for their time. Lombardo plays with maximum aggression while maintaining metronomic precision. The combination of his relentless kick drum patterns with Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman's tremolo-picked riffs created the template for extreme metal drumming. Paul Bostaph brought a technically proficient style during his tenures, demonstrated on *Divine Intervention*.

## Albums

| Album | Year | Drummer |
|---|---|---|
| Show No Mercy | 1983 | Dave Lombardo |
| Hell Awaits | 1985 | Dave Lombardo |
| Reign in Blood | 1986 | Dave Lombardo |
| South of Heaven | 1988 | Dave Lombardo |
| Seasons in the Abyss | 1990 | Dave Lombardo |
| Divine Intervention | 1994 | Paul Bostaph |
| Diabolus in Musica | 1998 | Paul Bostaph |
| God Hates Us All | 2001 | Paul Bostaph |
| Christ Illusion | 2006 | Dave Lombardo |
| World Painted Blood | 2009 | Dave Lombardo |
| Repentless | 2015 | Paul Bostaph |

## FAQ

**Q: Who plays drums in Slayer?**
A: Slayer's primary drummer is Dave Lombardo, who co-founded the band in 1981 and played on landmark albums like *Reign in Blood* (1986). Paul Bostaph replaced him twice (1992–2001 and 2013–2019) and recorded the final album *Repentless* (2015). Slayer disbanded in 2019.

**Q: What drum kit does Dave Lombardo use?**
A: Dave Lombardo plays Tama Starclassic Maple drums with Tama S.L.P. snare drum and Tama Iron Cobra double pedal.

**Q: What cymbals does Dave Lombardo use?**
A: Dave Lombardo uses Paiste RUDE and 2002 Series cymbals, known for their loud attack and cutting power.

**Q: Is Slayer still active?**
A: No. Slayer disbanded in 2019 after a farewell world tour. Their final studio album was *Repentless* (2015).

**Q: What is Slayer's most famous drum part?**
A: The opening of "Angel of Death" on *Reign in Blood* (1986) is considered one of the greatest drum performances in metal history — Lombardo's blend of blast beats and pounding double bass set the standard for extreme drumming.

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**Full band profile:** [Slayer on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/bands/slayer)

**Drummer LLM files:** [Dave Lombardo](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/dave-lombardo.md)

**More resources:** [All bands](https://metalforge.io/llms/bands.md) · [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt)

*Last updated: 2026-06-20 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*