Dave Lombardo just won’t rest on his laurels. Merely a month ago, he released an album made with his wife Paula Lombardo under the moniker Venamoris. In May of this year, it will be time for the man’s solo release, titled “Rites of Percussion“. It is previewed with the song “Journey of the Host“.
Photo: Ekaterina Gorbacheva
Dave Lombardo says:
“Mike Patton [singer for Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Dead Cross, Fantomas, Tomahawk, solo artist, owner of the Ipecac Recordings label, which is going to put the album out] originally gave me the idea as far back as 1998. He introduced me to Tito Puente’s Top Percussion album. I was already familiar with Tito and was a bit shocked that Patton was so musically diverse, and that he surrounded himself with musicians of the same mindset. That inspired me. I have had ideas that I’ve recorded on cassette over the years, but Patton kept insisting that I had to do a ‘drum album.’ So, the idea behind the album is years in the making. I just had to find the right time for me to do it.”
“When the pandemic hit, I thought, ‘Well, I can’t tour now,’“. I immediately started working on the record. It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. I had my studio, all my drums. Nothing was in storage for once! My home became a place where I could be free and creative. On the one hand, the touring part of my livelihood had been taken away, but on the other, I finally had the time to educate myself on different software and recording techniques. It was a very educational and gratifying experience.”
The album was mixed in 2022 by Lombardo’s son, David A. Lombardo. It features a large concert bass drum, a timpani, a grand piano, and a flock of shakers, maracas, Chinese and symphonic gongs, Native American drums, congas, timbales, bongos, batás, wood blocks, djembes, ibos, darbukas, octobans, cajóns, and cymbals.
The album’s track listing:
1. Initiatory Madness
2. Separation from the Sacred
3. Inner Sanctum
4. Journey of the Host
5. Maunder in Liminality
6. Despojo
7. Interfearium
8. Blood Let
9. Warpath
10. Guerrero
11. Vicissitude
12. Omiero
13. Animismo
