In an interview with Pod Scum host Rexx Ruger, Cannibal Corpse drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz acknowledged Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo with shaping his career.
When questioned about his musical influences, Mazurkiewicz replied quickly. He remarked, “Slayer’s Dave Lombardo is my biggest influence, of course.” “I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without him.”
He explained how Lombardo’s drumming influenced him. “He’s the king of thrash, double bass, and all that,” Paul said. I was just starting out when I heard him play in the mid-1980s as a youngster, and it reinforced my style. His then- and still-current work shaped me.”
Mazurkiewicz also considered the 1980s metal scene’s wider impact. He added that mid-to-late ’80s bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, and thrash pioneers Kreator and Dark Angel established the framework for death metal and Cannibal Corpse’s music.
He closed by reaffirming Lombardo’s legacy. “There were so many influential bands and drummers back then, but Lombardo was my favorite.”
Lombardo has highlighted his own inspirations, especially for his pioneering double-bass technique. He told Revolver, “I was already implementing those patterns with my legs or my feet. Clive Burr’s drumming, notably on “Phantom of the Opera,” influenced me, since I loved Iron Maiden’s early work. Lombardo also cited Motörhead’s “Overkill” as important to his double-bass career.
Next year, Mazurkiewicz will drum for Cannibal Corpse on their North American tour, which begins in Quebec City, Canada, on March 28.