In a current chat with YouTube channel RichardMetalFan (posted on Dec. 13), Shadows Fall drummer Jason Bittner revealed why he “hated” each Metallica and Slayer when he first heard them (and what led to him altering his thoughts).
Bittner’s Discovery of Heavy Steel
Firstly of their dialog, Bittner is requested, “Rising up, what have been the primary band that bought you into steel and made you wish to begin taking part in drums?”
Bittner responds:
The band that bought me into “heavy steel,” technically, is Iron Maiden. Maiden’s my favourite steel band of all time as properly. That was the primary band I noticed of that style in 1980, the day that MTV got here on the air. I used to be 10 years outdated, and I used to be, like, “What in God’s title is that this?” And that simply despatched me on my trajectory [with] Maiden and Judas Priest.
Apart from Bittner’s minor timeline mistake (MTV debuted in 1981), his love for Iron Maiden and Judas Priest isn’t shocking. What is extra surprising, nevertheless, is that he follows by confessing that he was far much less impressed by Metallica and Slayer when he first heard them.
“I wanna say, I feel [in] ’84, a good friend of mine let me borrow a document [Ride the Lightning],” Bittner displays. “He’s like, ‘Oh, you gotta try this band.’ And I am, like, ‘Who’s Steel-licka?’ And he goes, ‘No, it is pronounced Metallica, man!’ I am, like, ‘All proper, cool. Metallica.’ And I took it residence and I hated it.”
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Why Bittner Initially Didn’t Like Metallica or Slayer
Curiously, it’s associated to his love for Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford. Bittner explains:
I used to be like, “God, what the hell is that this?” ‘Trigger I used to be used to Bruce Dickinson and Halford, and unexpectedly, you’ve got James Hetfield, and I am, like, “What on earth is that this?” Perhaps, like, per week later, I taped the album simply in case I’d prefer it someday, and I gave the document again to my good friend. And, like, per week later, I am doing my paper route and I used to be buzzing [a guitar riff]. And I am, like, “What is that this that I am singing to myself?” And it was the riff from “Battle Hearth With Hearth.” And I am, like, “Oh, that is that Metallica band. I did not suppose I preferred that.”
He continues:
A number of the heavier bands – even bands I have been in – after I’ve heard [them] the primary time, I did not look after [them]. Like Slayer. I hated Slayer at first. I am, like, “No means I am gonna like this.” [Now] Slayer’s my favourite thrash band of all time. Anthrax and Megadeth have been the one two that, after I first listened, I wasn’t, like, “Aargh!” Like, with Anthrax, I used to be simply, like, “Holy shit!” That was, like, the — no pun supposed — the “be all, finish all” for me proper there, as a result of [drummer] Charlie [Benante] was . . . one step past [Slayer drummer Dave] Lombardo for me at that time, as a result of, like, Lombardo was ft, however Charlie was the entire fucking package deal.
What Made Him Change His Thoughts on Metallica and Slayer
Bittner add that he was launched to Metallica first (adopted by Megadeth) as a result of a classmate talked about that “there’s this dude [Dave Mustaine] that was in Metallica earlier than Kirk Hammett.”
He explains:
I did not find out about something pre-‘Kill ‘Em All’ . . . [and] he was, like, “Nah, this dude [Mustaine] was within the band earlier than [Hammett], and he is bought this different band and it is known as Megadeth. . . And the very first thing I heard was ‘Killing Is My Enterprise,’ however that was so uncooked on the time. I used to be, like, “All proper . . . it is sort of cool. It is quick and stuff.” However, as soon as ‘Peace Sells’ got here out, I used to be, like, “Oh, all proper. Now I get it.” . . . Perhaps a yr after that or inside that yr, I bought into Slayer.
A good friend of mine had Present No Mercy and he had let me hear that. And I wasn’t actually that impressed, however then Reign in Blood got here out . . . and I purchased that . . . went on a spring break trip my sophomore yr of highschool to Florida with my mother, and all I did was simply I had Reign In Blood . . . I listened to that document simply incessantly for per week straight.
From there, Bittner got here to understand “how exhausting thrash steel drumming was” as he tried to play sure elements himself. “So, it was Slayer, then Anthrax, and it was mainly by the “Massive 4” after which all the things else below the solar,” he remarks.
Curiously, he admits that he’s “at all times been . . . a thrash steel drummer,” including:
I’m not an excessive steel drummer. I like that stuff, however . . . it is out of my wheelhouse. It isn’t what I do. However I like lots of these drummers and went by that entire part within the mid-’90s. [I was] immersed into Loss of life and Morbid Angel and that stuff. Listening to Pete Sandoval and Sean Reinert and Gene Hoglan. So, my influences go throughout the board, actually. And let’s not overlook Van Halen, both.
That’s fairly the musical journey, proper?
After all, Shadows Fall just lately launched a brand new single and music video, “Within the Gray,” which marks their first piece of latest music in over a decade. It additionally signifies their new partnership with MNRK Music Group.
As for Metallica, they have been ranked no. 9 in Pollstar’s current tally of the Prime 10 Worldwide Prime Touring Artists of 2024. Likewise, they continue to be one of many prime ten hottest selections for tattoos, and Kyuss’ Brant Bjork acknowledged that he didn’t like having the band labeled as “the following Metallica.”
In the meantime, Slayer’s Kerry King cited Sabotage as his favourite Black Sabbath LP.
Additionally, you may watch the total interview with Bittner under:
Shadows Fall’s Jason Bittner Discusses His Musical Historical past With RichardMetalFan
5 Good Issues Dave Mustaine Has Stated About Metallica (Over the Previous Decade)
Gallery Credit score: Lauryn Schaffner
