Drummer Jason Bittner looks back on his first impressions of the big names in Thrash Metal and shares his musical evolution over the years.
A difficult start with Metallica and Slayer
In a recent interview with RichardMetalFanJason Bittner, drummer for Category 7 and Shadows Fall (and former member of Overkill and Flotsam And Jetsam), has revealed that his introduction to thrash metal didn't come without resistance.
“When I first heard Metallica, I hated them. A friend lent me Ride The Lightning in 1984, and I thought it was horrible. I was used to voices like Bruce Dickinson or Rob Halford, so hearing James Hetfield was confusing. Yet, a week later, I found myself humming a riff from Fight Fire With Fire during my newspaper run. That’s when I realized something had hooked me.”
The same goes for Slayer, a band Bittner didn't immediately like: “Slayer? I hated them too at first. I said to myself: 'I will never like that.' But Reign In Blood changed everything. During spring break in 1985, I listened to this album on repeat on my Walkman. When I came back, all I wanted to do was play those songs on the drums. But I quickly realized how difficult it was.”
Also read: “There are too many horrible bands that will be our future headliners”: Slipknot's Clown calls on promoters to take risks to save the future of metal
Anthrax and Megadeth: an immediate revelation
Unlike Metallica and Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth immediately captivated the young drummer. He cites Anthrax's Charlie Benante as a major influence: “Charlie was the complete package, way beyond Dave Lombardo for me at the time. With Anthrax, I was immediately hooked. Megadeth too, especially with Peace Sells, which marked a turning point thanks to much better production than that of their debut.
The return of Shadows Fall
Earlier this month, Shadows Fall released their first single in 12 years, In The Greyvia his new label MNRK Heavy. This song marks a new stage for the group, still led by the passion and talent of Jason Bittner.
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