In a captivating discussion with the YouTube channel RichardMetalFan, shared on December 13, Shadows Fall drummer Jason Bittner opened up about his initial disdain for Metallica and Slayer, revealing the surprising journey that led him to appreciate their music. This conversation offers a unique insight into the evolution of a drummer who has become a significant figure in the heavy metal scene.

How Iron Maiden Sparked Jason Bittner’s Passion for Heavy Metal Drumming

During the early stages of their conversation, Bittner was prompted to reflect on his formative years, specifically regarding the bands that ignited his passion for heavy metal and inspired him to pursue drumming as a career. He recalls the pivotal moment when he encountered the genre for the first time.

Bittner responds:

The band that got me into “heavy metal,” technically, is Iron Maiden. Maiden’s my favorite metal band of all time as well. That was the first band I saw of that genre in 1980, the day that MTV came on the air. I was 10 years old, and I was, like, “What in God’s name is this?” And that just sent me on my trajectory [with] Maiden and Judas Priest.

Despite Bittner’s minor error regarding the timeline (as MTV actually launched in 1981), his deep admiration for Iron Maiden and Judas Priest is certainly understandable. However, what might come as a surprise is his candid admission of initially being unimpressed by both Metallica and Slayer when he first encountered their music.

“I wanna say, I think [in] ’84, a friend of mine let me borrow a record [Ride the Lightning],” Bittner reflects. “He’s like, ‘Oh, you gotta check out this band.’ And I’m, like, ‘Who’s Metal-licka?’ And he goes, ‘No, it’s pronounced Metallica, man!’ I’m, like, ‘All right, cool. Metallica.’ And I took it home and I hated it.”

READ MORE: Shadows Fall Vs. Haunted Prison

The Reasons Behind Bittner’s Initial Dislike for Metallica and Slayer

Interestingly, Bittner’s initial aversion to these bands was closely tied to his profound admiration for vocalists Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford. He elaborates on this contrast:

I was like, “God, what the hell is this?” ‘Cause I was used to Bruce Dickinson and Halford, and all of a sudden, you have James Hetfield, and I’m, like, “What on earth is this?” Maybe, like, a week later, I taped the album just in case I might like it one day, and I gave the record back to my friend. And, like, a week later, I’m doing my paper route and I was humming [a guitar riff]. And I’m, like, “What is this that I’m singing to myself?” And it was the riff from “Fight Fire With Fire.” And I’m, like, “Oh, that’s that Metallica band. I didn’t think I liked that.”

He continues:

A lot of the heavier bands – even bands I’ve been in – when I’ve heard [them] the first time, I didn’t care for [them]. Like Slayer. I hated Slayer at first. I’m, like, “No way I’m gonna like this.” [Now] Slayer’s my favorite thrash band of all time. Anthrax and Megadeth were the only two that, when I first listened, I wasn’t, like, “Aargh!” Like, with Anthrax, I was just, like, “Holy shit!” That was, like, the — no pun intended — the “be all, end all” for me right there, because [drummer] Charlie Benante was . . . one step beyond [Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo] for me at that point, because, like, Lombardo was feet, but Charlie was the whole fucking package.

The Turning Point: How Jason Bittner Came to Appreciate Metallica and Slayer

Bittner shares that his journey into the world of Metallica began with a classmate who informed him about the band’s history, specifically mentioning Dave Mustaine‘s prior involvement with Metallica before Kirk Hammett joined.

He explains:

I didn’t know about anything pre-‘Kill ‘Em All’ . . . [and] he was, like, “Nah, this dude [Mustaine] was in the band before [Hammett], and he’s got this other band and it’s called Megadeth. . . And the first thing I heard was ‘Killing Is My Business,’ but that was so raw at the time. I was, like, “All right . . . it’s kind of cool. It’s fast and stuff.” But, once ‘Peace Sells’ came out, I was, like, “Oh, all right. Now I get it.” . . . Maybe a year after that or within that year, I got into Slayer.

A friend of mine had Show No Mercy and he had let me hear that. And I wasn’t really that impressed, but then Reign in Blood came out . . . and I bought that . . . went on a spring break vacation my sophomore year of high school to Florida with my mom, and all I did was just I had Reign In Blood . . . I listened to that record just incessantly for a week straight.

From that point onward, Bittner began to grasp the complexity and intricacy of thrash metal drumming, and he found himself trying to replicate certain challenging parts within the music. “So, it was Slayer, then Anthrax, and it was basically through the “Big 4” and then everything else under the sun,” he remarks, illustrating the breadth of his musical journey.

Interestingly, Bittner admits, “I’ve always been . . . a thrash metal drummer,” adding:

I’m not an extreme metal drummer. I like that stuff, but . . . it’s out of my wheelhouse. It’s not what I do. But I like a lot of those drummers and went through that whole phase in the mid-’90s. [I was] immersed into Death and Morbid Angel and that stuff. Listening to Pete Sandoval and Sean Reinert and Gene Hoglan. So, my influences go across the board, really. And let’s not forget Van Halen either.

That’s quite the musical journey, right?

In recent news, Shadows Fall has made a triumphant return with a new single and music video titled “In the Grey,” marking their first release of new music in over a decade. This exciting development also signifies their new collaboration with MNRK Music Group, paving the way for future projects.

As for Metallica, the band has been recognized as the 9th top touring artist worldwide in Pollstar’s latest rankings for 2024. They continue to hold a significant cultural impact, remaining one of the most popular choices for tattoos. Additionally, Kyuss Brant Bjork has expressed his discomfort with being labeled as “the next Metallica,” highlighting the band’s influential status.

Meanwhile, Slayer’s Kerry King has cited Sabotage as his favorite Black Sabbath album, reflecting the deep roots of influence shared among these iconic bands.

For those interested in learning more, you can watch the full interview with Bittner below:

Watch Jason Bittner Share His Insights on Musical Evolution with RichardMetalFan