When Slayer embarked on a search for a new drummer, they had no idea they'd end up rehiring original drummer Dave Lombardo for their next record -- even though he'd been playing live with them since December.

"I didn't jump in right away and say, 'OK, yeah, I wanna do this and that,' " Lombardo said. "I did a European tour and two U.S. tours, and I wanted to really get the vibe of how they were and if they wanted me to do the next record."

Lombardo began playing shows with the group when Paul Bostaph, the band's regular drummer since 1994's Divine Intervention, suffered an elbow injury (see [article id="1451599"]"Original Slayer Drummer Dave Lombardo Back For Tour"[/article]).

Guitarist Jeff Hanneman was the first to tell Lombardo he should record with the band again. Then singer/bassist Tom Araya reiterated those sentiments, as did the band's management. Only guitarist Kerry King hasn't voiced a strong opinion.

"I got a couple hints here and there from Kerry, but I wasn't really sure if he wanted me," Lombardo said. "I really haven't spoken much to him about it, but I'm definitely in."

Lombardo said Rick Rubin, who produced Slayer's nefarious Reign in Blood (1986), has expressed interest in stepping onboard as well, but nothing's finalized. And it appears there's no rush. The band has no new songs, only a few new riffs, no album title and no plans to immediately reconvene.

"This isn't going to be happening for a while," Lombardo said. "They've taken two or three years to do records before, so I'm sure I can expect the same."

In the meantime, Lombardo's got plenty on his plate. In December he'll enter a Los Angeles studio to work with experimental band Fantômas on their next disc, a one-song album composed of 20 parts.

"It's insane, like our first record [1999's Fantômas]," Lombardo said. "But the song's a bit longer. It's music put in a way that you feel it's unnatural, but when you listen to it time and time again, it's very natural. It's a real honor to do it."

Over the past year, when Lombardo has had downtime from Slayer and Fantômas, he's indulged in solo percussion compositions, which will be released on his first solo album next year. He's about three-quarters finished with the still-untitled record, which may surprise fans of his other work.

"For years I've been coming up with these little two-minute drum songs, and they all have their distinct little vibe to them, and they all revolve around drums and drum rhythms," he said. "It has one or two crazy drum solos, but the rest is hand percussion and synthesized drums, a whole variety. Anything that has to do with rhythms or drums or anything that sounds percussive will be on there."