Chris Adler

Christopher James Adler

“Chris”

Chris Adler is widely recognized as one of the most influential drummers in modern metal thanks to his work with Lamb of God, and his collaboration with Megadeth in 2015-2016 brought together two generations of heavy metal. Born in 1972 in Virginia, USA, Chris co-founded Lamb of God in the 1990s, developing a drumming style characterized by explosive rolls, creative double bass use, and syncopated polyrhythms – key elements in the evolution of groove metal. With Lamb of God, he achieved global fame, touring massive festivals and selling millions of records, and was a cornerstone in the consolidation of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. In 2015, Adler received an invitation from Dave Mustaine to participate in Megadeth's new album, as Lamb of God was temporarily inactive at the time. Chris recorded drums on 'Dystopia' (2016), bringing a crushing attack and surgical technique: the songs gained rhythmic intensity, as heard on 'The Threat Is Real' or 'Post American World', where his accents and breaks elevate the aggression of the riffs. 'Dystopia' revitalized Megadeth and won a Grammy, also recognizing Adler's contribution to that achievement. Chris balanced this collaboration with his duties in Lamb of God, so he could only join Megadeth for part of the 2016 tour (for example, he was on the North American leg of the album tour). At the end of 2016, he had to return fully to Lamb of God and left Megadeth's drums in the hands of Dirk Verbeuren. Mustaine publicly thanked Adler for his work, calling him an 'extraordinary musician'. For his part, Chris always declared himself a Megadeth fan – in his youth he studied Gar and Menza's patterns – so this collaboration was a dream come true for him. After his time with Megadeth, Adler recorded one more album with Lamb of God ('VII: Sturm und Drang', 2015) before leaving the band for good in 2019 due to personal differences. Since then, he founded the project Firstborne, exploring more classic metal alongside Creed's former vocalist. He has also given drum clinics around the world, often citing the Megadeth experience as one of the highlights of his career. Chris Adler represents the modern drummer who managed to join a legendary band, bringing freshness without losing essence. Megadeth fans greatly appreciated his short stay, noting how his rhythmic precision improved the live impact of classics and gave 'Dystopia' a powerful pulse. Although his stint was brief, the mutual respect between Adler and Mustaine was clear – two titans from different eras collaborating for the sake of metal.