Chris Adler, former drummer of Lamb of God, recently looked back on his time working with Megadeth during the making of their 2016 album Dystopia. Adler described the experience as a major step in his career, and one that came at an unexpected time.
In 2015, while still recording with Lamb of God, Adler was contacted by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine. Mustaine asked if he would be interested in playing drums on the band’s next record. Despite being busy with his own band’s upcoming release, Adler accepted the offer and joined Mustaine in the studio.
In 2015, while still an active member of Lamb of God, Adler received a direct call from Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine inviting him to record drums for the upcoming release. Despite a full schedule and ongoing commitments with his own band, Adler agreed to participate, citing the chance to work with Mustaine as both meaningful and memorable. Despite a full schedule and ongoing commitments with his own band, Adler agreed to participate, citing the chance to work with Mustaine as both meaningful and memorable. At the time, Adler was actively working on Lamb of God’s seventh studio album VII: Sturm und Drang, but he accepted the offer from Mustaine and joined the recording sessions in Nashville.
“Getting that call from Dave was surreal,” Chris Adler said. “I grew up listening to Peace Sells, so to be invited to contribute to a Megadeth record felt like a full-circle moment.”
According to Adler, the Dystopia sessions began with just him and Mustaine collaborating closely on early song structures and drum arrangements before other members of the band joined in. Adler played a key creative role in shaping the rhythm and arrangement of several tracks on the album, contributing not only as a session drummer but also offering structural and stylistic input during the writing process.
“Dave was very open to ideas,” Adler said. “He was collaborative and welcoming in a way that challenged the stereotype many people have about working with big-name artists.”
Released in January 2016, Dystopia was met with critical acclaim and marked a shift back toward Megadeth’s thrash metal roots. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and later earned the band their first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the title track at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Despite the project’s success, Adler did not continue with Megadeth beyond the album and its initial tour dates. Shortly after, his tenure with Lamb of God also came to an end in 2019. Adler has previously stated that he was informed of his dismissal from the band via email, a development that concluded his decades-long involvement with the group.
“I didn’t expect things to unfold the way they did,” Adler noted. “But I’m proud of the work I did with both bands, and I look back at Dystopia as a highlight.”
Since departing from Lamb of God, Adler has remained active in the music industry. He has launched new projects, including the band Firstborne, and continues to perform and record across various genres.