Slayer‘s guitarist Kerry King will release his debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise”, on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. With enough new material for two full albums, all written by King, if it hadn’t been for the COVID pandemic, his long-awaited solo project would likely have emerged in 2020.
Joining the 59-year-old guitarist on the LP are Death Angel singer Mark Osegueda, longtime Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, former HellYeah bassist Kyle Sanders, and ex-Machine Head and Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel.
Stream the first single off the album, the song ‘Idle Hands’ below, and pre-order “From Hell I Rise” HERE.
“Idle Hands” are what I’ve been doing the last four years. That and “From Hell I Rise” have been my frame of mind in the last four-and-a-half years.” King revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone.
“The name of the band was going to be King’s Reign for a long time, which is really cool. But even with that one, I went to the guys, like, “I’m not a vain dude. I don’t want my name to be a part of it.” We talked about Blood Rain for a while, but it didn’t work. Every time I came up with anything remotely cool, it was taken by some obscure band in Eastern Europe. It became Kerry King because I love that logo.” he added.
Working with producer Josh Wilbur (Korn, Lamb of God, Avenged Sevenfold, Bad Religion), the vast bulk of King’s solo album was recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles in about two weeks and was finished this past June.
“I didn’t know what to think, you know, it’s Kerry King from Slayer, who I’ve heard a million times,” said Wilbur. “He’s a very strong presence. I wouldn’t say Kerry has an ego, but he has confidence in himself, which is a good thing. That’s what you want in your rock stars and your band. He never comes off as a jerk or mean guy. But he does know exactly what he wants. He doesn’t beat around the bush. He’s like, ‘I don’t want to do that, but I want to do this.’ Very direct, but it comes from a place of confidence, and not from a place of anything else. I really enjoyed working with Kerry.”
According to King, the new music consists of various religious topics, some war entries, heavy stuff, punky stuff, doomy stuff, and spooky stuff, with Herculean speeds achieved. “If you’ve ever liked any Slayer throughout any part of our history,” he adds, “there’s something on this record that you’ll get into, be it classic punk, fast punk, thrash, or just plain heavy metal!”
“From Hell I Rise” track listing:
1. Diablo
2. Where I Reign
3. Residue
4. Idle Hands
5. Trophies Of The Tyrant
6. Crucifixation
7. Tension
8. Everything I Hate About You
9. Toxic
10. Two Fists
11. Rage
12. Shrapnel
13. From Hell I Rise
