Kerry King recently spoke with Metal Hammer about his new project. While he didn’t mention any plans for a Slayer reunion, the guitarist revealed that his first solo album will have a connection with the band’s work. Talking about the record, set for release in 2024, he explained:
“If I was ever to try anything different, I guess that would be the time. But no, I really have no desire to do anything different. If I wasn’t in Slayer, I would be a Slayer fan. So yes, I think it’s an extension of Slayer, and I think a lot of people will think it might have been the next record. I guess maybe 80% of it would have been; maybe it would have been exactly what I’m putting on this one. In my eyes, I think it’s a definite extension, a follow-up to [Slayer’s 2015 final album] ‘Repentless’ for sure.”
The Guitarist Gave Details On His New Songs
King worked with different artists on his debut album but didn’t reveal their names. Still, from a previous interview, we know that Paul Bostaph, who played drums in Slayer, is one of them.
While Bostaph also confirmed that the guitarist’s new record would carry their former band’s style, Kerry King shared what to expect by saying:
“There’s definitely some fast stuff on it. It’s not the fastest thing I’ve ever done, but I’ve done some pretty fast stuff. There’s definitely some Herculean speeds getting achieved on this, but there’s heavy stuff. There’s punky stuff. There’s doomy stuff. Pretty much any aspect of any kind of music we’ve done in our history, I think you’ll find on this record.”
Slayer Tracks Inspired Him While Writing
The artist mentioned that even the slower tracks on the album were influenced by Slayer’s sound, specifically 2015’s ‘Repentless.’ When asked whether there were slow tracks or musical surprises in the new record, he said:
“For me, the slowest one is similar in vibe to ‘When The Stillness Comes.’ That one came out really cool and spooky. And then there was one where my entire intention was to write something like the Scorpions’ ‘Animal Magnetism’ crossed with the ‘chug’ of ‘Hell Awaits.’ That one came together pretty early. I like that song a lot. I mean, I like all of them a lot, but that one, that one’s got a different vibe for sure.”
King will support the upcoming album with two live shows with his new band. He will take the stage at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida, on May 9 and at the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio, on May 16.
