Kerry King, legendary guitarist of thrash metal pioneers Slayer, recently shared his candid assessment of the contemporary metal landscape in an interview featured on Reigning Phoenix Music.
When asked about his opinion on the current state of the metal scene, King expressed disappointment with the lack of emerging talent and new bands making an impact.
“New bands I’m not really familiar with. I really thought the pandemic would jumpstart things, because people had nothing to do. You know, might as well learn an instrument. But in the wake of the pandemic, I still haven’t seen an infusion of new bands, in my opinion,” King said. “I’m also very far behind on it too, like the last strong induction of thrashy type bands, for me, would have been when the Scandinavian [scene] got hot, like In Flames. That was 25 years ago. There’s been a handful of bands since then.”
King acknowledged a few exceptions, noting that Lamb of God has maintained a presence in the scene for nearly as long. However, he emphasized the broader stagnation he perceives in the genre.
Despite his concerns about the broader metal landscape, King himself has become a driving force in revitalizing thrash metal through his own creative endeavors. Rather than remaining idle after Slayer’s 2019 farewell tour, the veteran musician channeled his passion into a new project that demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the genre he helped pioneer.
King released his debut solo album From Hell I Rise in May 2024, as reported by CBS San Francisco. The album features an impressive lineup of Bay Area metal veterans including Paul Bostaph (Slayer), Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head, Vio-Lence), Mark Osegueda (Death Angel), and Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah). This supergroup formation represents a collaborative effort to preserve and advance the thrash metal legacy that King helped establish decades ago.
The project has already made significant waves in the metal community. Metal Insider captured King’s enthusiasm for this sustained musical output, with the guitarist stating: “I’m stoked to be back. It’s what I’m on this planet for, and I love doing it.” His band has been actively touring, including headlining shows with supporting acts like Municipal Waste. The group has also joined notable tours such as the “Ashes of Leviathan Tour” with Lamb of God and Mastodon, cementing its presence in the contemporary metal circuit.
Louder Sound documented King’s broader concerns about metal’s recognition in mainstream institutions. He notably criticized the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for overlooking metal’s contributions to music history. Despite these institutional oversights, King affirms that the genre remains vibrant. New bands and projects are fostering thrash’s legacy through collaborations and side projects that honor the classic thrash ethos while evolving in sound and lineup diversity.
King concluded his remarks by emphasizing his commitment to maintaining relevance and delivering quality music to fans. He expressed his desire to infuse the scene with authentic thrash metal that resonates with both longtime supporters and new listeners alike.
“I don’t want that to happen. I want to be focused. I want to keep us relevant and keep giving people music, and hope people jump on that… and infuse this scene with thrashy kind of music,” he said.
