Kerry King has announced her debut solo album, From hell I rise, arriving on May 17, along with lead single “Idle Hands.” The guitarist has also revealed the members of his post-Slayer band.
The official announcement comes years after King symbolically left his iconic chain on stage at the end of Slayer's final concert in 2019 at The Forum in Los Angeles. At the time, King was quick to inform fans that he would be forming a new solo band to continue the sound and spirit of Slayer, whose retirement King deemed “premature.”
“I knew from the beginning that I wasn't done,” King commented in the album's press release, “and I had no intention of not playing anymore.”
“Idle Hands” is the first song of “two full albums” of material that King claims to have accumulated in the years since Slayer's retirement, a gestation period that was lengthened by the pandemic. Slayer fans will immediately recognize King's ax work on the gripping thrash track, including one of his signature unhinged solos. As expected, the overall sound is very close to that of the guitarist's former band.
King turned to a supergroup of fellow thrash veterans to form his new band, including drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), guitarist Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head), and Death Angel's Mark Osegueda in the voice.
Everyone notices King's obviously Slayer-influenced direction without trying to directly emulate Slayer or sound like a tribute act. While Bostaph, as Slayer's former drummer, fits naturally with King's vision for the band, Osegueda sticks to the same distinctive, punkier delivery he uses on Death Angel – an intriguing change from the barking and vocals of Tom Araya.
As for Osegueda, the Death Angel singer has said via Facebook who is “proud” of his contributions to From hell I risebut he also assured fans that he “very much remains the lead vocalist of Death Angel.”
thanks to our partners at consequence.net
