Former Slayer guitarist Kerry King will release his debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise,” on May 17, 2024, via Reigning Phoenix Music. The record’s first single, “Idle Hands,” is out now.
“If you’ve ever liked any Slayer throughout any part of our history, there’s something on this record that you’ll get into, be it classic punk, fast punk, thrash or just plain heavy metal!”
King’s band, in addition to himself on guitar, features drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly of Machine Head) and vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel).
With enough new material for two full albums, all written by King, if it hadn’t been for the COVID-19 pandemic, his long-awaited solo project likely would have emerged in 2020.
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. The album can be pre-ordered here.
“I didn’t know what to think, you know, it’s Kerry King from Slayer, who I’ve heard a million times,” Wilbur said. “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 in 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.”
“All of us at RPM are very excited to be working with Kerry King, and it’s an honor to be working his first solo album,” said RPM’s co-founder and president, Gerardo Martinez. “The joy of working on Slayer’s last album, ‘Repentless,’ and to be reunited with my brother on his new musical journey doesn’t get any better!”
It also appears this is just the beginning of the next chapter in King’s career, following the end of Slayer in 2019 after nearly 40 years.
“Even with a record in the can, I’ve still got so many songs that need to be finished,” he said. “This is what I know how to do … number one being music, number two being metal. It’s been a part of my life for 40 years, and I’m nowhere near being done.”
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