Slayer released their final record Repentless in 2015, and after a long time teasing it, Slayer guitarist Kerry King released his debut solo album From Hell I Rise in 2024. This irritated a contingent of King fans for sounding like a continuation of Slayer, and King isn't exactly sure why.
In an interview with Rádio Kiss FM 92.5, King said he wasn't trying to outdo Slayer or anything, but simply continued on writing music. Which is where I personally get a little confused about the King solo act hate – dude wrote the last Slayer record. What else did you think he was gonna do?
"I didn't go out of my way to outdo Slayer. To me, it was honestly the next 12 or 13 songs, the ones we finished, the ones we felt good about. I do think that record's got teeth. It's fierce; it just rips out of the speakers. I never set out to do anything better than Slayer. I just wanted my next thing to be good."
King continued: "The only thing I have to say to [the people who expected something different], and it makes perfect sense — I want AC/DC to be AC/DC. I want Judas Priest to be Judas Priest. People want Kerry King to be Kerry King, I think. To me, it's people that are just haters on the Internet. They have an opinion about everything, and no one gives a shit about their opinion."
Speaking of Slayer, they've got a few live shows lined up for 2025. Those are:
7/3 Cardiff, UK Blackweir Fields (+ Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed & Neckbreakker)
7/5 Birmingham, UK Villa Park
7/6 London, UK Finsbury Park (+ Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed & Neckbreakker)
7/11 Québec City, QC Festival d'été de Québec
9/18 Louisville, KY Louder Than Life @ Highland Festival Grounds
