In an exclusive Rolling Stone interview, former Slayer guitarist Kerry King opened up about his solo album, “From Hell I Rise,” and its first single, “Idle Hands.” King shared that the idea for a solo project came about when ex-Slayer frontman Tom Araya expressed the band’s decision to end. Feeling dissatisfied with Slayer’s conclusion, King decided to shift gears and explore a solo venture.
The solo project features notable names such as former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, Death Angel vocalist Mark Osegueda, ex-Hellyeah bassist Kyle Sanders, and Vio-lence guitarist Phil Demmel. The debut single, “Idle Hands,” strongly reflects Slayer’s distinctive sound, serving as a continuation of their last album, “Repentless.” King acknowledged that the title track was one of two unreleased songs by Slayer.
Titled “From Hell I Rise,” the solo album was produced by Josh Wilbur, recognized for his work with Lamb of God. King had the album’s song list ready for two years, and the recording process took only a few weeks. Despite considering Phil Anselmo as a potential vocalist, King ultimately decided against it, expressing that he knew Anselmo wasn’t the right fit from the outset.
The solo project represents a new chapter for King, who is gearing up for live shows and anticipating a significant year in 2024.
