Set For Release May 17; Debut Track "Idle Hands" Now Streaming

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Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

The Los Angeles Forum, just before midnight on Saturday, November 30, 2019. SLAYER's Kerry King stood center stage; his signature chains hung from his belt; he walked over to stage right, unhooked the chains and held them high, dropped them onto the stage floor, turned around, and walked off the stage.

"I knew early on that I wasn't done, and I had no intention of not continuing to play." - Kerry King

With enough new material for two full albums, all written by King, if it hadn't been for the COVID pandemic, his long-awaited solo project would likely have emerged in 2020. For his debut album, From Hell I Rise, due out May 17 on Reigning Phoenix Music, King, on guitar, enlisted drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER), bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH), Phil Demmel (formerly MACHINE HEAD) on guitar, and vocalist Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL). 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.

"I didn't know what to think, you know, it's Kerry King from SLAYER, who I've heard a million times," said Wilbur. "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."

According to King, the new music consists of "various religious topics, some war entries, heavy stuff, punky stuff, doomy stuff, and spooky stuff, with Herculean speeds achieved. "If you've ever liked any SLAYER throughout any part of our history," he adds, "there's something on this record that you'll get into, be it classic punk, fast punk, thrash, or just plain heavy metal!"

Also announced today is the release of "Idle Hands", the debut track from King's upcoming solo project. It's fast, it's aggressive, it will smash you up against a brick wall, leave you breathless...and wanting more. You can check it out BELOW.

"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!"

As King admits, "Even with a record in the can, I've still got so many songs that need to be finished. 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."

On the heels of the announcement of his upcoming solo project, it is announced that Kerry King will be Special Guest on the upcoming LAMB OF GOD/MASTODON North American "Ashes of Leviathan" co-headlne tour. The six-week run launches on July 19 in Grand Prairie, TX, and will wrap on August 31 in Omaha, NE. The general ticket on-sale begins this Friday, Feb. 9 at http://www.kerrykingofficial.com/ King will make his 2024 concert debut in May, first at the Welcome To Rockville Festival (May 9), followed by Sonic Temple Arts & Music Festival (May 16).

For all of these dates, King will be joined by the musicians who played on his upcoming debut solo album, From Hell I Rise: drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), Phil Demmel on guitar (formerly Machine Head), and vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel). From Hell I Rise is due out May 17 (Reigning Phoenix Music).

Confirmed concert dates for Kerry King are as follows:

• 5.9 Welcome to Rockville Festival, Historic Crew Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL*
• 5.16 Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Columbus, OH*