KERRY KING
From Hell I Rise (Reigning Phoenix)
Five years since Slayer played their last shows, the metal icons’ guitarist Kerry King returns – with fellow Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, and alumni of Machine Head, Hellyeah and Death Angel handling guitar, bass and vocal duties on new album, From Hell I Rise. King’s a controversial figure known for stirring the pot, and is nothing if not a consummate businessman, keeping the metal wheels turning.
From Hell I Rise is everything you’d expect, sounding much like the later-era Slayer records. It’s a solid offering, certainly, but one with no particular standout moments, save perhaps for Toxic, and specifically the appearance of a riff very similar to the one from the verses of Slayer classic Angel Of Death.
In essence, King’s post-Slayer debut is the Transit van of thrash metal. It shows up, gets the job done, delivers a reliable performance without any bells or whistles, and there are lots of others like it out there. If you’re a Slayer fan, there’ll be something here for you to wrap your ears around.
words GARETH MOULE
