Kerry King discloses the producer of his new project’s debut album and confirms drummer Paul Bostaph’s involvement
Speaking with Consequence, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King revealed that the upcoming debut album from his solo project was produced by Josh Wilbur, known for his work with such bands as LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH, GOJIRA and TRIVIUM, to name a few.
“It’s my first time working with [Josh], and we hit it off great,” Kerry said. “Can’t wait to work on another one with him, and he feels the same way about the project, so hopefully that gets going sooner rather than later. Super easy to work with.
“The guy is a wizard on the computer. I mean when we’re in there editing stuff or overdubbing anything, I’ll do my part, or the singer or whoever is doing their fix or whatever, and he’ll just go back and forth on the computer a few times, go ‘Here, how’s that?’ I’m thinking, ‘I have no fucking idea where you are dude. He’s so quick, so easy to work with. It was spectacular.”
Discussing the recording process for the new album, Kerry King said: “It was very similar [to the way we worked in SLAYER]. First and foremost, I wrote most of the last SLAYER record, so people know what I sound like, people know how I write. This one I did one hundred percent of, so if you’ve ever liked anything I’ve done in the past, there’s going to be something you’re going to like on this one, if not the whole thing. I love the whole thing.”
Getting further into the new project’s musical direction, Kerry said: “My sound is what we’ve done on the last, I couldn’t tell you how many SLAYER records. And one thing I feel is that Josh really captured probably the closest to my live sound, because my live sound is very hard to get to tape. I think this is the closest it’s ever been. So that’s very exciting for me. And the rest of it, Paul‘s [Bostaph, drums] playing, so hell yeah, it’s going to sound like SLAYER because he’s got his own style. You know, screamy vocals — new guy — but you know, it’s still definitely got the vibe.”
Earlier this month, Kerry King sat down with Metal Hammer and revealed that the forthcoming album has been “done since June” 2023. He said: “If I was ever to try anything different [from SLAYER], I guess that would be the time. But no, I really have no desire to do anything different. If I wasn’t in SLAYER, I would be a SLAYER fan.
“So yes, I think it’s an extension of SLAYER, and I think a lot of people will think it might have been the next record. I guess maybe 80% of it would have been, maybe it would have been exactly what I’m putting on this one. In my eyes, I think it’s a definite extension, a follow-up to [SLAYER‘s 2015 final album] ‘Repentless’ for sure.”
He continued: “There’s definitely some fast stuff on it. It’s not the fastest thing I’ve ever done, but I’ve done some pretty fast stuff. There’s definitely some Herculean speeds getting achieved on this, but there’s heavy stuff. There’s punky stuff. There’s doomy stuff. Pretty much any aspect of any kind of music we’ve done in our history, I think you’ll find on this record.”
Kerry added: “For me, the slowest [song] is similar in vibe to [‘Repentless’ track] ‘When The Stillness Comes’. That one came out really cool and spooky. And then there was one where my entire intention was to write something like the SCORPIONS‘ ‘Animal Magnetism’ crossed with the ‘chug’ of ‘Hell Awaits’. That one came together pretty early. I like that song a lot. I mean, I like all of them a lot, but that one, that one’s got a different vibe for sure.”
Over three years ago, SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph disclosed his involvement in Kerry King‘s new project.
Kerry King‘s latest musical venture, simply named KERRY KING, has unveiled plans for two U.S. shows: May 9, 2024, at the Welcome To Rockville festival at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, and May 16, 2024, at the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
SLAYER embarked on their final world tour on May 10, 2018, with the band’s goal of reaching as many places as possible to facilitate fans in witnessing one last SLAYER performance and bidding farewell. The 18-month trek concluded at the Forum, encompassing seven tour legs along with appearances at major summer festivals, totaling over 140 shows across 30 countries and 40 U.S. states.
