KERRY KING is “not against idea of releasing demo versions of 'From Hell I Rise' songs with his lead vocals”
14-08-2024
In a new interview with The SDR Show, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King confirmed that he originally laid down the scratch vocals on demo versions of all the songs that appear on his debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise”. Asked what his singing voice sounds like, Kerry said: “I just sound like an angry white punk kid… I think it sounds kind of adolescent(-like).” King went on to say that his vocals were recorded mostly as “first takes”. “Because I know how it goes — unless I stumble on enunciation or something,” he explained. “So, yeah, I knew how it went. I just put it on there so we had something existing. I knew I didn’t wanna sing because I can’t sing and play that much. The easy parts, yeah, but not like Zakk (Wylde, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) or James (Hetfield, METALLICA) does. They’re crazy vocalists that play crazy riffs underneath what they’re singing. I don’t know how they do it.”
Asked if he would ever release his scratch vocal tracks “as a separate bonus thing”, Kerry said: “Um, I’m not against it. If you ask me, like, what if Glenn Tipton sang all the PRIEST songs. Would you wanna hear it? I’m, like, that’s a weird scenario, ’cause it’s fucking Rob Halford. but I’d be curious. It’s intriguing.”
He added: “We’ll see. And I’ll sing the next one, too. So it’s not like it’s going away.”
Kerry King has recently launched the a series of interview videos to promote his recently released debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise”.
Watch the previous episoded below.
Earlier this year, Kerry spoke to Consequence about his tendency to write lyrics — with both SLAYER and his solo project — that are critical of organized religion. Asked what he sees in the real world that leads him to write songs on that topic, Kerry replied: “Well, I think it’s a farce. When I was in grade school, I couldn’t tell you what grade, but during the summer one year, my parents said, ‘Hey, you want to go to Sunday school?’ Because I did all kinds of extracurricular stuff at school. So I’m, like, ‘Yeah, I’ll check it out.’ I didn’t know what church was. And this isn’t what gave me my hatred for it, but it’s just a fun story. So I went to Sunday school, and like a week into it, I went to my parents. I’m, like, ‘I don’t think I want to go to this anymore.’ Even that little kid knew it was a bunch of dog shit.”
He continued: “It’s like politics these days. What’s said in the press is gone within 48 hours. All the things Donald Trump did as president, I remember seeing on the news how many lies he’d made in four years, and like 36 hours later, it’s like it never happened. That’s basically how religion is. You hear about all these priests around the world getting convicted for sexual assault or inappropriate conduct with minors, and a day later it’s gone. But I remember that shit, and it’s been fueling my lyrics for the last probably 40 years. So, thank you religion for keeping me occupied.”
Earlier, King talked to Germany’s Moshpit Passion, about the increased prevalence of lyrics about religion and occult themes in heavy metal today compared to how it was when the band first started out more than 40 years ago. He said: “Yeah, I think people got desensitized over the decades, ’cause when we came out, it was far more taboo than it is now. And I think what I do is more like just putting opinions on the table.”
He continued: “I think a lot of people are just born into their beliefs — they come down from their parents, their friends, whatever. And I don’t believe in God or the devil — I don’t believe in anything; I’m an atheist — but I like to put options on the table for those people that may never question what they believe or why they believe it. I don’t care if you believe in God — good on you; have fun with that; that’s a good story — but I just like to throw things on the table and say, ‘Hey, have you ever thought of a different perspective? Have you ever thought of all the preachers that get arrested for fondling little boys?’ This world isn’t perfect. So I just put things out on the table and hopefully get people thinking about their own life and figure things out for themselves.”
He later added: “That’s why, first and foremost, I always say I am an atheist. I don’t believe any of it. But I don’t mind writing about it. (Laughs) I like to think of my songs as mini screenplays that give you visuals in your mind. And it just makes you think of things, makes you think like you’re watching a movie in your head. Maybe someday somebody will make up a movie based on a short story by Kerry King, and that story is my song.”
Watch the previously released ‘Residu’ and ‘Idle Hands’ below.
King‘s debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise”, was released on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. All material for the LP was written by the 60-year-old musician, who was accompanied during the recording sessions by guitarist Demmel, drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER), bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH) and vocalist Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL). Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles last year was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.
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