Review KERRY KING “From Hell I Rise”

I don’t think anyone seriously thought that riffmaster Kerry King would retire and dedicate himself to gardening or similar hobbies. The guy has metal running through his veins and it was only a matter of time before we would hear some new blistering riffs from one of the pioneers of thrash metal.

And then the moment came when the news spread that Kerry King was going to release a solo album and here it is – “From Hell I Rise”. The album is the anticipated crushing metal release that shows why King is one of the most iconic characters in metal. The new album has that raw power that made Slayer stand out for decades and King brings that vibe back with his first solo album. Just listening to songs like the skull crushing “Crucifixion” is a treat for any metal fan.

No doubt, since King was a strong part of Slayer, the new songs have some cross references and at the same time “From Hell I Rise” sounds different. What both formations have in common is this uncompromising rage that the music carries.

When a guy like Kerry King works on a solo album, there are some risks. Would it sound like Slayer? Or not? Is it still thrash metal or is King reinventing the wheel? Well, Kerry King certainly isn’t reinventing the wheel and there are Slayer references embedded in most of the songs, but hey, he was a fundamental part of inventing the Slayer sound. What adds to the greatness of the album is that the guitarist found bandmates with a well-sounding name. It all started when Paul Bostaph joined the band as a drummer. King originally wanted Gary Holt to join too, but that would have been a bit too much former Slayer in the band, so it is Phil Demmel on second guitar and the line-up is completed by Kyle Sanders (bass) and none other than Death Angel frontman Mark Osegueda. All these guys inhale metal and it feels like the album has unleashed some young-at-heart metal vibes with everyone involved. In a way, this album features the essence of Bay Area thrash metal.

In line with the artwork, it is an instrumental called “Diabolo” that kicks off this release. It is a great way to set the tone of the album with King’s guitar being the centerpiece. What comes next is a massive thrash metal attack called “Where I Reign”. Aggressive and full speed, the song is a brutal thrash metal blast. What the song also shows is that Marc Osegueda’s vocals fit perfectly.

“Residue” is a song that has already been released as a single. With a more moderate tempo, the song contains the same intensity as the previous ode to thrash metal.

“Idle Hands” was the first song that was released. Built around a typical Kerry King riff, the track is a grim metal anthem and a good choice for the lead single. Kerry King and his companions have no foot on the brake. They go full speed ahead with songs like the mentioned “Crucifixion”, which is one of the album’s longer songs at five minutes, followed by the short and furious “Tension”. “Everything I Hate About You” is another example that a good thrash metal song doesn’t need to be of epic length, and in less than two minutes the racing headbanger is a crushing moment on the album. The same goes for the anarchic “Two Fists”.

“From Hell I Rise” is the long-awaited and exciting solo album from Kerry King. With the support of great musicians, King finds the sweet spot of staying true to his musical vision without falling into the trap of releasing a “Slayer” album all by himself. As mentioned, there are some parallels, but “From Hell I Rise” is 100% Kerry King from start to finish. This longplayer is one of the best so far in 2024 and I think we will see this album in some years poll for 2024.