Album Review: Kerry King – From Hell I Rise (Reigning Phoenix Music)

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 back in 2020. For his debut album, King, on guitar, enlisted drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head) on guitar, and vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel).

Now, on May 17th, 2024, Kerry King’s debut solo album ‘From Hell I Rise’ will be released Reigning Phoenix Music.

A gnarly album of thrashing heaviness, Kerry King doesn’t make any major changes to the formula he has perfected over his many years in music. Within Slayer, he thrashed hard, and on this solo album he thrashes just as hard. Alongside a ton of talent that he has enlisted to realise his vision.

It is not Slayer and it is Slayer, with King throwing out so many familiar riotous riffs and screaming solos. Hell, even Death Angel’s Mark Osegueda has a similar vocal style to Slayer’s Tom Araya. That does mean it takes a little while to hear this album as anything but a Slayer record, and if you happen to be a detractor of the legendary thrash band, you’re not likely to be won over by what King does here.

None of this is meant negatively though, after all, what else would anyone expect? Kerry King wasn’t likely to bring EDM, breakdowns, and melody into his music. He does thrash metal better than most, and as far as memorable heavy music goes, From Hell I Rise is a winner.

It’s a hefty release too, with twelve tracks (and an intro) on offer and with various showcases of meaty and mean sounding metal. Some that are hyper and hellacious, some that are dark and grim, some that combine both, and all with compelling reasons to head-bang. Unsurprisingly, there isn’t a single track that doesn’t have King wielding his guitar like a flaming axe of world-ending destruction.

Does the riffing and soloing sometimes get a bit egregious? Of course it does, but who would want it any other way? Especially when you also have the likes of Phil Demmel employing his own tool of obliteration, Kyle Sanders playing the bass like a possessed person, and Paul Bostaph hammering the drums like they offended him. All with the commanding sharpness and intensity of Mark Osegueda’s trademark scathing vocal style. It really doesn’t get more ‘supergroup’ than this.

From Hell I Rise isn’t going to change the world, but that’s not really the point. King didn’t want to disappear into the mists of retirement and has sought to continue his own personal brand of thrash-based dominance. Mission well and truly accomplished, chances are you will have some sore neck muscles come the end.

Kerry King – From Hell I Rise Track Listing:

1. Diablo
2. Where I Reign
3. Residue
4. Idle Hands
5. Trophies of the Tyrant
6. Crucifixation
7. Tension
8. Everything I Hate About You
9. Toxic
10. Two Fists
11. Rage
12. Shrapnel
13. From Hell I Rise

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