"A lot of songs for the next record are already in demo phases." Kerry King already has his sights set on a second solo album

Kerry King studio portrait
(Image credit: Andrew Stuart Photography)

It might've taken Kerry King a few years to release his debut solo album From Hell I Rise, but clearly the thrash metal legend isn't interested in waiting on a follow-up. Speaking at a fan event in Germany earlier this year, King admitted the writing for his band's next record was already well underway.  

“A lot of songs for the next record are already in demo phases," he revaled. "At this point in my career and in my life, I wanna get the record out, do the first tour for however long that takes us, but once that’s done Paul [Bostaph, drums] and I want to get back into the studio and get record two out of the way.”

King recently completed a massive tour of North America that included festival appearances and a run of shows opening for Lamb Of God and Mastodon on their 'Ashes Of Leviathan' co-headline tour. Although he is set to perform alongside Slayer later this month as part of their surprise reunion, the guitarist also has more solo dates lined up in Mexico and Australia before the end of the year. 

You may like

Regarding the idea of recording a new album, he admitted it all depended - "on how long the tour takes."  

 "I will be prepared to record next year, but depending how long the tour cycle is, that’s a grey area,” he explained, before going on to hint that his band might opt for a different release method entirely going forward. 

“I’m old school, which is why we did an album," he stated. "But I’ve gotta tell ya, there’s nothing that says albums are the path of the future. Maybe we put out four songs, go on tour. Then another four songs, another tour. I’m not sure. I’m planning on doing a second record and we’ll see what the public demands when that happens.”

Rich Hobson

Staff writer for Metal Hammer, Rich has never met a feature he didn't fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online, be it legendary events like Rock In Rio or Clash Of The Titans or seeking out exciting new bands like Nine Treasures, Jinjer and Sleep Token. 

Read more
Kerry King in 2024
“He’s really, really good, and he’s definitely more melodic than me”: Slayer’s Kerry King names the guitarist who “plays circles” around him
Kerry King in 2024
“Iron Maiden’s tough, because it’s a very different vibe between Killers and Number Of The Beast”: Slayer’s Kerry King names his five perfect metal albums
Kerry King in 2023 and Dave Mustaine onstage with Megadeth in 2024
“Dave Mustaine can’t help but stick his foot in his mouth”: Slayer’s Kerry King explains his relationships with Metallica members old and new
Ice-T/Slayer
"We're in debt to Slayer forever." Ice-T explains why Slayer's comeback is great for metal fans
Kerry King in 2024
“If you look at the leads he was doing and when he was doing them, he kind of innovated a lot of that stuff”: Slayer’s Kerry King names metal’s most overlooked guitarist
Slipknot in 2024
“I just want to roll into it with an energy like it’s all starting again”: Slipknot’s Clown teases new album (and Look Outside Your Window) coming soon
Latest in
Hayley Williams performing with Paramore in 2024 and Chino Moreno performing with Deftones in 2024
Watch Paramore’s Hayley Williams join Deftones to sing Minerva in Nashville
Gong
Daevid Allen's final album with Gong to be reissued
Rick Astley and Rick Wakeman
“Rick Wakeman’s solo albums were just brilliant… when I heard he was doing Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace, I bought 12 tickets”: Prog is the reason Rick Astley became a singer
Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Jim Morrison and Joe Strummer onstage
The greatest gig I've ever seen: 24 writers pick the most memorable live show of their lives
Marillion in 1984
From debauched prog revivalists to pioneers of the internet age: The Marillion albums you should definitely listen to
Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell
"It’s a thin line between child and genius." Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell reveals how a drum machine confused the hell out of Bob Dylan when he tried to write a hit single in the mid '80s
Latest in News
Hayley Williams performing with Paramore in 2024 and Chino Moreno performing with Deftones in 2024
Watch Paramore’s Hayley Williams join Deftones to sing Minerva in Nashville
Gong
Daevid Allen's final album with Gong to be reissued
Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell
"It’s a thin line between child and genius." Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell reveals how a drum machine confused the hell out of Bob Dylan when he tried to write a hit single in the mid '80s
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide