“I really thought the pandemic would jumpstart things”: Kerry King believes its been 25 years since the last good “thrashy” band
Kerry King feels there’s a lack of up and coming thrash bands, and hopes that his solo band will encourage young musicians to “jump on their coattails”.
King formed his new band after Slayer’s retirement, and released his debut record From Hell I Rise back in 2024. Slayer completed their farewell tour in 2019, but have since reunited for a handful of one-off festival shows. They’re also booked to play at Sick New World festival in October 2026.
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Interviewed alongside his vocalist Mark Osegueda while on tour, King tells REIGNING TV, “I really thought the pandemic would jumpstart things ‘cause people got nothing to do, you might as well learn an instrument. I would have! But in the wake of the pandemic, I still haven’t seen an infusion of new bands, in my opinion.
“I’m also very far behind, too. Like the last strong induction of thrashy type bands to me would have been when Scandinavia got hot, like In Flames came out. That was 25 years ago. There’s been a handful of bands since then. I think Lamb of God’s been around almost that long, but I mean the wave below them, I got nothing. I wish I did. I started a new band when I was almost 60. There is still an influx of [that] music coming.”
He goes on to add, “I was thinking to myself earlier today, I thought it would have been really cool if this band started like 20 years ago so we could have a gigantic career… There’s going to be a time when it doesn’t work. There’s going to be a time where I don’t feel like headbanging. I don’t know when that is, but you know, it’s physical music.
“I want to keep us relevant and keep giving people music and hope people jump on our coattails, have some young people follow us and infuse this scene with thrashy kind of music.”
Slayer will play at Sick New World on 24 October 2026. You can find out more about Kerry King or shop his music via the official Kerry King website.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
