Kerry King – From Hell I Rise Review

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First of all, wow! What an album! So much the expected from someone as Kerry King, the guy whose name is a synonym of Metal music. Second of all, I don’t know if I praise the album and regret he won’t release another album because Slayer are planning another farewell tour or, I praise that Slayer are planning another farewell tour and regret he won’t release another album. This thing of solo albums would be so promising.

Ok, then, from what I’ve heard the plans for the solo album started in 2020 with King saying in an interview on the Dean Guitars YouTube channel that August that he had “more than two records’ worth of music”. King’s Slayer bandmate and drummer Paul Bostaph stated that same month he and King were working on a new project that would “sound like Slayer without it being Slayer — but not intentionally so. Well, I guess this kind of sums up my review, “From Hell I Rise” is Slayer without being Slayer or so. Of course, this would the natural course of things because as one of the main songwriters of the band, there is so much of him in it. I would be so surprised if it were the other way around. There are songs here that do sound much more like Slayer as “Crucifixation,” for instance. Others, as album warmer “Where I Reign” are pretty dissimilar.

“From Hell I Rise” commences with “Where I Reign” which is a kind of invitation card of Mr. Kerry King pretty much stating everything he’s got. Its circular guitar riffing is just something. I call it circular because it seems to be round and last forever with each note fitting into each other giving the impression of being forever. What raised my attention was the fact that vocalist Mark Osegueda’s tone of voice reminds a lot Cirith Ungol’s Tim Baker’s. The guitar riff and vocals are the things that took the song apart from Slayer, and, gave the album its personality. “Tension’s” slow cadence with Mark Osegueda giving all the despair and solitude he’s got on it grabbed me by the guts. Another track that gives the album its identity. Here are some reasons why “From Hell I Rise” should be praised by all metalheads of this sad and lonely and pathetic little planet.

Well, if “From Hell I Rise” is the one and only we don’t really know, but I am sure it is a hell of an album. Recommended not only for diehard Slayer fans.

Kerry King “From Hell I Rise” will be released on May 17th via Reigning Phoenix Music.

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

Watch “Iddle Hands” official music video here:

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