The thrash metal legends retired from touring back in 2019
After nearly 40 years and 12 studio albums, Slayer decided it was time to say farewell back in 2018. They launched The Final Campaign, a massive world tour that wrapped up in November of 2019. Now, after not performing for five years, the thrash metal legends are coming back with a vengeance. The group announced Wednesday plans to headline two major North American festivals – Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois, and Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky.
“Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we’re on stage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans,” said Slayer frontman Tom Araya. “And, to be honest, we have missed that.”
Guitarist Kerry King adds, “Have I missed playing live? Absolutely. Slayer means a lot to our fans; they mean a lot to us. It will be five years since we have seen them.”
While the complete Riot Fest lineup is still forthcoming, Slayer will perform at Louder Than Life alongside Mötley Crüe, Slipknot, and Korn. Other featured acts include Judas Priest, The Offspring, Seether, Anthrax, Disturbed, Evanescence, Five Finger Death Punch, Sum 41, Body Count, Architects, Jinjer, and Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann, among many others.
Slayer guitarist Kerry King recently unleashed the first taste of his highly anticipated solo project. The debut single, “Idle Hands,” is from his forthcoming album, From Hell I Rise. It was produced by Kerry King himself, alongside Josh Wilbur (Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God, Korn). It is slated to arrive on May 17 through Reigning Phoenix Music. For the record, King recruited Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, Death Angel vocalist Mark Osegueda, Hellyeah bassist Kyle Sanders, and former Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel, who briefly toured with Slayer back in 2018.
In May, Kerry King and his band are scheduled for a featured performance at Sonic Temple in Columbus, Ohio with Disturbed, Misfits, Pantera, Slipknot, Judas Priest, Sleep Token, Falling In Reverse, 311, A Day to Remember, Clutch, Mr. Bungle, Mudvayne, and others. King and company are also slated to perform at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida alongside Mötley Crüe, Foo Fighters, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Judas Priest, Falling In Reverse, Greta Van Fleet, Breaking Benjamin, Anthrax, In This Moment, Primus, Architects, and many more.
This summer, Kerry King will serve as special guest on select dates for Lamb of God and Mastodon’s monstrous co-headlining tour.
In 1983, thrash metal titans Slayer unleashed Show No Mercy, their unrelenting debut album. The record put the California band on the map, and served as part of the blueprint for thrash metal. Now, four decades later, the album is being celebrated in the most Slayer way possible.
Originally released by Metal Blade Records, the label unleashed two unique pieces of vinyl last November to commemorate the album’s 40th anniversary: a limited edition “blood” filled liquid vinyl, which is limited to 250 pieces worldwide, and the Show No Mercy 40th Anniversary Edition vinyl box set that includes a Gold Black Dust LP mastered for vinyl from the original master tapes by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony, a slipmat cover, poster, show flyers, signing card, and an LP booklet featuring the story of Show No Mercy, written by J. Bennett.
Slayer’s eponymous debut album Show No Mercy was released on December 3, 1983. At the time of its release, it quickly became the label’s highest-selling album. It featured excellent tracks like “The Antichrist,” “Die by the Sword,” and “Black Magic.” The album gave fans a glimpse of what would become one of the greatest hard rock acts of all time.
Throughout their career, Slayer played nearly 3,000 concerts around the globe. They have received several awards, including five GRAMMY® Award nominations and two Best Metal Performance wins for “Eyes of the Insane” (2007) and “Final Six” (2008). They have multiple live recordings, greatest hits compilations, live concert films and two box sets under their belt. With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, their discography boasts multiple Gold records, and they had their own exhibit in the Smithsonian Institute.
