In The Studio
God may hate us all, but in the run-up to album number 11, he’s really had it in for Slayer
Slayer ...............................................................
For metal icons Slayer, their 11th album was always going to be a journey into the unknown. After dismissing drummer DaveL ombardo in February 2013 and with guitaristJ eff Hanneman passing away just months later, the band has been forced to rebuild – recalling Paul Bostaph on drums and Exodus’ Gary Holt on guitar.
“It’s been an entirely weird recording session for us, going back four years,” King tells TG. “WhenJ eff got hurt, I thought, ‘I have to be prepared, in caseJ eff comes to the party with nothing.’J eff was popping into rehearsals, but he was never really ready. We just used one ofJ eff’s, [ Piano Wire], which was left over from the last record: Tom re-sung it, Paul replayed the drums – and it’s in the mix with the rest of my music.”
After a two-song dalliance with producer Greg Fidelman was disregarded, the band
“It’s been an entirely weird four-year recording session”
recorded with Terry Date at Henson Studios inL A, but even then, studio time was punctuated by tours. For a band famed for its consistency – earning them the ’AC/DC of metal’ tag – the sporadic sessions could have spelled disaster.
“Surprisingly, it was far easier than it could have been,” says King. “It’s cool, because you get to live with it, but I might have changed five per cent – and that just tells me that we had good stuff.”
Tones were conjured via King’s signature BC Rich Custom Vs and Warlocks through a signature Marshall 2203KKJ CM800 head and two Mode Four cabs, while Holt (who contributed leads but didn’t write) used a Kemper Profiling Amp and an ESP Eclipse. The gear might have been the only simple thing about this record, but the thrash legend is adamant it’s been worth the effort. “Some of these songs are classics already,” he reckons. “One of my favourite’s is Take Control. That song is Riff City.J ust when you think you’ve heard them all, another one pops up!”
Now all they’ve got to do is announce the title (our money’s on Chasing Death) and silence any haters with righteous, relentless riffing. “I expect some backlash,” admits King. “I expect some people saying, ‘It’s not Slayer,J eff’s not in it. Dave’s not in it.’ But you can’t say it’s not AC/DC because Bon Scott isn’t in the band! I think the die-hard fans are gonna love it.”
Slayer’s new album is due in August on Nuclear Blast