Slayer guitarist Kerry King has opened up about the immense difficulty of maintaining secrecy around his solo album From Hell I Rise for an entire year before its official release. In a candid statement, King explained how the weight of keeping the project under wraps tested everyone involved in the creation process.
“I think it was finished like a year before it came out,” King revealed. “So that weight, that keeping the lid on it was the hardest thing. Because you get all the people in my band, you got everybody that worked on the record, and they all had to stay quiet because you wanted it to be a surprise whenever the big release was happening. So that was super hard and difficult.”
The payoff came quickly once the album hit the market. King described the relief and momentum that followed the official announcement. The global fanbase rapidly embraced the project during live performances. “When it came out, it was a relief because everybody could tell all the people they wanted to tell that they hadn’t told yet,” he said. “We started touring pretty early on it. You know, people didn’t know it. Some people didn’t know it at all. But by the time we were done with our live US run, everybody was singing the lyrics back at us like they have known them 20 years, like an old Slayer song.”
King expressed pride in how the collaborative effort came together. He emphasized the project’s connection to his legendary thrash metal legacy. “There’s so many Slayer fans into what I’m doing because it’s the next thing. How do I think about From Hell I Rise now, you know, I’m super proud of how the guys came together. Guys from different bands, different environments made this project what it was.”
King’s solo ambitions materialized when From Hell I Rise officially launched on May 17, 2024, via Reigning Phoenix Music. The album debuted alongside the first single, “Idle Hands.” King had assembled a collective of musicians for the project, signaling his intent to create something substantial and collaborative rather than a vanity project, as Knotfest reported.
The strategic timing of the release allowed King to build momentum immediately. Live dates were announced to support the album rollout. This approach proved effective in generating buzz among both longtime Slayer devotees and newcomers curious about the thrash metal icon’s solo venture.
Following the album’s release, King took From Hell I Rise on an ambitious touring schedule throughout 2024. King’s live campaign included festival appearances and support slots on the Ashes of Leviathan run alongside Lamb of God and Mastodon, two of metal’s most respected contemporary acts, Blabbermouth noted. This pairing exposed King’s solo work to audiences already primed for heavy, uncompromising music.
The European leg of the tour launched on June 3, 2024. It featured headline shows and appearances at major festivals including Rock am Ring, Hellfest, Tuska, Download, and Sweden Rock Festival. This extensive touring schedule validated King’s decision to keep the project under wraps. The live performances became the vehicle through which audiences discovered and embraced the new material.
The album has since been recognized as an acclaimed debut solo album. The project was framed as a natural continuation of King’s thrash metal identity rather than a stylistic departure. This positioning proved crucial in attracting Slayer fans who sought more music in a Slayer-adjacent vein. The album resonated with his core audience while potentially reaching new listeners.
The success of From Hell I Rise has been further validated by the announcement of an extended deluxe edition. It is scheduled for June 19, 2026. This reissue demonstrates the album’s enduring appeal and King’s commitment to the project, cementing From Hell I Rise as a significant chapter in his post-Slayer career.
