Slayer finishes up new album

Monday, April 20, 2015 - 18:53

submitted by

Thomas

Slayer - bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, guitarist Kerry King, and returning drummer Paul Bostaph, along with touring guitarist Gary Holt and producer Terry Date - have completed recording their 11th studio album and the band's first new effort since 2011's Grammy-nominated "World Painted Blood". The currently untitled album is expected out later this year, and will be released on Slayer's own as yet unnamed label (through Nuclear Blast).

Following Slayer's studio sessions in March 2014 that yielded the track "Implode," offered by the band as a free download, Slayer recorded on and off between September and mid-January at L.A.'s Henson Studios, and is currently mixing the album. Eleven songs have been recorded, but what will end up on the final track listing is yet to be determined. Early reports indicate that Slayer fans have a lot to look forward to - the new music is a sonic assault of brutal, ominous, lightening-fast and heavy-as-hell music with lyrics that unmask what Slayer knows best - the terror, the corruption and the societal turmoil that dominates our world.

The new album marks the first time Slayer has worked with producer Terry Date (Slipknot, Soundgarden, Deftones), Bostaph's return to the Slayer recording line-up since 2001's "God Hates Us All", and Holt's first appearance on a Slayer album. It's also the first Slayer album without the presence of founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman, athough a Hanneman-penned song is on the final track listing.

According to Araya, "Jeff had always been writing and demoing songs, even up until shortly before he passed. You can tell by the quality of his songwriting that this was his passion. There will be a song written by Jeff on the new album. Everything but the vocals had been completed, so we did the vocals and it's done. And there are a few more of Jeff's songs that we might record and release in the future."

"With this new album," added King, "Tom, Paul and I put all of our ideas out on to the table, working in a more collaborative way toward the ultimate heavy outcome. And I've got to give big props to Gary who played lead on several of the new songs. I think he got all of his leads done in one day - he's a maniac!"

Confirmed Slayer tour dates:

APRIL

24 Iron City, Birmingham, AL*

25 Monter Energy Welcome to Rockfille, Metropolitian Park, Jacksonville, FL

26 Civic Theatre, New Orleans, LA*

MAY

1 Lunatic Luau, Farm Bureau Live, Virginia Beach, VA

3 Carolina Rebellion, Charlotte, NC

22 Rocklahoma, Pryor, OK

23 Socorro Casino, El Paso, TX*

JUNE

13 Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN