Kerry King’s solo sophomore album would ideally be done before the end of 2025

Kerry King released his first solo album in May 2024. “From Hell I Rise” was a somewhat conventional solo album, although it was generally alright. He assembled a top-tier group of musicians to perform alongside him, composed the music, and embarked on a tour using the record as a platform. Now that all of that is behind him and Slayer is taking up his time, King is considering releasing another solo album, which he wants to finish soon. After he discussed his ambitions for a second album on the Rolling Stone Brazil show, word leaked out about his intentions for a follow-up album.

I made up two songs since I’ve been home from this U.S. run. So we keep working on stuff. We haven’t played together yet, but we have stuff to work on when we get together. What the plan is, is whenever [the] cycle [for ‘From Hell I Rise’] is done, and right now that looks to me like October, Paul and I have always talked about going straight from playing live, taking maybe a week off and go right in the studio to keep your tour chops, so you’re firing on all cylinders — you don’t gotta practice to get good; you’re already good — and get in there and record it. So, ideally, in my perfect world, it would be done this year and then just hand it to the record company and say, ‘Put it in line, whenever you want it to come out.’

King spoke also about the influences for this upcoming record.

I don’t know. I think punk was pretty well covered on [‘From Hell I Rise’], from ‘Everything I Hate About You’ to ‘Two Fists’, two very different punk styles. So it wouldn’t surprise me if that shows up ’cause it’s part of my history. And I think, overall, my thought would be just make an extension from what ‘From Hell I Rise’ is, just keep doing [things the same way], see what the next 10 or 12 [songs] sound like.”