Kerry King was far from finished with metal when Slayer ended. Instead, he formed a new band, recorded an album, and hit the road. Most recently, he and the guys traveled to Brazil to perform at the Bangers Open Air festival. During the set, King pulled out a pair of fan favorite Slayer tunes. They performed “Raining Blood” and “Black Magic” along with the bulk of King’s debut solo album.
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King isn’t the only former Slayer member in his new band. Paul Bostaph (drums) spent more than a decade in the band. So, it’s no surprise that the new project sounds similar to the iconic thrash outfit. Fans have been drawing that comparison since King released From Hell I Rise, with some calling it “Slayer on steroids.” The covers of “Raining Blood” and “Black Magic” prove it’s a fitting description. Watch them crush the classic covers below.
[RELATED: Kerry King Reacts to Fans Calling His Debut Solo Album “Slayer on Steroids”]
Kerry King Plays a Pair of Slayer Classics
Kerry King’s new band sounds so much like Slayer because he wanted to give the fans what they expected from a thrash metal legend. That mindset clearly worked its way into planning the setlist for the Bangers Open Air festival. “Raining Blood” was a cornerstone of the iconic band’s set. “Black Magic” comes from their 1983 debut album Show No Mercy.
The 1983 release was heavily criticized for its rough production. Despite that, a handful of songs, including “Black Magic”, became staples of their setlists. More than 40 years later, it is still the most popular song from the album.
“Raining Blood” is a metal classic and Slayer’s most popular song by far. Those who have only heard one song from the band have likely heard “Raining Blood.” It even appeared in an episode of South Park. As a result, many festival attendees expected King to perform the iconic song during his set. However, that may not be the only reason he chose to perform the fan favorite.
Both King and the late Jeff Hanneman said on multiple occasions that “Raining Blood” was their favorite song to play live.
Featured Image by Michael Mullenix/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
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