In a recent chat with Riffx, Kerry King expressed his disappointment with Iron Maiden’s latest albums.
The Slayer guitarist specifically referenced Iron Maiden’s ‘The Book of Souls’ and ‘Senjutsu,’ and admitted he hasn’t listened to Bruce Dickinson’s new solo effort, ‘The Mandrake Project’:
“I haven’t heard Bruce’s new album, but a friend told me it’s better than Iron Maiden.”
King criticized the length of Iron Maiden’s songs:
“Nothing against Maiden, but their songs have just gotten so long, man. I can’t be bothered with it, and my attention span isn’t that great.”
King appreciates bands that maintain a consistent sound. In a recent interview with Total Guitar, he emphasized the importance of staying true to one’s musical roots, citing AC/DC as an example:
“There are no surprises on this album. I like bands that stick to the sound that works. I’m glad AC/DC has been making the same record for 50 years. That’s why I like them!”
King’s new solo album, ‘From Hell I Rise,’ includes contributions from Mark Osegueda of Death Angel, Paul Bostaph of Slayer, Kyle Sanders of Hellyeah, and former Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel. Despite the diverse lineup, King reassured fans that the album retains the essence of Slayer.
Released last week on May 17, ‘From Hell I Rise’ marks King’s debut solo record, and he is currently on tour to promote it. This September, he will also reunite with Slayer for the first time in five years, performing at several US festivals.
