For a band that need no introduction, Californian thrash metal band Slayer sure have a lot of accomplishments to their name.

They’ve been nominated for various Grammy awards and have won a few as well; they’ve conquered the metal world, being labelled one of ‘the Big Four’, and achieved a commercial success before unseen from a hardcore outfit.

The foursome haven’t released a studio album since their superbly successful 2009 record World Painted Blood, but they are certainly working on one for a 2013 release.

Before the production process continues though, iconic guitarist Kerry King is gearing up the band for Soundwave – which is finally just around the corner.

“Dave [Lombardo] and I got back together in December and we have both been working on new stuff, except for yesterday where we started working on the Australian set,” which it seems, takes some careful consideration.

King has been busy reviewing Slayer’s setlists from their last visit to Soundwave in 2011.

“We have so many set types and we have around eight songs that we didn’t play last time,” he explains. “We’re playing about an hour long set so that’s almost 14 songs and maybe eight of those we didn’t play at all last time.”

As well as mixing the tracks up a bit, the quartet are ready to compensate for missing out on the Sydney leg of the festival’s tour last year when vocalist Tom Araya became ill. “[Sydney] are getting a bang for their buck.”“We’re playing about an hour long set so that’s almost 14 songs and maybe eight of those we didn’t play at all last time.” – Kerry King

Ever- flexible, King made some setlist changes after seeing the Soundwave timetable, as he expected the band to be playing after dark.

“I had to remove ‘Seasons In The Abyss’ and ‘Hell Awaits’ from the sets,” he concedes.

King decides on particular tracks being more suitable for night and day. “They are both great ambient songs but in the daylight, they both kind of lose some of their mystique.”

With such a tight touring schedule, the guitarist has high hopes to make some progress on the upcoming album soon – “hopefully we will get that opportunity between Australia and Europe (a tour scheduled for June), so it’d be killer to get it done so we can just stop thinking about it,” King laughs – “but I guess we will kick things off in Australia and see how we go upon our return.”

By the sound of things, we might be lucky enough to hear a new track or two as well over the Soundwave period.

Having recorded three new tracks in March last year, King admits he thought they’d have a release ready sooner.

“We thought [those recordings] were going to be released on some sort of EP but it never happened so they were pushed back for album tracks.”

In addition, King claims the band are ready to get recording with “eight completely new tracks and two left over from the World Painted Blood sessions.”

As most of the band resides in California, the band have not been able to produce the new record with haste as Araya resides in Texas, which complicates logistics.

“The best scenario for Tom would to be singing in the studios after coming off tour because his voice is strong after performances so we can take that momentum from Australia.”

As the band members are rocking through their fifties, this level of planning seems to be vital.

Slayer may not be the youngest rockers on the block anymore, but neither are their 80s thrash metal contemporaries, and fellow ‘Big Four’ members, Megadeth, Anthrax and Metallica – the latter two also appearing on the mammoth Soundwave bill.

All four groups are still going strong and proved it on stage as part of the Big Four Tour.

“I love those shows. I thought when we first lined up to do them that it would be really cool for the fans.”  It turns out King took a desirable trip down memory lane as well.

“Lars [Ulrich, Metallica drummer] and I were having a great time,” he recalls.

Whilst specifying that he enjoyed all the band members’ company, he emphasises the good times had with Ulrich.
“If you’re not a friend of mine, you don’t need to know what time I wipe my ass.” – Kerry King, on social media.

“He is such a character and so much fun to go out with.” They would go out drinking like the old days – “and really he’s the same dude as before but just makes a lot more money now,” King admits with a laugh.

When questioned over who he would incorporate into the band selection if the media label was altered to ‘the Big Five’ King offers some suggestions.

“I would probably add Testament, but there is strong argument for Exodus too.” King suggests ‘the big Six’ fantasy to be a better selection. “You could include both of them, I can’t decide between those two.”

While the rocker may not show his years on stage, his age does come out in other facets of his personality. Namely, modern social media. “I don’t communicate online like that.”

“Dave’s all wired with Facebook and Twitter but I have no interest in that shit.” King adds honestly – “if you’re not a friend of mine, you don’t need to know what time I wipe my ass.”

King’s ageing reveals some more light-hearted forgetfulness and confusion as he admits who he is most excited to check out at Soundwave: “It might sound funny but I want to see The Prodigy because I have never seen them before.”

As he’s corrected that the British outfit are not actually on the Soundwave lineup, but March’s Future Music Festival, he quickly realises “oh, no I meant The Offspring [he giggles], that’s who I want to see.”

We’re sure the feeling is more than mutual.

Slayer tour with Soundwave 2013 around the country from Saturday 23rd February, playing times here. They also play a Sidewave show in Sydney with Anthrax and Kingdom Of Sorrow, see below.

Slayer Sidewave Show 2013

w/ ANTHRAX & KINGDOM OF SORROW

MONDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2013
BIG TOP LUNA PARK Sydney – 18+

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