When Slayer parted ways in 2019, regardless of your feelings towards the band, they left a gaping hole in the metal community - for better or worse, they had always been a recognisable act, staying true to their style.
Guitarist Kerry King obviously wasn’t done with making music however, so that same year he began making plans for his self-titled solo project, which in 2024 lept on the market with the release of the debut album, From Hell I Rise.

“Copenhell, absolutely fucking brilliant! The energy is fucking amazing!”
- Mark Osegueda (vocals)

If anyone was in doubt whether this solo project would be a continuation of the style of Slayer, or something completely different, the use of instrumental album opener Diablo as the intro music for the show would quickly put any such doubt to rest. It was fast, heavy, riffy, and precisely with that well-known Slayer tone we all know.
The first, or second actually, thing to notice was the all-star crew Kerry King had assembled around him. There were fellow Slayer alumni Paul Bostaph on drums and and Phil Demmel on guitar (I was first thinking that hey, that guy’s playing on a Phil Demmel guitar, followed by a quick facepalm when the understanding of why hit me), and filling the rest of the spots were Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah) on bass and Mark Osegueda (Death Angel) on vocals. All highly capable and well established guys.

The obvious side-effect of bringing such talent together, is that you have an effective live performance ensured. I’ve always felt that Osegueda was a great frontman in his main outfit, and he brought all of that energy and charisma to this show as well, but he wasn’t alone in this. All of the guys were giving a stellar show, where, interestingly, the actual main man, Kerry King himself, was the least interesting one to watch. Even he was giving more than what we’ve been used to from his time in Slayer. Just a little bit.
And there’s no two ways about it, Kerry King (the band) is truly just an extension of Slayer, which may surprise some, but definitely gladden more.
And it was the ‘more’ that had shown up in front of the Hades stage this afternoon.
And they were glad to see the gang, can we say back together? I mean, more than half the band either plays in, or has played in Slayer, Slayer songs were played in the set, and even the non-Slayer songs still sounded pretty much like Slayer, so…

Even so, Kerry King (the band) can certainly stand on their own, and they proved that beyond the shadow of a doubt here at Copenhell. They delivered a killer show, filled with fire in every sense, and they sounded even better live than they do on the album.
Interestingly, the real Slayer has chosen this year to make a comeback as well, so having two outfits delivering this sonic universe (or is it now a Slayer multiverse?) can only be a wet dream for the fans. Let’s just conclude that the hole left in 2019 has been ever so solidly filled again in 2024!

Setlist:

Diablo
Where I Reign
Trophies Of The Tyrant
Toxic
Two Fists
Idle Hands
Residue
Disciple (Slayer cover)
Crusifixation
Shrapnel
Raining Blood (Slayer cover)
Black Magic (Slayer cover)
From Hell I Rise