Kerry King returns with 'From Hell I Rise: Extended Deluxe Edition' with 5 never before heard recordings
- jaybroderick
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Jay Broderick - When Slayer walked offstage on November 30, 2019, for any metal fan, it felt like the world was ending. Because let's be honest... it kinda was! Bassist/vocalist Tom Araya was finished with the grind, and with his retirement came the dissolution of one of the most important bands in metal history. But one man wasn’t ready to close the book. Kerry King, the riff architect, the backbone, the relentless engine of Slayer, felt there was still blood left to spill.
And so he did what any lifer would do... he grabbed Slayer's drummer Paul Bostaph, assembled a murderers row of metal veterans, Mark Osegueda (Death Angel), Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), and Phil Demmel (ex‑Machine Head), and launched a new chapter under a familiar name: Kerry King.
The band’s debut, From Hell I Rise, dropped on May 17, 2024, a 13‑track slab of thrash fury (because of course it’s 13) written entirely by King. It was unmistakably his DNA: the crunch, the velocity, the venom. King then tore across North America, Europe, Latin America, the UK, and Asia through 2024 and 2025, proving the new lineup wasn’t a side project... it was a continuation of the carnage.
Now, in 2026, King celebrates the album’s two‑year anniversary with a release that’s more than a repackage... it’s a revelation!
The Extended Deluxe Edition, out June 19, includes the original 13 tracks but adds something no one expected... five demo versions featuring Kerry King on vocals. Yes! You read that correctly. Kerry King... on vocals! Officially. For the first time. The demos added to the Extended Deluxe Edition include:
"Crucifixation"
"From Hell I Rise"
"Two Fists"
"Rage"
"Trophies of the Tyrant"
And here’s the shocker: King sounds killer! His vocals are raw, serrated, and surprisingly seasoned. This ain't no novelty. It's not a gimmick, but a legitimately compelling performance. When I first heard the announcement, I braced for impact, thinking, 'How is this going to play out?' But the result isn’t just passable... it’s a completely pleasant surprise, the kind that makes you rethink what you thought you knew about a musician who’s been in the game for over four decades. Where has this version of King been hiding? I mean, he wasn't going to take Araya's job, and Osegueda is a seasoned veteran who fits the mold seamlessly... but man, King kills it here.
The man already owns the six‑string battlefield, but these demos reveal a side of his songwriting brain that feels newly unchained. There’s grit, attitude, and a kind of unfiltered immediacy that only comes from a songwriter singing his own words before anyone else touches them. And these demos aren’t just bonus tracks on an anniversary edition. They’re a window into the creative furnace that is Kerry King.
While there are no official releases of either of the demos ahead of the album's release on June 19th, we can still thrash out to the band's kick-you-in-the-teeth anarchy here:
From Hell I Rise: Extended Deluxe Edition is a reminder that Kerry King didn’t lose a step when Slayer ended. If anything, he sharpened the blade. For completists, it's a no brainer, but these demos alone justify the release. They’re raw, revealing, and genuinely exciting. It's a glimpse at a version of King we’ve never heard before, but absolutely should have.
From Hell I Rise: Extended Deluxe EditionÂ
Packaging & Variants:
CD
Black & dark red marble vinyl
Dark red & orange marble vinyl
Release Date: June 19, 2026