Chicago Underground Nightclub Hosts One Of The Largest Names In Metal Music, Kerry King, For A One Night Only Show Fans Won’t Soon Forget

May 08, 2024 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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By Christopher David,

Reggie’s Rock Club, one of Chicago’s most legendary venues for metal, played host to one of the rarest nights in its almost twenty-year existence: the first ever solo show from Kerry King’s new band, following the demise of Slayer in 2019. Fan’s lined up down the street and around the block hours before doors opened to make sure they got in to this one.

King, who has always been very public about his desire to continue on, is one of those defining figures in the heavy metal community—unmistakable in his appearance and uncompromising in his opinions.  It didn’t take a genius to figure that, whatever he followed up with, it would have the same overall energy as Slayer—but this lineup is one for the books. 

With vocalist Mark Osegueda, guitarist Phil Demmel, bassist Kyle Sanders, and drummer Paul Bostaph sharing the stage with the eponymous guitarist, the sold-out crowd got to witness real heavy metal history.  

New tunes like opener “Where I Reign” and lead single “Idle Hands” had the crowd energy of time-honored classics the second they were out of the box, and new single “Residue” gave the band a chance to show off with a stand-out riff in its breakdown; King and Demmel are the perfect lead guitar duo, with subtly contrasting styles that really make the new tunes go harder than hell.

And what would a Kerry King show be without some Slayer?  “Chemical Warfare,” “Disciple,” and the one-two punch of “Raining Blood” and “Black Magic” had the pit in a frenzy, though the reaction to new songs like the stomping “Two Fists” was almost equally enthusiastic, thanks in no small part to vocalist Mark Osegueda.  While his work with Death Angel has always been phenomenal, he brings a new kind of energy in fronting King’s band, absolutely epitomizing what you want in a metal vocalist. 

Sharing shots of Jagermeister at the end in toast to their first official performance, King couldn’t hold back a smile, tossing pics and throwing horns to a rabid crowd that would have stayed until…well, we’d probably still be there.  

King’s long-awaited solo album, From Hell I Rise, arrives on May 17th, and if you’re looking for something different than the punishing riffs that have been his signature for forty years now…look elsewhere.  From Hell I Rise sounds, for all the world, like a revitalized envisioning of Slayer in the best possible way, from guitarist Phil Demmel’s unhinged solos to some vocal performances for the ages from Osegueda.  The songwriting and overall style bear all the hallmarks of King’s best work; “Toxic” is a rallying cry against culture and politics, while “Crucifixation” lambasts of organized religion, as does the thunderous “Trophies of the Tyrant.” 

And for as solid an album as it is, don’t miss seeing King’s new outfit live.  There are supergroups, and then there’s this—a supergroup so perfectly cast it exists in a class of its own.  

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For more on Kerry King, The New Album and Possible Future Tours, click here

For photos from the show at Reggie’s, click here

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Kerry King – Reggie’s Rock Club, Chicago, IL, May 7th, 2024 (setlist)

Where I Reign

Toxic

Rage

Repentless (Slayer Song)

Two Fists

Residue

Hate Worldwide (Slayer Song)

Idle Hands

Trophies of the Tyrant

Chemical Warfare (Slayer Song)

Everything I Hate About You

Disciple (Slayer Song)

Crucifixation

Shrapnel

Raining Blood (Slayer Song)

(Encore) – From Hell (Title track from Kerry King Solo album)

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