Photos/Review: Kerry King raises hell in LA

Rising from Hell can have many connotations, but when referring to Kerry King’s newest solo project it certainly fits in more ways than one. On Friday, February 21st, 2025, Kerry King hit The Fonda theater in Los Angeles headlining their current tour in support of their 2024 album release, From Hell I Rise. With Slayer’s disbanding, Kerry King has certainly risen from hell back into the limelight doing what we all know and love him for. Joining Kerry King on this tour is Municipal Waste, and Alien Weaponry. As a great combo package tour, they all put on a very energetic show this past Friday night.

Starting off this early show at around 7:30pm, New Zealand based band Alien Weaponry brought a special set that ended with the tune “Kai Tangata,” in which they sing in the ancient native New Zealand language of Maori. For those who saw this early set, the feedback was nothing but positive. Their thrash metal mixed with groove antics left a good impression on Kerry King fans.

Next up on the roster this evening was crossover thrash metal band Municipal Waste, originating in 2000 Virginia. Original vocalist, Tony Foresta always brings the fun, bold commentary, and intensely high energy to his live performances. The rest of the team is fast and furious as well. They started around 8:30 pm, and finished at precisely 8:59. It’s like watching a tornado vigorously destroy a farm house, and then suddenly all is completely still again. Whether Foresta is singing in Municipal Waste or his other band Iron Reagan, fans can be sure to hear some memorable commentary, political or otherwise. On this night, he asked for an all ladies mosh pit to quite literally stir things up. Then he mentioned Cavalera Conspiracy because they were definitely in direct competition with their show at Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Their set decor was fun as two toxic wasted skeletons came up out of the toxic waste prop bins. Towards the end of their short, concise songs and speedy set, they played their infamous “Born To Party” song that has the fun chanting lyrics of “Municipal Waste is gonna fuck you up!” All was good in the land of crossover thrash as the night went on, and those who chose the Kerry King show over Cavalera, were not disappointed.

Municipal Waste

Photo Credit: Chris Loomis

Around 9:30pm, Kerry King rose sky high out of hell onto the stage like a bat, and the band thrashed their way back into Slayer fans hearts. While this band does get into the Slayer covers, which included favorite “Raining Blood” this evening, they also played their 2024 released album “From Hell I Rise.” This is a very powerful thrash attack album that actually has a modern, tougher, Slayer style. Vocalist Mark Osegueda of Death Angel is a maniac filled dream warrior in this supergroup. Long story short, he’s perfect for this role. Add in former Vio-lence and Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel, Hellyeah bassist Kyle Sanders, and Slayer and former Testament, Forbidden and Exodus drummer Paul Bostaph, and the result is a heavy, heavenly version of hell. Since the end of Slayer touring in 2019, fans have been worried they may never see Slayer in action again. Fear not, as they are doing one offs at festivals, but as for this Kerry King solo supergroup, this is surely second runner up to Slayer touring again, plus it holds its own.

On this evening they did a double song old school Iron Maiden tribute to Paul Di’ Anno since his recent death. As it was a sweet, and noble tribute of “Killers” and “Purgatory,” their thrash style still served up the Slayer covers just a touch more deliberately. Closing out the evening just before 11pm, Kerry King ended the set with the title song of their album From Hell I Rise. The quality and modernization of some of these classic thrash guitar solos smashed up with the off-beating and tempo changes are really entertaining live. The Inverted cross with X statues and banner promoting the album and cover art were well light with the more modern and well thought out lighting designs. Just before 11pm, the show ended, and the people who can’t stay focused for even an hour and a half set were set free to find the next adventure. Stay metal.