Welcome back to Guitardoor.com, where we salute the most influential and unrelenting forces in the history of heavy music. Today, we stand in the infernal fire of a true titan of thrash metal: the legendary Kerry King. As a founding guitarist and one of the principal songwriters for the iconic and fearsome Slayer, King is a master of sonic brutality. His aggressive, razor-sharp riffs and chaotic, screaming solos helped to define the very sound of thrash and laid the groundwork for countless extreme metal genres that would follow.
The Sound of Pure Aggression
Kerry King’s musical style is a masterclass in controlled violence. His entire musical philosophy is built on speed, precision, and an unwavering commitment to creating the most aggressive sound possible. Alongside his late bandmate Jeff Hanneman, he forged a sound that was faster, heavier, and more sonically punishing than anything that had come before. His songwriting is built upon a foundation of complex, lightning-fast, and surgically precise guitar riffs. These riffs are often chromatic and dissonant, creating a sense of tension and impending doom that is central to the Slayer sound.
His lead playing is a perfect reflection of this aggressive ethos. A Kerry King solo is a chaotic, terrifying, and brilliant explosion of noise. He is a master of the whammy bar, using it to create screaming, dive-bombing effects that sound like a machine being torn apart. His solos are characterized by frantic, atonal tremolo picking, rapid-fire chromatic runs that defy conventional melody, and a raw, visceral energy that perfectly captures the dark and violent themes of the band’s music. He is not just playing notes; he is creating pure, unadulterated sonic chaos.
The Arsenal of a Thrash God: Technique and Tone
Kerry King’s technique is a testament to the power of a relentless and precise right hand. The core of his legendary rhythm sound is his mastery of alternate and down-picking at incredible speeds. This allows him to execute his intricate, palm-muted riffs with the percussive, machine-gun-like attack that has defined Slayer’s rhythmic power for decades. His playing is a physical and demanding style that requires immense stamina and control.
His gear choices are as iconic and weaponized as his music. For decades, his name has been synonymous with B.C. Rich guitars, particularly the radical and aggressive shapes of the Warlock and Mockingbird models. In more recent years, he has enjoyed a signature relationship with Dean Guitars, continuing his preference for visually striking instruments built for extreme metal. A constant in his setup is the use of EMG active pickups (typically the 81/85 set) combined with an onboard preamp/boost circuit, which is crucial for achieving his tight, saturated, and noise-free tone, even under immense levels of gain.
The other half of his signature sound comes from the classic thrash metal combination of a Marshall JCM800 amplifier pushed to its limits by an overdrive or EQ pedal in front. He has famously used a Boss 10-band graphic EQ for years, not just to shape his tone (often with a scooped midrange), but to act as a powerful boost, slamming the front end of the Marshall to create his searing, aggressive, and instantly recognizable tone. A wah pedal is also a frequent tool in his arsenal, used to add a shrieking, vocal-like character to his chaotic solos.
Essential King: The Pillars of Thrash Metal
Kerry King’s riffs are the very building blocks of the thrash metal genre. To truly understand his immense and ferocious contribution to music, these three Slayer anthems are absolutely essential listening.
“Angel of Death”
“War Ensemble”
“Disciple”
Kerry King is one of the most important and influential rhythm guitarists in the history of heavy metal. He is an uncompromising artist who has never once strayed from his mission to create the heaviest music possible. His legendary riffs, his chaotic solos, and his sheer, unrelenting aggression have inspired generations of metal musicians and have forever cemented his status as a true king of the genre.
Cover Photo Credit “Kerry King” by 20 Minutos (by Rockger21) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.1
