SLAYER guitarist Kerry King, a close friend of the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGELAN), had the legendary axeman's guitar in the studio during the recording process for SLAYER's new album, "World Painted Blood" (although he didn't use it it during the sessions), still with the same strings that were on it the last time Dimebag played it. "The one thing that made me look at my lead playing a little differently was when Dimebag passed away," revealed King. "Not that I'm going to fill Dime's shoes because nobody can do that, but I paid more attention to my leads while recording this album. I wanted to make them more memorable in memory of Dime."

A short clip of King talking about lead work on the new SLAYER CD can be viewed below.

For nearly three decades, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, guitarists King and Jeff Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo have proven over and over, whether in the studio or on the concert stage, that there is SLAYER and then there's everyone else. And they're about to do it again, first with the band's co-headline spot on this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, and then with the late summer release of their ninth studio album, "World Painted Blood" (American Recordings/Columbia Records).

Some dozen new songs comprise "World Painted Blood", which was recorded in Los Angeles over two time periods, during October 2008 and then between late January and March 2009. "World Painted Blood" was produced by Greg Fidelman, who's spent time in the studio with METALLICA, THE GOSSIP, THE (INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY, SLIPKNOT and others, and executive produced by longtime SLAYER colleague, Rick Rubin, who suggested Fidelman for the project.

Recording "World Painted Blood" was a unique experience for SLAYER who has historically begun the recording process with all songs written and fully rehearsed. This time, in part to make sure they could work with Fidelman, they had ideas, but did the bulk of writing and song development while in the studio. "Writing in the studio was a new idea for SLAYER," said Fidelman. "I think the fact that the songs were still new and fresh to them, and they hadn't been playing them for six months in rehearsal, kept the vibe and excitement in the studio very high."