SLAYER guitarist Kerry King gave writer Joel McIver (Total Guitar, Metal Hammer) an update about the next SLAYER album and the band's future in general. Excerpts from the chat follow.

McIver: SLAYER have just had an extended break.

King: I didn't speak to the other guys for nine months. For the first time in our career, we just scattered. The last thing we did was the MARILYN MANSON tour in America. In all that time, I must have played the guitar 25 times. I got home right at the beginning of the American football season, and I haven't seen a whole season in six or seven years, so I enjoyed the hell out of that. And then once you take four or five months off, it's easy to take the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth month off!

McIver: Is there a new SLAYER album on the way, or are you going to make us wait another few years like you did with 2006's "Christ Illusion"?

King: We're supposed to have one ready at the end of the year! There's been talk of all kinds of odd things, because the record industry changes every day. We've talked about maybe putting out a couple of songs from an upcoming record through iTunes, so we can play something new on the Unholy Alliance III tour. You know, that's not so far outside the realm of possibility. As far as how much we're gonna get done by the end of the year? I have no idea.

McIver: Are any new songs ready to go?

King: Jeff [Hanneman, guitar] has a couple of things. I've got ideas that I've never finished, so I wanna get back to working on those. Some of them are really cool. I haven't recorded anything yet because I want to finish the songs first — I like them to have a beginning and an end before I demo them.

McIver: Tom [Araya, singer] said that after the next SLAYER album, you guys would have to discuss your future as a band, because he's reaching an age where it might no longer be viable.

King: I haven't even heard that. He hasn't talked to me about it. But after taking 10 months off, I bet you he's recharged and ready to rock. As far as I'm concerned, I look at people like Ronnie James Dio and Rob Halford and I think, "Shit, maybe I'm not done!"

McIver: Yes, but Dio and Halford aren't playing thrash metal.

King: They're not, but they still belt it out on stage. They sound like the fuckin' record to this day, and it's inspiring. I've got great ideas for songs, and musical ideas that I want to try to achieve. I couldn't see myself doing a solo album, though. I have a lot of friends in the business, so I could pull it off, but I don't want to take my ideas or my time away from SLAYER.

McIver: Has Dave [Lombardo, SLAYER drummer] recovered from his thyroid problem?

King: Yes, that was when he was all bony! But we came back from our 10-month break and he's the heaviest I ever saw him. I was like, "Whoa, dude — what have you been doing!" He surprised me with how ready we was to play, because I thought we'd all suck. But he was ready to go.

McIver: Do you ever discuss Dave's future in the band with him?

King: Not really, I just assume he's there. He always [renews] the deal. I don't see why he'd want to leave. What's he gonna do, go and play in FANTOMAS for the rest of his life?

A picture of King with McIver's new book, "The Bloody Reign Of Slayer", can be seen below. The book has been widely praised in the rock and metal press and can be ordered from Amazon. More info: www.joelmciver.co.uk.

For Kerry's thoughts on SLAYER's forthcoming Unholy Alliance III tour with TRIVIUM, visit Total Guitar magazine's web site.