In a recent Metal Hammer interview, SLAYER’s Kerry King shared his early encounters with METALLICA. He vividly recalled seeing them pre-Bay Area days, even before they were a full-fledged band, reminiscing about watching them perform alongside Dave Mustaine. Kerry was drawn to their speed metal style, which hadn’t been officially labeled as thrash metal yet. He mentioned his admiration for VENOM, JUDAS PRIEST, and how METALLICA’s blend of these influences, along with their style, contributed to SLAYER’s formation.
Reflecting on his brief stint with MEGADETH in 1984, Kerry acknowledged Mustaine’s possible resentment towards METALLICA but expressed his respect for Mustaine’s talent. Despite enjoying his time with MEGADETH, Kerry’s loyalty remains with SLAYER due to their shared dark musical themes.
When asked about METALLICA’s success, Kerry attributed it to their melodic prowess, making their music accessible to a wider audience compared to SLAYER’s darker tones. He praised METALLICA’s self-titled album, acknowledging its departure from thrash metal while still appreciating its heavy sound.
Overall, Kerry’s insights shed light on the early days of thrash metal and the interconnectedness of bands like SLAYER, METALLICA, and MEGADETH in shaping the genre’s evolution.
