TOM ARAYA THINKS HE’S KERRY KING
Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 3:00pm by Axl Rosenberg
Every metalhead knows that Kerry King likes to talk shit like he’s being paid by the insult, but isn’t Tom Araya supposed to be the more even-keeled one? The dude who brings his family to the Grammys and thinks it might be time for Slayer to call it a day and openly admits that he’s a practicing Catholic who doesn’t believe Slayer’s anti-religion message so much as he thinks it’s just a great theme for evil sounding metal?
Well maybe Tom is tired of King getting all the attention, because in a recent interview with Stormbringer Webzine, he took a page from his longtime bandmate’s playbook and slammed Metallica’s latest album, Death Magnetic:
“I heard the album. That’s all you wanna know. I heard the album… That’s why when they [the SLAYER management] said, ‘We wanna release this [new SLAYER song], ‘Psychopathy Red’.’ And this is after listening to the [METALLICA] album. I’m like, ‘Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Let’s release this song and give it away, because at least the fans will know what they’re getting with our album.’ [Laughs] I’m being serious. When I heard the METALLICA album, it didn’t appeal to me at all. And all I could think about was, ‘Man, what happened?’ And then they wanted to record three songs to help sell the tour, that we’re working on new material, and I’m like, I thought it was a great idea to release this song. Because people then can have something to compare something to — [show them] that Rick [Rubin, SLAYER and METALLICA producer] still has it. It wasn’t Rick. And that was kind of a way to show people, ‘Hey, it’s not Rick Rubin. It’s the band. It’s what the band brings to the table. People are always comparing albums. So now they have something that they can compare it to. And they know that this is what they’re gonna be getting with our record. You’re gonna be getting SLAYER.”
Wow. The funny thing is, even those whose disappointment in Metallica is ongoing (like me) think Death Magnetic is the best thing the band has done in years. At least Metallica get the last laugh – I’m fairly certain Hetfield could buy and sell Araya several times over.
You can check out Slayer’s new song, the aforementioned “Psychopathy Red,” here. Whether you think Araya is an asshole or not, it’s hard to deny that this song rules hard.
-AR
[via Metal Injection]
I am honored to be in such esteemed company as Mr. Tom Araya.
And for all of you that jizzed gallons upon <Death Magnetic’s intial release, is the love affair still in full bloom?
Meh, didn’t think so…
Since when does being able to “buy and sell someone several times over” warrant the last laugh? Didn’t I just read a post where this same writer bitched about a Hinder member using the word “artsy” in a negative connotation for the sole reason that uninformed morons will read those words and then think it’s ok to think like that about anything artistic? Do your duty as a musical authority and don’t delude your readers into thinking that any member of Metallica should feel superior to any member of Slayer. Metallica is fucking pathetic and derivative (perhaps of themselves) and it’s for that reason that they make more money than creative bands. Hinder makes more money than Burning Brides. Does Hinder have the last laugh over Burning Brides?
What will we get with a new Slayer album?
I think we’ve heard what we will get 20 years ago.
SLAYER!
@Another Opinion
And whether James gets the last laugh or not doesn’t make him superior(even though Metallica kicks WAY more ass than Slayer ever dreamed of). It means he’s made a shitload of fucking cash and he is quite a bit more successful than Tom Araya. Regardless of what you think of Metallica’s success, the 1.3 million people that bought Death Magnetic(and the 75% of the people who still enjoy it) may disagree with you.
Another Opinion
Well said. (No sarcasm)
Look guys,
Couple of things to point out here.
1) Members of Slayer know their shit. They know how to play to play thier instruments. And for the late-forties age that they might be, they play their instruments FUCKING WELL!! I dont think anyone can deny that.
2) Even if every Slayer album sounds the same on every album, it only means that they are consistent. You know exactly what you’re gonna get when you pick up a Slayer album. You know it will totally fuck you up!!!
3) Even if Metallica has more money than Slayer, it does not matter. After a certain point both bands are at a level that they both can pretty much fly first class, drink expensive alcohol and fuck the same whores. The money really does not matter.
That said, lets compare the albums that came out:
Haunting the Chapel – Great
Show no mercy – Great
Hell Awaits – Great
Reign in Blood – Fucking Great
South of Heaven – Great
Seasons in the Abyss – Great
Divine Intervention – so so but still heavier
Diabolus in Musica – Sucked
God hetes us All – Great
Christ Illusion – Great
Kill em All – Great
Ride the Lightening – Great
Master of Puupets – Great
Garage Days – Great
And Justice For All – kinda so so
Black Album – Sucked
Load – Sucked
Re-load – Sucked Donkeys Balls
St. Anger – Sucked Sarah Palin’s Balls
Death Magnetic – so so
So you have 4 Metallica albums that sucked big time and you have (perhaps) 2 Slayer albums that sucked big time. So who has delivered consistently??
Even if Tom Araya does not believe what he sings, the band’s act is brutal!! Its entertainment after all. You think Jack Nicolson wanted to be in Mars Attacks?!! Fuck no!! Its entertainment fucker!
Death Magnetic is a decent album. Is it going to turn Metalli-haters into fans again? No. But if you listen to it with an unbias ear and don’t compare it to [insert your favorite Metallica Album], it’s a good metal album. not great, but good.
So Hetfield will have the last laugh because he has more money than Slayer? Strange thing is I thought that the music was more important than commerce in this genre that we love.
Yeah Metallica are a laughable live band now and Slayer are better than ever ( i have seen both in last year) and Slayer’s albums have over shadowed Metallica’s studio recordings for years. It doesn’t matter though cos Metallica made the most money.
Right Axl?
WTF! Did you vote for McCain? Are you into Bling? What happened here?
There’s a lot to be said for Slayer, they have been consistent, usually if you’re not getting better you’re getting worse, this has been the case for Metallica, rotting in their cash cow but for Slayer they have stayed true to what they originally set out to do.
Meanwhile slimy Lars Ulrich masturbates over how much dollar he gets for hoarding works of “modern” art.
As for Hetfield getting the last laugh, I’m not sure anyone in Slayer cares if Metallica sells more albums or has more cash, I mean really, are we reducing the value of ones opinion down to how much money they have? In that case Mr Rosenberg’s is worth sweet F A.
Sorry Metalsucks but Mr Araya is obviously having the last laugh here because he is more successful than all of you put together.
@Iron Mayden: But if you listen to it with an unbias ear and don’t compare it to [insert your favorite Metallica Album], it’s a good metal album.
That’s like trying to find a jury of 12 peers who have never heard of O.J. Simpson before his murder trial. Did we really need complete buffoons deciding that man’s fate?
Tryng to find a metalhead who has no knowledge of Metallica or their back catalogue is rather pointless. Yeah, sure, if you are 12 years old and this is the first time you spun a Metallica record it may give you some minor excitement, unless, of course, you’ve been lucky enough to be exposed to other bands such as Genghis Tron, Nadja, Intronaut, Testament, Metal Church, Jucifer, Pyramids, Nachtmystium, Goat the Herd, Opeth, Gates of Slumber, Origin, Enslaved, Gojira or a million other albums released in 2008 that were leaps and bounds beyond Death Magnetic.
Judging legendary acts (musical, theatrical, writers, athletes, CEOs) based on their entire output is par for the course. Sure we can forgive these people their occasional missteps and even outright shitty product, but when it has been a solid shitfest for 19 years, like it has with Metallica, it’s time to pack it up.
To do a complete 180 and simply regurgitate that which once made you famous and appreciated does not mean you have written a great or even good record. It just means you now realize you have been led astray by big bucks, drugs, and false adulation.
I’ll take Slayer’s solid consistency over Metallica’s pandering handjob any day.
HOLY CRAP, I had no idea that the “last laugh” bit would get blown so far out of proportion. It is my shortcoming as a writer that I did not convey what I meant – from Metallica’s POV, they probably do not care what Slayer thinks b/c they have squillions of dollars and, if SOME KIND OF MONSTER is any indication, they value the almighty dollar very highly. I was NOT advocating Metallica as the superior band.
If you’ve read this site consistently, I think it’s clear that a) I do not value financial success over artistic success, b) I LOVE fucking Slayer, and c) I find what Metallica have become over the past seventeen years severely disappointing.
Good recovery, Axl.
Despite reading your stuff for a long time, I was a little confused if it was sarcasm or not.
@Corey Mitchell:
You have made it abundantly clear that you are not a fan of Death Magnetic. I don’t recall disputing that there are plenty of great records that came out this year that trump Death Magnetic. You would have to pretty much worship Metallica to think that Death Magnetic is the best album this year.
That being said, I think the album is decent regardless that it is not as good as their older stuff. I understand that many people, possibly yourself, believe that bands have to trump or equal their “master works” or it’s just not worth listening to.
I just listen to what I think sounds good and in my opinion, Death Magnetic has some good songs.
By the way, I find it interesting that you find the new Metallica “regurgitating” old material, but think the new Metal Church is not a complete regurgitation of uninspired metal riffs? That album is as generic as they come.
oh yeah, Slayer does kick Metallica’s ass. I don’t remember disputing that either.
“I heard the album. That’s all you wanna know.”
Apparently not. I love it when people say something along the lines of, “I’m not going to talk about that…” and then spew on about the very same topic for God knows how long.
(as an aside, I also love it when people try to say that the Black Album sucked. Get some fucking perspective please.)
Slayer is the AC/DC of Metal!!!
Considering Slayer haven’t released a decent album since 91, I’d think he’d be a bit more humble.
Slayer is one of the greatest bands ever, and I love their last two albums, but if you want to talk about “pandering handjobs,” I think Slayer regurgitating the same-sounding goods again and again panders much more so than Metallica’s artistic misadventures. Sure, they’ve made some awful records, but each time it was Metallica trying something new that didn’t work. Whether we’re talking Bob Dylan, Prince or Johnny Cash, most really great artists have tried something new and failed. It’s the same sense of adventure that makes them different in the first place, and I totally respect Metallica for their misguided stabs at hard rock and blues progressions. Slayer are more consistent because they’d rather run their sound into the ground than branch out.
Also, Tom and Kerry taking potshots at Metallica now seems like an insecure way of reassuring themselves that they haven’t lost it.
To further the “pandering handjob” analogy, Slayer’s output is like the incredible woman you married who was very excited to strangle the Pope when you first met her, maintained her enthusiasm through much of the first several years of marriage, maybe got a little lax at times but always gave it her all during the lean years, and has renewed vim and vigor as she reaches those cougar years.
Metallica on the other hand was the greatest lay you ever had, but then she developed an attitude and basically refused to do the most basic of things to please you. It was all about her at that point and how dare you attempt to ask me to go back to what I was good at. Eventually, you got so bored that you went out and found yourself dozens of mistresses over time to get that nut you once received so readily from her when you were first together. Now, you could give a rat’s ass about her so she’s trying oh so hard to regain her glory stroking days. Of course, you’re fed up and bored and have moved on mentally to bigger, better, and fresher handjobs so what’s the point? Maybe just one last facial for ol’ times sake, but hell, even that’s not worth it because she keeps babbling on about art and returning to her roots and how it’s great to be sober and how her last blowjob was “stock.” So, you think maybe a grudge throat fuck will make you feel better. Alas, it’s pointless. She’s withered, old, and obviously going through the motions. After so many years of getting your hopes up, but not your dick, this last hurrah just comes across as fake and puerile. It’s sad really, because you would have loved it for her to keep giving you the old reliable year in and year out, with a few minor adjustments and tricks to keep it interesting, instead of this saggy, sad sack of blah.
Here’s looking forward to another consistent, reliable, effective handjob next year AKA the next Slayer album.
I have to admit that I was really pumped about the new Metallica record before and after it was released, but it has been sorta collecting dust lately. The instrumental is great and feels very much like a classic metallica tune. My Apocalypse is really the only other memorable track on the disc.
LOL. good work corey. strained analogy but a humourous one.
personally i’d rather be celibate than receive the sub-par offerings from either
Hahahaha, best comment in the thread! ^
I will say this: I like Death Magnetic alot and it’s still in regular rotation in my CD player. But the new Slayer tune buries that entire album, IMO.
I think that actually Tom dislikes the fact that after Metallica’s succesful album with Rubin, everyone is going to give the credit about Slayer’s best work to Rubin, when EVERYONE knows that Rubin doesn’t do anything, it’s the band that does it. He only gives suggestions. Under Rubin’s advice, some artists have done some great work(Slayer, Danzig,Metallica, Johnny Cash), and there are some artists that worked under Rubin’s advice that, to me, their music sucks so bad no matter what they try (Slipknot, Shakira, jay-Z, etc).
and for the record, maybe I’m alone in this one but….
Death Magnetic >>>>> Christ Illusion
I still play frequently DM in my car and in my stereo. One of my favorite albums of 2008.
Divine Intervention and …And Justice For All: The last albums I gave a crap about from either band. It’s all too little too late for both bands.
I believe Tom was referring more to the sound on the album than the actual songs. Since both bands employ Rubin and the sound on Death Magnetic was supposed to be awful, I believe Tom was referring to the timbre, meaning the quality of the sound, not what the band wrote.
I didn’t buy the album so I can’t comment on the sound of it.
@Corey
While we may differ in opinion about Death Magnetic, the “pandering handjob” analogy is the funniest shit ever said about Metallica. well put.
@Iron Mayden:
You’re a good sport! And please don’t take too much of what I say as serious.
WOOOOO SLAYER
Slayer AND Metallica lost it after about 10 years in the biz. Slayer’s last great album was Divine Intervention. Metallica’s was …And Justice. Slayer still rocks hard in a nostalgic way, but Metallica are a bunch of self-satisfied douchenozzles with nothing new to say. Boo.
p.s.
Tom Araya > 99% of metal vocalists
Metallica have not brought out a ‘thrash metal’ album since master of puppets……slayer ‘Do thrash metal’ every album. Slayer stayed true to what made the successfull. Last laugh imo
Actually, the Black album did suck, I do have perspective, so I honestly have no idea what your point is “lern2swim”, as for slayer I honestly believe every single album they released has been good, obviously some better than others, top 3 being; Seasons in the Abyss, Reign in Blood, and Divine Intervention. I’d say slayer has kicked ass throughout their entire career, but Metallica just lost it after the Black album. I think Slayer will continue to kick ass until they are no longer capable ov playing their instruments due to their age.
The new Metallica is better than anything they have done since AJFA but it still sucks. They are no where close to Slayer (or Exodus or Testament). Slayer stays true and still puts out great material. Christ Illusion wasnt the greatest but it was far better than anything Metallica put out since 88. Metallica used to be the band where the bar was set! now they are keeping face!
Death Magnetic is overrated; too little too late. Christ Illusion could have been better, but Slayer is still better than Metallica even now. Just because a band sells around 1.3 million albums give or take, doesn’t make them better. This only proves that the “sheeple” out there will buy whatever thier corporate masters tell them to buy. Also, why support some greedy rich man’s lifestyle anyway?
I don’t care anyway, I have the albums from these bands that I like (mostly from the 1980s) but I like Opeth, Bloodbath, Epica, Origin, TYR, Primordial, ABSU, To-Mera, Enslaved, Melechesh, Madder Mortem and others because they build upon and expand the metal style without trying to “sell-out” to a bunch of dirtbags that would not have listened to them previously. At least Exodus, Kreator, Queensryche, Destruction, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Judas Priest, Motorhead and even Megadeth are still going strong (even with a forgettable release here and there-everyone gets a couple of duds in thier discography).
supremist song is better then every song of metallica since 1988. and its my favaorite song since the seasons in the abyss