GARY HOLT Says He Would Have 'No Shortage Of Riffs' If He Was Asked To Write For SLAYER

In a brand new interview with Fuse.tv, Gary Holt was asked how his status as the touring guitarist in SLAYER is different from his normal duties in EXODUS.

"In EXODUS, I do most of the heavy lifting," he said. "Whereas SLAYER, that would be carried by [bassist/vocalist] Tom [Araya]. [With SLAYER] I just show up, have a couple of drinks, go out and shred, play the set and then relax. We have a good time. My job description is very simple: Just go out and rage. It's easy for me."

Asked if he would consider writing with SLAYER, Holt said: "[SLAYER guitarist] Kerry [King] wrote the whole [upcoming] album. I just go out and play guitar. It's refreshing to not have to go out and do all the other stuff. I don't have to do the press and all that. I just show up, go straight into my dressing room and get ready to play the show and get off stage and relax. In the future, I've been around four years, down the road if we get to another album and Kerry asks me to contribute, I've got no shortage of riffs."

Regarding how he balances being in both bands, Holt said: "It's hard. There are times when EXODUS has to get someone to fill in for me because I'm locked up with SLAYER. We send out what I like to refer to as my 'stunt double,' whoever that may be! It's hard because I can't do it 12 months straight. I have a wife and children at home. I have to try to balance the three... family and two bands. It can be problematic but there are worse problems to have."

Joining King, Holt and Araya during the recording sessions for SLAYER's new album is returning drummer Paul Bostaph, who replaced Dave Lombardo in 2013.

Asked what Holt's contribution would be to the new SLAYER album, Kerry told Canada's Metro in a 2013 interview: "I've told Gary that I'd like him to play some leads, just to keep it interesting.

"We've always been a two-guitar attack, so if you're looking to have a segment like the 'Angel Of Death' lead trade-off, you can't do that with one guitar.

"As far as Gary being a contributing writer, number one, fans aren't ready for it, and number two, that's like throwing somebody to the wolves.

"I think if there's another record after this one, and Gary is still with us at that point, I think that will be a time where I say, 'Hey dude, feel free to throw any riffs my way if you're interested.'"

SLAYER's new album will be released later this year via Nuclear Blast