SLAYER's TOM ARAYA Is Excited About Band's Next Album

SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya was recently interviewed on Scion AV's "The All Purpose Show". You can now watch the chat below.

Asked what gives him the incentive to keep making new studio albums more than 30 years into SLAYER's career, Araya said: "Back when we first started out, we set out to be the heaviest and the fastest, and that was the extent of the band. We got asked to do a song for a compilation album. So we came up with the money to do that. The guy liked the song so much, he said, 'Hey, I'll do an album,' so we came up with some money to do an album. And then the guy says, 'Hey, this is really great. I wanna do another album with you guys. I'll pay it this time.' So we did that. [He said to us] 'I'll cover the costs.' So we did that. And then, years down the road, we got approached by [legendary producer] Rick Rubin [of Def Jam Recordings], who wanted to do an album with us. We were, like, 'Okay.' You know what I mean?! And that's just how it's been. In the earlier years, we were doing… Well, when we hooked up with Rubin, we were doing an album almost every other year. And then after that, it's kind of, like, we just do an album on our own terms, when we want. Life's gotten a little easier as far as that goes. But it's usually someone saying, 'Yeah, I think it's time you guys put out a new record,' or something."

Pressed about whether he is excited about SLAYER's upcoming studio CD, Araya said: "Yeah, what I'm hearing. 'Cause you hear stuff and you're, like, 'Oh, that sounds okay.' But when it starts coming together in the studio, that's when you hear. You think, 'Okay, this is great. This is gonna be a great song.'"

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King recently said that the band is "pretty much done" recording its new album at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California for an early 2015 release. The CD is being produced by Terry Date, who previously worked with the group on the song "Implode", which was made available as a free download as a "thank you" to SLAYER's fans for their continued support following the band's surprise performance at this past April's Revolver Golden Gods awards in Los Angeles.

A new SLAYER song called "When The Stillness Comes" will be made available exclusively through Scion Audio/Visual (a.k.a. Scion AV),the in-house record label and lifestyle marketing division of the Scion marque produced by Toyota Motor Corporation for the North American market.

Joining King and Araya during the sessions for SLAYER's new album are returning drummer Paul Bostaph, who replaced Dave Lombardo last year, and guitarist Gary Holt (also of EXODUS),who stepped in for Jeff Hanneman after Jeff became ill four and a half years ago.

Original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the band's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. Filling in for him was Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX).