Gary Holt Says He Brought “Unity” To SLAYER

Guitarist Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus) was a guest on Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta’s podcast The Jasta Show and talked about Slayer’s new album Repentless and what he has brought to the band.

On his addition to Slayer, Holt says: “People have asked me in the past: ‘What do you think is the most important thing you brought to Slayer?’ And I just… I don’t know… It sounds like a really hippie-ish way to say it. I’d say it’s unity. ‘Cause I’m really close to everybody in the band. I think I maybe have been a bridge in keeping everybody smiling.’ Cause I’m always in a good mood; I’m a hard guy to piss off. I keep Tom (Araya, bass/vocals) laughing, and Kerry (King, guitarist) and I… We have our times when I hang out with Kerry at night. I hang out with Tom and Paul (Bostaph, drums) at different times, but everybody’s happy, and everybody’s enjoying it.”

Slayer have released an officially licensed beer, Slayer 666 Red Ale. The 6.5% ABV beverage is brewed by the Nils Oscar company in Nyköping, Sweden, who offer the following description:

“A unique craft beer based on five different malts for a strong base, where El Dorado and Mosaic hops add an unmistakable character and identity, giving Slayer 666 Red Ale a perfect balance. Red ale is characterized by a deep copper colour, often with a deep reddish hue and a malty sweetness.  Most are in balance between malt and hops but Red ales in the American style can have a medium to high bitterness and a big hop aroma.”

Order at this location.

Tom Araya was asked if a beer can taste like Slayer by Sweden Rock Magazine, and replied: “It can taste authentic. So, yes, a beer can taste like Slayer.”

Thirty-two years into its recording career, Slayer clocked its best week on the charts across the globe with the 9/11 release of Repentless (Nuclear Blast). The album was the #2-best selling album in the world according to the United World Chart, Media Traffic’s amalgamation of official album sales charts from dozens of principal countries around the world. The album scored a Top 10 debut in 25 countries, Top 5 in 14 countries, and made career-highest debuts in the United States, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and New Zealand.  

“Repentless” video:

In support of Repentless, Slayer have the following tour dates scheduled:

October
25 – 013, Tilburg – Netherlands
26 – Zenith Paris – Paris, France
27 – Komplex 457 – Zurich, Switzerland
30 – Santana 27 – Bilbao, Spain
31 – Coliseum – La Coruna, Spain

November
1 – La Riviera – Madrid, Spain
3 – Razzmatazz – Barcelona, Spain
5 – Alcatraz – Milano, Italy
7 – Planet.tt Bank Austria Halle Gasometer B – Vienna, Austria
8 – Haus Auersee – Leipzig, Germany
10 – Zenith, die Kulturhalle – Munich, Germany
12 – Columbiahalle – Berlin, Germany
13 – RuhrCongress – Bochum, Germany
14 – MHPArena – Ludwigsburg, Germany
16 – Jahrhunderthalle – Frankfurt, Germany
17 – Ancienne Belgique – Brussels, Belgium
19 – Rockhal – Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg
21 – Newport Centre – Newport, UK
22 – Plymouth Pavilions – Plymouth, UK
24 – O2 Apollo Manchester – Manchester, UK
25 – O2 Academy Glasgow – Glasgow, UK
27 – O2 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham, UK
28 – O2 Academy Leeds – Leeds, UK
30 – O2 Academy Brixton – Brixton, UK

December
3 – Hal 14 – Helsinger, Denmark
4 – Spektrum – Oslo, Norway
5 – Lisebergshallen – Goteborg, Sweden
7 – Hartwall Arena – Helsinki, Finland
9 – Stadium Live – Moscow, Russia