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And earlier this year my world was about to break into pieces when I saw Mark “Barney” Greenway’s (Napalm Death and Extreme Noise Terror) comments on Slayer.If I remember it right what he said was something like “I’d be surprised if Slayer were around this time next year — put it like that.” More here at the Headbangers’ Blog.

At the time I was still releshing Slayer’s 2006 “Christ illusion” (I’ve always maintained that it was a good album)-and to hear a man I respect a lot-I mean a lot-like Barney to say something like that on Slayer was like hearing Bruce Dickinson telling he’s gonna cover James Blunt!And after seeing Tom Araya’s comments about him “aging” and getting closer to “it” did really give me a nightmare.

But you know what? Kerry King saves man! Recently at an interview with Joel McIver(author-The Bloody Reign of Slayer) Kerry said this-

McIver: Is there a new SLAYER album on the way, or are you going to make us wait another few years like you did with 2006’s “Christ Illusion”?

King: We’re supposed to have one ready at the end of the year! There’s been talk of all kinds of odd things, because the record industry changes every day. We’ve talked about maybe putting out a couple of songs from an upcoming record through iTunes, so we can play something new on the Unholy Alliance III tour. You know, that’s not so far outside the realm of possibility. As far as how much we’re gonna get done by the end of the year? I have no idea.

And also on Tom Araya’s very “disturbing” comments-

McIver: Tom [Araya, singer] said that after the next SLAYER album, you guys would have to discuss your future as a band, because he’s reaching an age where it might no longer be viable.

King: I haven’t even heard that. He hasn’t talked to me about it. But after taking 10 months off, I bet you he’s recharged and ready to rock. As far as I’m concerned, I look at people like Ronnie James Dio and Rob Halford and I think, “Shit, maybe I’m not done!”

So there-loads more Slayer to come,and I know it’s still not “this time next year” as Barney said-but we can still expect and hope for more Menacing Slayer. For once I wish let Barney be wrong!