Slayer Discuss Inspiration Behind New Song ‘Chasing Death’

Slayer have released a video in which they discuss their new song “Chasing Death,” which will be featured on the band’s upcoming album Repentless. In the clip, frontman Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King explain the meaning and inspiration behind the song and give fans a taste of the new music. Watch the video in the player above.

Araya says the new song is about “people chasing death and living in the fast lane and just doing things that might bring death a little quicker than it should.” Guitarist Kerry King adds, “I’m losing friends to addiction . . . I’m losing friends to a lot of things you don’t expect, and then when it starts happening, it pisses you off. It was kind of me venting about it.”

King also opens up about how the loss of his long-time guitar tech, Armand Crump, who passed away in his sleep three years ago inspired the song. He concluded saying, “Some of your friends you know they need help and some of them you don’t. Some of them you try to give them help and some of them don’t want it and that’s just part of life and I think that song just sums it up.”

Repentless -- which will be released on Sept. 11 via Nuclear Blast Records --- marks the iconic group’s first new album in six years and the first following the death of founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman and the most recent departure of longtime drummer Dave Lombardo. Fans can pre-order the effort in various bundles here. Slayer are currently out on the road now with the Mayhem Festival. Check out all their tour dates at this location.

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