In a new video released today, SLAYER‘s Tom Araya and Kerry King share the story behind the previously-unseen short film and boundary-pushing music video trilogy that is set to be presented alongside Slayer’s entire 2017 concert shot at the Los Angeles Forum. Slayer: The Repentless Killogy will see its one-night theatrical screening take place around the world on Wednesday, November 6, from Trafalgar Releasing.
Featured in this exclusive new interview footage, Araya and King break down the making of the final film, from the original concept for the “Repentless” music video with director BJ McDonnell, to collaborating with Nuclear Blast Records and Prime Zero Productions to produce McDonnell’s larger vision for a unique, three-part narrative trilogy of relentlessly blood-soaked, revenge-driven music videos and the short film they inspired.
“When we first did it, I thought we were just doing the ‘Repentless’ music video, I didn’t know we had a plan for three videos,” says King, speaking to the overall concept. “This trilogy is unique and I think it’s unique to Slayer which makes it even cooler.”
The interview also explores SLAYER‘s relationship with Los Angeles and how meaningful it was to finally play the “Fabulous” Los Angeles Forum after years of being banned from playing live shows anywhere in Los Angeles County. Said Araya, “I grew up in L.A…I watched the Lakers, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, a f*cking awesome team, that’s what I watched growing up and they were at the Fabulous Forum.”
Slayer: The Repentless Killogy will be in theaters for one-night-only from Trafalgar Releasing, Nuclear Blast Records and Prime Zero Productions on November 6, and fans can now find local theaters and purchase tickets at Slayer.Film. Check out the film trailer HERE. Following the global theatrical premiere, on November 8 the film will be available digitally and on Blu-ray, and the soundtrack from that concert will be released as both a two-disc vinyl and two CD packages.
The film is comprised of two parts; Part one includes Slayer: The Repentless Killogy is a short narrative film written and directed by BJ McDonnell, that blends the music of Slayer with an uncompromising and unmissable trilogy of music videos assembled as one chronological storyline. Part two of The Repentless Killogy features Slayer’s entire live set performed at the Los Angeles Forum on August 5, 2017, and was directed by Wayne Isham who has directed videos for artists including Metallica, Foo Fighters, Michael Jackson and more. Key performances featured in the film, include “South of Heaven,” “War Ensemble,” “Mandatory Suicide,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “Raining Blood,” and “Angel of Death.”
Part one of The Repentless Killogy stars many of the actors who appeared in the original video series: Jason Trost (Beats of Rage, Hatchet III) as Wyatt, Danny Trejo (Machete, From Dusk Til Dawn), Richard Speight (Band of Brothers, Supernatural), Derek Mears (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Jessica Pimentel (Orange Is The New Black), Tyler Mane (X-Men, Halloween II), Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Caroline Williams (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Sharknado 4), and Sean Whalen (Twister, The People Under The Stairs).
For nearly four decades, SLAYER‘s onslaught has proven them to be the supreme thrash-metal band on the planet, the band that other heavy acts are measured against and aspire to. Their membership in “The Big Four” – METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX– the four bands that defined the thrash/metal genre – secures the band’s place in music history.
The five-time nominated, two-time GRAMMY-winners have accumulated an abundance of certified Gold albums along with “Best…” awards from media outlets all over the world, including Kerrang!, SPIN, Metal Hammer, Revolver, and Esquire. Throughout Slayer’s history, the band has never faltered in unleashing its extreme and focused sonic assault, and, unlike many of its contemporaries who commercialized their sound, Slayer has remained crushing and brutal, steadfastly refusing to cater to the mainstream. SLAYER‘s founding member, guitarist Jeff Hanneman passed in 2013, and EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt has been filling in for him since. Paul Bostaph, who was SLAYER‘s drummer from ’94 – ’01, rejoined bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King in 2013, and is back behind the kit to the end.
In January 2018, SLAYER announced they were calling it a day and would be doing one final world tour to thank its fans for their support over the years. Launched on May 10, 2018, by the time the 18-month tour wraps, SLAYER will have said goodbye to fans in 30 countries around the world and in 40 U.S. states by the time the last date is played on Saturday, November 30 in the band’s hometown of Southern California.
Pre-orders your copy of The Repentless Killogy motion picture and companion LP/CD, “The Repentless Killogy, Live At The Forum in Inglewood, CA HERE.