MusicRadar.com has issued the following report from Joe Bosso:

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King knows a thing or two about heavy. Heavy riffs, heavy lyrics, heavy sound - "We didn't write the book on being heavy," he says, "but we might have authored the final chapter."

Speaking to MusicRadar for an exclusive podcast from the backstage area during a stop on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, King waxes philosopical on the art of deepness maximus.

Asked if the band tried to outdo their legendary crushing sound on the forthcoming World Painted Blood, the guitarist says, "There's really no point, because we're as heavy as you can get. What are you gonna do? In my opinion, there's no room for improvement."

Read more and listen to MusicRadar.com's exclusive podcast at this location.

As previously reported, a new ad for the Rockstar Mayhem Fest 2009, featuring Slayer, can be viewed below.

Full festival details can be found at this location.

B.C. Rich Guitars recently reported:

Kerry King, legendary guitarist for the notorious thrash metal band SLAYER, and a B.C. Rich guitar endorser, will make in-store appearances at select B.C. Rich retailers while on the 2009 Mayhem Tour. The special events are co-sponsored by EMG Pickups."

Video footage from Kerry's appearance yesterday (July 26th) at Guitar Center - Chicago, IL has been posted online. Check it out below.

Kerry King in-store appearances are scheduled as follows:

July

30 - The Music Farm - Orrville, OH (5 PM) 330-682-5595

August

3 - Guitar Center - Boston, MA (5 PM) 617-247-1389
7 - Guitar Center - Cherry Hill, NJ (2 PM) 856-755-9511
11 - Guitar Center - Tampa, FL (2 PM) 813-801-9290
13 - Guitar Center - Dallas, TX (5 PM) 214-692-9999

Yesterday, BraveWords.com received the following Slayer update:

Last October, one of Slayer's brand new songs, 'Psychopathy Red', leaked online, and since then the song has been streamed more than a half-million times. Nine months is a long stretch to go without a new Slayer track, so the band is making available another morsel from their upcoming album, World Painted Blood, due out later this year. The limited-edition single, a Kerry King composition, is titled 'Hate Worldwide', and will be available exclusively as a CD-single at Hot Topic stores beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28th. You can preview the track at this location.

"It's a really cool track, and Tom's voice sounds incredible on it," said King. "The last line in the song's chorus is '...spread a little hate worldwide,' and that's what we've been doing for 25 years."

As World Painted Blood is a Slayer album, it deals with topics such as death and destruction, war, serial killers, and the Apocalypse. The album was recorded in Los Angeles over two time periods, during October 2008 and then between late January and March 2009. World Painted Blood was produced by Greg Fidelman, who's spent time in the studio with METALLICA, THE GOSSIP, THE (INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY, SLIPKNOT and others, and executive produced by long-time Slayer colleague, Rick Rubin, who suggested Fidelman for the project.

Slayer are teaming up with MEGADETH for a run around both Australia and New Zealand. Shows will take place in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth between October 5th and 13th. Tickets will go on sale Monday, August 10th.

Dates are as follows:

October

5 - Logan Campbell Centre - Auckland, New Zealand
7 - Riverstage - Brisbane, Australia
8 - Hordern Pavilion - Sydney, Australia
9 - Festival Hall - Melbourne, Australia
11 - Thebarton Theatre - Adelaide, Australia
13 - Challenge Stadium - Perth, Australia