Jenn Selby from The Quietus spoke with SLAYER frontman Tom Araya about the band's upcoming album, Jeff Hanneman’s latest health scare and the making of Reign In Blood.

The Quietus: Do you think Jeff's almost ready to return? Do have a time span or a date you’re expecting him to join you again?

Araya: "We’ll wait for him to be at 100 per cent. He’s still working at it. We’re working with him, period. We rehearse with him so he gets better. But it’s a process, and there are some things that people have to overcome… So we’re working with him and trying to get better so he can be out there performing with us."

The Quietus: You said that you’re rehearsing with Jeff again – does that mean you are also writing the new Slayer album with him?

Araya: "Yeah, we’re attempting to. We’ve had a few set-backs, but we are attempting to work on new material. Kerry (King) and Dave (Lombardo) have been doing that and me, because I’m sick, I don’t want to fly out and make everybody sick, so my joining in the process is going to be on pause until I get better. But I’m not contagious in any way. But there’s something there. Our sights are set on recording new material and seeing where that takes us."

The Quietus: What kind of sound are we expecting from what you have got down so far? South Of Heaven slow or Reign In Blood fast?

Araya: "It’s raw. There’s some good bits. That’s all I can really say at the moment."

Read the entire interview at The Quietus

In a recent Facebook update, Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo says that "the King (guitarist Kerry King) and I have seven kick ass songs for you so far, you're going to soil your pants!!!!"