On behalf of Samson, Eddie Trunk from That Metal Show and his Friday Night Rocks radio show in New York, spoke with SLAYER guitar legend Kerry King at winter NAMM 2013 and asked about the band's long-awaited new studio album and the status of guitarist Jeff Hanneman who contracted necrotizing fasciitis in early 2011 (doctors say that it likely originated from a spider bite).

King on new material: "We have two songs that we completed last May and just need mixing. We have another that just needs vocals and leads and me and Dave (Lombardo) are working on a complete new one that we haven't demoed. The whole hold-up now that seems to happen with every album we do is that Rick Rubin wants to change distributors. So we're left in limbo until he lands somewhere. Realistically we are without a deal, but we plan on staying with Rick. When that gets settled we will start recording. I'm very comfortable saying that it will be out this year."

Health status of Hanneman: "Not to sound weird, but when you get off tour, you scatter. And I don't talk to him because I hate him, I don't talk to him because I had enough of him! I don't even talk to Tom (Araya). The only reason I talk to Dave is that we rehearse all the time. When I go off tour I just want to go chill and be Kerry, not Kerry King. From what I know he's still trying to get basic in the game."

So is Jeff part of the new Slayer album? "Not yet. I have enough material on my own if need be, but I'm open. If Jeff comes to the party with some new material, hell ya! I will play all the guitars. I've been playing all the guitars for years anyway, except for Jeff's leads."

Check out the five-minute chat below:

Slayer's last album was 2009's World Painted Blood.