Kerry King

Best known as Slayer's co-lead guitarist and songwriter, Kerry King is one of the architects of thrash metal, having written or co-written iconic songs like "Raining Blood," "Hell Awaits," and Mandatory Suicide." His kinetic, caustic, and chaotic riffs have fueled over four decades of music from the Bay Area band, which, alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax, helped define the scene in the mid- to late '80s and early '90s. When Slayer went on hiatus in 2019, King elected to pursue a solo career, releasing his debut album, From Hell I Rise, in 2024.