Slayer internal conflict over Jeff Hanneman

Slayer's Tom Araya insists Jeff Hanneman is still very much a member of Slayer and hopes the absent guitarist is working on new music.

The frontman suggests that speculation over stand-in Gary Holt joining full-time has been fuelled by the thrash giants' internal communication problems.

Slayer's Kerry King recently said he'd be "okay" if Holt replaced spider-bite victim Hanneman on a permanent basis. Holt himself said he'd never consider the move if it meant he'd have to quit his own band Exodus.

The issue has been made more complex with the absence of drummer Dave Lombardo over a contractual dispute. Asked if the thrash giants find themselves in a "then there were two" situation, Araya tells Andrew Haug: "It's not really two – Jeff isn't in the picture but he's part of the picture. It's taking him a lot longer than he even thought, I think. He can play, he can work out material, but it's surprising him that it's taking as long as it is to get back.