Gelap Pekat

Californian thrashers SLAYER have issued the following update:

"It is with immense disappointment that SLAYER must postpone its U.K. and European tour that had been set to kick off on November 18 in the U.K., and take the band on 19 dates through Europe, ending on December 17 in Germany. The tour will be rescheduled to kick off on March 7 in Manchester, England (complete itinerary is below).

"Vocalist/bassist Tom Araya has been under the care of a specialist for a back injury, and while he has already made substantial improvement, he is continuing on with doctor-prescribed treatment."

"Right now," said SLAYER's manager, Rick Sales, "our main concern must be the full and permanent recovery of Tom, so we have decided to clear the calendar and give him the extra time he needs to concentrate solely on good health."

Last week, SLAYER announced the postponement of its East Coast "Canadian Carnage" co-headline tour with MEGADETH; those dates will be rescheduled in February 2010.

The new European schedule is as follows:

Mar. 07 - Manchester, England - Academy
Mar. 08 - London, England - Forum
Mar. 09 - London, England - Forum
Mar. 11 - Paris, France - Bataclan
Mar. 13 - Bochum, Germany - Ruhrcongress
Mar. 15 - Tilburg, Holland - 013
Mar. 16 - Tilburg, Holland - 013
Mar. 17 - Brussels, Belgium - AB
Mar. 18 - Herford, Germany - X
Mar. 20 - Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
Mar. 21 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks
Mar. 22 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
Mar. 24 - Dresden, Germany - Alter Schlachtof
Mar. 25 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer Early Show
Mar. 26 - Munich, Germany - Zenith (transferred from Tonhalle)
Mar. 28 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
Mar. 29 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
Mar. 30 - Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus Late Show
Mar. 31 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
Apr. 02 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
Apr. 03 - Glasgow, UK - Barrowland
Apr. 04 - Leeds, UK - Academy
Apr. 05 - Birmingham, UK - Academy

SLAYER's new album, "World Painted Blood", has registered the following first-week chart positions so far:

Canada: #8
Australia: #9
Germany: #7
U.S.: #12
Finland: #12
Norway: #15
Netherlands: #15
New Zealand: #16
Denmark: #21
Ireland: #38
United Kingdom: #41

"World Painted Blood" sold 41,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

SLAYER's last CD, "Christ Illusion", opened with more than 62,000 units to debut at position No. 5 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was the highest position ever on the chart for SLAYER, who previously reached No. 8 with their 1994 release "Divine Intervention" after moving 93,000 copies of that album in its first week.

SLAYER's 2001 album, "God Hates Us All", registered a first-week tally of 51,000 to land at No. 28, while 1998's "Diabolus In Musica" opened with 46,000 units, debuting at No. 31.

"God Hates Us All" has sold 319,000 copies and its predecessor, "Diabolus In Musica", has moved 306,000 copies so far. Several of the earlier SLAYER albums have been certified gold for sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States, including "Divine Intervention".