Slayer Set To Kick Off Tour as They Complete New Album

Slayer fans had a chance to hear the new song "When the Stillness Comes" last week, as the audio was unveiled in advance of the 7" picture disc of the track that was released for Record Store Day. And now the band is preparing to hit the road as they've just completed recording their 11th studio album.

The album is being produced by Terry Date (Slipknot, Deftones) and marks the return of drummer Paul Bostaph. It's the first Slayer album Bostaph has appeared on since 2001's God Hates Us All. It will also be the first record without the late Jeff Hanneman, although one of his songs will appear.

Frontman Tom Araya says, "Jeff had always been writing and demoing songs, even up until shortly before he passed. You can tell by the quality of his songwriting that this was his passion. There will be a song written by Jeff on the new album. Everything but the vocals had been completed, so we did the vocals and it's done. And there are a few more of Jeff's songs that we might record and release in the future."

Guitarist Kerry King clarified in an interview with Loudwire that although Hanneman wrote the song, his playing will not appear on the album: "Even though Jeff’s song, “Piano Wire,” was recorded during the last album cycle [World Painted Blood], I played all the guitar. I’ve been doing that for years. Since he has no lead on that song, he’s not on it.”

As far as live shows, it was previously announced that Slayer will be headlining this year's Mayhem Festival that kicks off June 26 in Chula Vista, Calif. Prior to that, they'll be playing several U.S. festivals and some headlining "An Evening With Slayer" shows. That run launches this Friday, April 24 in Birmingham, Ala. See their currentlist of North American tour dates below:

Slayer 2015 North American Tour Dates:

4/2 -- Iron City, Birmingham, AL*
4/25 -- Monter Energy Welcome to Rockfille, Metropolitian Park, Jacksonville, FL
4/26 -- Civic Theatre, New Orleans, LA*
5/1 -- Lunatic Luau, Farm Bureau Live, Virginia Beach, VA
5/3 -- Carolina Rebellion, Charlotte, NC
5/22 -- Rocklahoma, Pryor, OK
5/23 -- Socorro Casino, El Paso, TX*
6/13 -- Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
6/16 -- Paramount, Huntington, Long Island NY*
6/17 -- Paramount, Huntington, Long Island NY*
6/19 -- State Theatre, Portland, ME
6/20 -- Amnesia Rock, Montebello, Montreal

Mayhem Festival Headlining Dates:

6/26 -- Sleep Train Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA
6/27 -- San Manual Amphitheatre, San Bernardino, CA
6/28 -- Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
6/30 -- White River Amphitheatre, Seattle, WA
7/1 -- Idaho Center Amphitheatre, Boise, ID
7/3 -- Ak-Chin Amphitheatre, Phoenix, AZ
7/4 -- Isleta Amphitheatre, Albuquerque, NM
7/5 -- Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, CO
7/7 -- Harrah's Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs, IA
7/8 -- Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
7/10 -- Klipsch Amphitheatre, Indianapolis, IN
7/11 -- DTE Energy Amphitheatre, Detroit, MI
7/12 -- First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL
7/15 -- Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON CANADA
7/17 -- Susquehanna Bank Arts Center, Camden, NJ
7/18 -- First Niagara Pavilion, Pittsburgh, PA
7/19 -- Xfinity Theatre, Hartford, CT
7/21 -- PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
7/22 -- Meadowbrook (Bank of NH Pavilion), Gilford, NH
7/24 -- Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA
7/25 -- Xfinity Center, Boston, MA
7/26 -- Nikon at Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY
7/29 -- Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta, GA
7/31 -- Whitewater Amphitheatre, San Antonio, TX
8/1 -- Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
8/2 -- Gexa Energy Amphitheatre, Dallas, TX