LOS ANGELES, CA (Warner Bros. Records) - Slayer's been saying it all along - the war in Iraq is irresponsible lunacy - and while NARAS members may or may not agree with that particular opinion, enough of them agree that the band's "Eyes of the Insane," from their most recent album "Christ Illusion," made enough of a statement to single it out with a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Metal Performance.
This is Slayer's second Grammy nomination, the first being in 2002 for the track "Disciple" (from "God Hates Us All"), also in the Best Metal Performance category.
"Eyes of the Insane" - music by Slayer's guitarist Jeff Hanneman, lyrics by vocalist/bassist Tom Araya - examines the madness, horrors and cruel realities of war. Araya's lyrics were inspired by a magazine article entitled "Casualty of War," that told the story of a highly-decorated U.S. soldier in Iraq who, a mere four days away from coming home, had a mental breakdown that eventually led him to taking his own life. The powerful and disturbing video for "Eyes of the Insane," directed by Iranian filmmaker Tony Petrossian, can be seen on the band's website, https://slayer.net (click on "video").
Slayer - the acknowledged kings of extreme speed/thrash/punk-metal - has always been outspoken. Much of "Christ Illusion" deals with the brutality of war and religious fanaticism, and scrutinizes America's role in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to one media outlet, the album is "this year's most political album since Neil Young's 'Living With War.'" A sizeable chunk of Slayer's core audience is made up of enlisted men and women, and Slayer recently paid their first-ever visit to a military base in Germany to meet and chat with the soldiers.
"Christ Illusion" (American Recordings/WBR) - executive produced by Rick Rubin and produced by Josh Abraham - was released on August 8, debuted at No 5 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart, and was a Top 10 debut internationally. The New York Times called the album, "simply the most concentrated, focused Slayer record in 20 years." The Slayer-headlined "Unholy Alliance Tour" that stormed the U.S. over the summer, was just named the "Best Metal Package Tour" by the radio tip-sheet F.M.Q.B.
Slayer will hit the road beginning January 24 on a five-week headline tour of North America. Dates are below.
JANUARY
24 Tucson Convention Center, Tucson, AZ
25 House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
26 SOMA, San Diego, CA
28 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA
30 Great Salt Air, Salt Lake City, UT
31 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
FEBRUARY
2 Bricktown Events Center, Oklahoma City, OK
3 Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KS
5 Egyptian Room, Indianapolis, IN
7 Labatt Center, London, Ontario, CANADA
8 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA
9 Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
10 Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
12 Lifestyles Pavilion, Columbus, OH
13 Convocation Center, Youngstown, OH
15 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
16 Lupo's at the Strand Theatre, Providence, RI
17 House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ
19 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
22 House of Blues, Myrtle Beach, SC
23 House of Blues, Orlando, FL
24 Revolution, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
