Slayer vocalist/bassist Tom Araya has been suffering back issues for a while now, and will now undergo surgery. As a result, Slayer is cancelling the American and Canadian Carnage Tour dates with Megadeth and Testament that were set to kick off on January 18, as well as the band's UK/European headline tour scheduled for March and April.

"Tom gave various medical treatments more than a fair shot," said Slayer's manager Rick Sales, "but they just haven't handled the problem, so he's biting the bullet and is scheduled for back surgery at the end of this month."

Booking agents for both Slayer and Megadeth are working to reschedule the tour dates; tickets already purchased for these shows will be honored at the rescheduled dates. Araya began experiencing back problems while on the band's Australian/New Zealand/Japanese tour last October. In spite of his rapidly increasing pain and discomfort, he carried on with the tour, but immediately upon returning home saw an orthopedic specialist who diagnosed a Cervical Radiculopathy. Araya initially did not want to take the major surgery route, so the specialist recommended a series of minimally-invasive procedures. While those procedures have resulted in some improvement, Araya continues to deal with intermittent bouts of severe pain, numbness and muscle spasms. The surgical procedure that Araya will undergo, called an Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, is a relatively routine practice and the recovery rate is excellent.

Sales added, "As unfortunate as this is for so many people - the Megadeth and Testament camps, the concerts' promoters, and, of course, the fans - Tom's health is the number one priority, and this has to happen."

Average Blasphemy is a collection of Dir en grey's videos from Uroboros and 2007's The Marrow Of A Bone. There are 13 different videos, although some songs have two videos included here. The ten minute version of "Vinushka" is included along with a shorter version.

Dir en grey has many compelling videos. "Agitated Screams Of Maggots" is well done, and "Clever Sleazoid" is interesting as well. "Dozing Green" was selected as the best video of 2008 by MTV's Headbangers Ball. In terms of extras, there are some clips of the making of videos. They provide some insight, but pale in comparison to the finished products in terms of interest. It would have been nice to have a documentary about the band or other more substantive extras.

Read the complete Dir En Grey - Average Blasphemy DVD Review

(DVD cover courtesy The End Records)

Angelus Exuro pro Eternus is a brave assault upon the black metal parapet, however, presenting a re-energized Dark Funeral who sound practically rabid; an established band with something to prove. Though it's been four years since we last heard from the group, the time spent away looks to have been worthwhile, because Dark Funeral hasn't sounded this vicious in years. Bassist/vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula should be particularly commended, as the man practically seethes his hatred through every hateful scream and hiss.

Meanwhile, Lord Ahriman's riffs and melodies, which seemed to bleed into one another on the band's recent releases, possess this diabolic spark to them which lend each track a sense of brutal, satanic urgency. Sure, there's still a formula here, but who cares? Angelus Exuro pro Eternus is easily Dark Funeral's best album years, going back at least to 1998's Vobiscum Satanas.

Read the complete Dark Funeral - Angelus Exuro pro Eternus Review

(CD cover courtesy Regain Records)

The 2007 documentary Heavy Metal In Baghdad told the story of Acrassicauda, the Iraqi heavy metal band. It was a fascinating look at metal in the Middle East, politics, war and the band members themselves. Acrassicauda left Iraq and became refugees, before finally being reunited in the U.S.

The book Heavy Metal In Baghdad: The Story Of Acrassicauda is able to go into much more detail than the movie, and it updates what has happened with the band since the documentary's release. Band members past and present are interviewed, and their backgrounds and stories are delved into on a deeper level, which sheds additional light on the band's story.

Read the complete Heavy Metal In Baghdad: The Story Of Acrassicauda Book Review

(book cover courtesy Vice Books)