Thrash metal overlords, Slayer have announced plans to release the follow up to 2001's God Hates Us All later this year and are hoping to have the record on shelves on 6/6/06. While circumstances have placed some doubt on the feasibility of that date, the band is instead planning to launch the Unholy Alliance Tour.

The bill, planned as an alternative to the more mainstream Ozzfest, will feature Mastodon, Lamb of God, Children of Bodom and Thine Eyes Bleed. Slayer guitarist Kerry King told MTV:

It's been 18 months since we've toured in the States People are going to be chomping at the bit to see us again. [Although the tour runs concurrently with Ozzfest], we're certainly not going to try to make Ozzfest go away. We're just trying to offer an alternative.

According to Rick Sales, Slayer's manager of 18 years, the idea is to make the tour an annual event. During the fall of 2004, Slayer, Slipknot, Mastodon and Hatebreed toured Europe under the same name. Sales explained:

I think we're in a different spot than Ozzfest, This is more extreme and it's not involving any sort of 'radio bands.' It's a no-compromise lineup, the best of the breed. We think this is a great live event and that the tour will become bigger than the lineup. I think Ozzfest has proven that.

Slayer will deliver an hour-plus set to close out each night of the Unholy Alliance; Thine Eyes Bleed will open on all dates, followed by Bodom and Mastodon (who'll be rotating slots) and then Lamb of God. King said Slayer will debut some new material from the stage.

The two-decade running metal act - who has influenced countless metal, hardcore and other bands - entered the studio this past Tuesday to record the 11 song album with executive producer Rick Rubin and producer Josh Abraham (Velvet Revolver, Staind) The band is promising "war, satanism [and anti-religious stuff."