Two weeks after confirming their intentions to headline a North American tour in early 2007, speed-metal standard-bearers Slayer [ tickets ] have unveiled a 20-plus-city schedule that runs from late January through most of February.

Fellow rockers Unearth [ tickets ] will be on the bill for all of the newly announced dates.

"Over the past few months, we've had a great time headlining [the] 'Unholy Alliance' [tour] in North America and Europe, bringing a killer five-act bill to the fans," Slayer's Kerry King said in a press release. "But we're looking forward to this next tour, where it's just Slayer and Unearth, playing venues where we can be right in the fans' faces."

Slayer continues to work the road behind its latest album, "Christ Illusion," which deals with the subject of war and religious fanaticism while scrutinizing America's role in Iraq and Afghanistan. Released in August, it's the band's first studio album since 2001's "God Hates Us All." It's also the first to feature the band's original lineup--Tom Araya (vocals, bass), Kerry King (guitar), Jeff Hanneman (guitar) and Dave Lombardo (drums)--since 1990's "Seasons in the Abyss."

Josh Abraham (Korn, Velvet Revolver) produced the new set, and Rick Rubin--who helped to hone Slayer's sound in the early '80s--was the album's executive producer.

Slayer recently wrapped up an international tour that took the band to the UK, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. While in Germany, the band visited US troops stationed at the Spangdahlem US Air Force Base.