

When we heard late last year that Slayer frontman Tom Araya needed back surgery and the band would have to postpone their long awaited Canadian and American Carnage dates with Megadeth and Testament, we were disappointed like everyone else. But we knew it was just a temporary setback. There was no way a back injury was going to silence the mighty voice of Slayer.

A few months after going under the knife, Araya is feeling pretty good and looking forward to getting back on the road, he told Noisecreep's ''Creep Show' in his first interview since Slayer stopped touring in October 2009. And he's feeling more metal these days than ever -- literally. Slayer's vocalist now has a titanium steel plate attached to his spine and held together by screws.

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Although the band has downplayed the seriousness of the surgery, it was by no means a minor procedure. It was actually a last resort decided upon after two separate painkiller injections failed to heal the injury. Doctors had to go in through the front of Araya's neck to conduct the operation, which, though complex, was completely successful. Araya told us he felt better almost immediately after and has steadily been on the mend ever since. He didn't even use the painkillers doctors gave him when he left the hospital.

Araya said that his back injury was caused by decades of headbanging and the abnormal positioning of injured discs in his neck was due to his particular style of helicopter and figure eight headbanging. He added that although he can still sing and play bass as well as ever, he will headbang no more.

During our candid interview, Araya discussed the experiences that led to Slayer's decision to leave the road and postpone the Carnage shows, the grisly details of his surgery, the support he has received from fans and friends and specific plans for the upcoming Carnage dates and European tour.

After our revealing 20 minute interview with Araya, the singer joined the other panelists -- Noisecreep editor in chief Seth Werkheiser, Revolver senior writer and Noisecreep regular Jon Wiederhorn, Noisecreep lead blogger Amy Sciarretto and Noisecreep's news guy Chris Harris -- to discuss the week's news.

Highlights included: Ozzy Osbourne's new song 'Met Me Hear You Scream' receiving its debut on an upcoming episode of 'CSI: New York,' Korn signing to Roadrunner Records for their upcoming album, 'Korn III – Remember Who You Are' and Danzig's first new studio album in six years. We also hypothesized about why Stone Temple Pilots ended their Milwaukee set abruptly and gauged the possibility of Orgy staging a full-scale comeback -- with or without a New Order cover song.

Watch the excitement that went down on Good Friday and check out the latest update on Slayer's summer tour.