The Asbury Park Press caught up with Obituary drummer Don Tardy and he revealed his love undying love for Slayer.

The band used to play Slayer covers in the mid-‘80s and Tardy said, “We loved playing Slayer songs but it came time for us to work on our material.”

As for becoming a faster and heavier band than Slayer, Tardy said, “It somehow evolved in that manner. Slayer was my favorite band then and they are still my favorite band now.”

Obituary return to the states andcollide with Bay Area thrash metal kings Exodus for another epic Battle Of The Bays this fall. The co-headlining tour kicks off September 14th in Durham, NC and ends on October 15th in Baton Rouge, LA. Support will be provided by Power Trip and Dust Bolt. Tickets are on sale now and a complete listing of tour dates is available below.

Obituary tour dates:

September (with Exodus,  Power Trip and Dust Bolt)
14 - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall
15 - Virginia Beach, VA - Shakas Live
16 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
17 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
19 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
20 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium (Downstairs)
21 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
22 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial Ball
23 - Ottawa, ON - Bronson Centre
24 - London, ON - London Music Hall
26 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
27 - Columbus, OH - Park Street Saloon
28 - Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe @ Old National Center
29 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
30 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre

October (with Exodus,  Power Trip and Dust Bolt)
1 - St. Louis, MO - The Ready Room
3 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
4 - Ft. Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre
6 - Sacramento, CA - Ace Of Spades
7 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
8 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
10 - Tucson, AZ - The Rock
11 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
12 - El Paso, TX - Tricky Falls
14 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger +
15 - Baton Rouge, LA - The Varsity Theater +

+ Obituary, Dust Bolt only

(Photo - Ester Segarra)