Four dates have been trimmed from Slayer [ tickets ]'s upcoming Jagermeister Music Tour in order to cut down on the strain on frontman/bassist Tom Araya's voice.

According to Slayer's publicist, Araya was taken to the hospital in Holland last week, after the band completed its 20-date co-headlining tour of Europe with Slipknot. There, doctors diagnosed him with vocal fatigue, and ordered him to rest his voice for at least a week. Araya was also told to avoid singing on more than four consecutive nights to avoid causing permanent damage to his vocal cords.

As a result, the tour's Oct. 29 kickoff in Springfield, MO, has been called off, along with its Oct. 30 stop in Des Moines, IA. The other canceled shows are Nov. 9 in Belle Vernon, PA, and Nov. 26 in Tampa, FL. The outing is now scheduled to kick off on Oct. 31 in St. Louis; the updated itinerary is below.

Joining Slayer on the trek are Killswitch Engage [ tickets ] and Mastodon [ tickets ]. In addition to the three national acts, each show will also feature a local act selected by Jagermeister, according to the tour's official website.

On Tuesday (10/26), Slayer issues the live DVD "Still Reigning." Recorded on July 11 in Augusta, ME, the set includes a full performance of the group's 1986 breakthrough album, "Reign In Blood." The DVD will also feature behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, according to a press release.