As work on their highly anticipated fourth album progresses, Pessimist is quick to unveil their plans for the upcoming year.
The California-based road warriors have just revealed the initial tour dates for 2024. They are set to embark on a European tour alongside Reaping Flesh, commencing in May. The tour begins in Rome, Italy, the home province of their tourmates, and continues to spread their cult of brutal and blackened death metal across coastal France, Belgium, Holland, and Austria. The journey culminates in a powerful and intense finale at the Nice to Eat You Deathfest in the Czech Republic.
05/10 Rome, IT @ Defrag
05/11 Lonate Ceppino, IT @ Black Inside
05/12 Montpellier, FR @ Secretplace
05/13 Paris, FR @ Le Klub
05/14 Deinze, BE @ ELPEE Music Club
05/15 Deen Hag, NL @ Musicon
05/16 Germany – TBA
05/17 Vienna, AT @ Escape Metalcorner
05/18 Decin, CZ @ Nice to Eat You Deathfest
GIRLSCHOOL To Embark On ‘Final Full Tour’ Of U.S. In March 2024
The longest-tenured all-female rock band and NWOBHM legends GIRLSCHOOL will embark on their final North American tour next year. The first leg of the trek will see support from LILLIAN AXE and ALCATRAZZ and will kick off on March 21 at Hell’s Heroes festival in Houston, Texas and will run through April 6.
Tickets will go on sale this Friday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m. EST. Pre-sales for Boston and New York City will start tomorrow (Thursday, November 30).
GIRLSCHOOL comments: “We are very excited to announce the first leg of our return to the USA — for the first time in nearly a decade… and for what will be our final full tour of the United States. Also with us on this package we have the brilliant ALCATRAZZ and LILLIAN AXE.
“Our agency and management are making every effort to get us to as many cities as possible, and as always it’s all about where there is interest, so even if you have to travel a little bit — we would love to see you there at one of the shows!
GIRLSCHOOL North American tour dates with LILLIAN AXE and ALCATRAZZ:
Mar. 21 – Houston, TX @ Hell’s Heroes Festival*
Mar. 22 – New Orleans, LA @ Southport Music Hall
Mar. 24 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Mar. 25 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
Mar. 27 – Bensalem, PA @ Broken Goblet
Mar. 28 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Mar. 29 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
Mar. 30 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
Apr. 02 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Apr. 06 – Detroit, MI @ Token Lounge* GIRLSCHOOL only
Blind Guardian announce ‘The God Machine’ 2024 North America tour
Following the success of their ‘Somewhere Far Beyond Tour’ in Germany last year, Blind Guardian continues the captivating journey of their latest masterpiece, The God Machine. The metal legends proudly announce ‘The God Machine’ North American 2024 tour, featuring a 22-date trek starting on April 18th at The Fillmore in Silver Springs and concluding at Milwaukee Metal Fest on May 17th. The tour will include stops in cities such as Dallas, Seattle, and Toronto, with Night Demon joining as the supporting act.
Blind Guardian expresses excitement about presenting new songs to their fans during the tour, featuring tracks like “Deliver Us From Evil,” “Violent Shadows,” and introducing the “Secrets of the American Gods.”
Vocalist Hansi Kürsch shared the following:
We heard your calls! We are more than just thrilled to finally announce that highly anticipated North American run of shows. Let me tell you that the band will be on fire and that we are very grateful to have a fantastic opening band such as Night Demon on our side to bring the full Metal blast to your town. I recommend not to miss this chance, we will perform Beyond Imagination. You don’t want to see it, you have to see it! The God Machine is in sole and full magic mode.
04/18 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
04/19 Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
04/20 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
04/21 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
04/23 Dallas, TX @ The Factory
04/24 Austin, TX @ Emo’s
04/26 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
04/27 Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
04/28 San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
04/30 Portland, OR @ The Roseland Theater
05/01 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox Market
05/03 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
05/04 Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
05/06 Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater
05/07 Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
05/09 Toronto, ON @ Rebel (Canada)
05/10 Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia (Canada)
05/11 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
05/12 New York, NY @ The Palladium
05/14 Harrisburg, PA @ HMAC
05/16 Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
05/17 Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest
ESCUELA GRIND Announces US Tour Dates
Escuela Grind is lining up a pretty big 2024. The band just announced their new EP Ddeeaatthhmmeettaall and now they’ve got a tour lined up featuring a ton of great bands. Escuela Grind also noted they’ll be playing songs from their EP, as well as stuff from their currently-unannounced new album.
“We are coming to crush more poser flesh under our New Balances and Nikes under the command of Big Homo,” said Escuela Grind.
We are so thrilled to have a wildly diverse range of bands touring with us including Take Offense, Bonginator, Slow Pulse, Come Mierda, Frog Mallet, and BRAT. There’s a bunch of cities on this run we haven’t been to in a while and we’re so stoked to throw down with all of you.
w/ Slow Pulse & Come Mierda
1/10 Middletown, NY – Quinnz Pinz
1/11 Amityville, NY – Amityville Music Hall
1/12 Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedrafts
1/13 Washington, DC – Sonbyrd
1/14 Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
1/15 Atlanta, GA – Bogg’s Socialw/ Bonginator, Slow Pulse & Frog Mallet
1/16 New Orleans, LA – La Siberia
1/17 Houston, TX – Righteen Ten Ojemen
1/18 Dallas, TX – Cheap Steaksw/ Bonginator & Slow Pulse
1/19 Austin, TX – Mohawk Inside
1/20 San Antonio, TX – Vibes Underground
1/21 El Paso, TX – Dungeon Hell Paso
1/22 Albuquerque, NM – The Launchpad
1/23 Mesa, AZ – Nile Undergroundw/ Take Offense, Bonginator & Slow Pulse
1/24 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
1/25 Santa Ana, CA – La Santa
1/26 Los Angeles, CA – The Paramountw/ Take Offense & Bonginator
1/27 Fresno, CA – Full Circle
1/28 Oakland, CA – 9 Lives
1/29 Eugene, OR – John Henry’s
1/30 Portland, OR – Twilight
2/1 Seattle, WA – Vera Project
2/2 Boise, ID – The Shredder
2/3 Salt Lake City, UT – Salt City Seamers
2/4 Denver, CO – Moe’s
2/5 Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge
2/6 Sioux Falls, SD – Remedy
2/7 Des Moines, IA – Lefty’s Livew/ Take Offense, Brat & Bonginator
2/8 Chicago, IL – Reggies
2/9 Detroit, MI – Sanctuary
2/10 Indianapolis, IN – Atomic Bowling
2/11 Columbus, OH – Ace Of Cups
2/12 Cleveland, OH – No Class
2/13 Pittsburgh, PA – The Shred Shedw/ Take Offense & Brat
2/14 York, PA – Skid Row Garage
2/15 Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
2/16 Brooklyn, NY – TV Eye
2/17 Boston, MA – Sonia
Metallica to perform in Saudi Arabia for the first time next month
Metallica has been announced as a headliner for Soundstorm 2023, a 3-day mutli-genre music festival that is set to take place over the weekend of December 14th-16th in Saudi Arabia’s capital city of Riyadh. This will mark the first appearance in Saudi Arabia for the legendary thrash metal band.
The band shared the following:
We’re not done with 2023 just yet, as an amazing opportunity has just come our way to perform at a major festival that we have never played in a part of the world we rarely get to visit.
We’re excited to announce that on Thursday, December 14 we’ll be the first hard rock band to ever play at @MDLBeast’s Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Festival and single-day tickets are available now at mdlbeast.com.12/14 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia @ Soundstorm Festival
GOROD, WORMHOLE, HATH & EXIST Announce US Tour
Gorod will hit the road in the United States this upcoming January with Wormhole and Hath. Exist will also be on the first three dates, so get to these if you want an extra helping of progressive metal! Check out the list of dates below and get your tickets here.
1/12 Philadelphia, PA – Milkboy (w/ Exist)
1/13 Baltimore, MD – The Crown (w/ Exist)
1/14 Charlotte, NC – The Milestone (w/ Exist)
1/15 Knoxville, TN – Brickyard
1/16 Nashville, TN – The End
1/18 Dallas, TX – Haltom Theater
1/20 Phoenix, AZ – Pub Rock Live
1/21 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
1/22 Los Angeles, CA – 172
1/23 Las Vegas, NV – The Usual Place
1/25 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
1/26 El Paso, TX – Rockhouse
1/27 San Antonio, TX – Vibe’s Underground
1/28 Houston, TX – White Oak
LAMB OF GOD Announces More Details For 2024 ‘Headbangers Boat’ Cruise
Due to popular demand, LAMB OF GOD has announced a second voyage of its mind-blowing metal celebration at sea, Headbangers Boat 2024, highlighted by two unique headline performances from the groundbreaking five-time-Grammy Award-nominated band. Presented by Sixthman, the leader in festivals and music cruises for more than two decades, Lamb Of God Presents Headbangers Boat 2024 sails October 28-November 1, 2024 from Miami, Florida to the brand new port of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic aboard the Norwegian Gem.
Pre-sale signups are available now with the first-round sign-up deadline today, Wednesday, November 15 at 11:59 p.m. (ET) and the final round sign-up deadline Sunday, November 19 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Early booking times are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis and all guests who book during the pre-sale will secure an onboard photo opportunity with LAMB OF GOD. Cabins are available for only $100 down per person by utilizing automated monthly billing through February 28, 2024, or while cabins last. The public on-sale will begin November 21 at 2:00 p.m. (ET),exclusively at headbangersboat.com.
First unveiled during LAMB OF GOD‘s second performance on Headbangers Boat‘s sold-out premiere sailing, Lamb Of God Presents Headbangers Boat 2024 will feature live music from dawn into dark, across several stages and settings throughout the Norwegian Gem. Along with two exclusive shows from LAMB OF GOD, the fully immersive event will further feature a truly stunning range of special guests, including such heavy metal masters as DETHKLOK, CHIMAIRA, POISON THE WELL, AT THE GATES, SOULFLY, EXODUS, NAPALM DEATH, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, AFTER THE BURIAL, CURRENTS, BLEEDING THROUGH, UNEARTH, EYEHATEGOD, FROZEN SOUL, UNITYTX and LAMB OF GOD‘s Mark Morton (solo band),plus standup comedy from Shayne Smith and Mike Abrusci, and more to be announced. In addition, members of LAMB OF GOD will host an array of guest activities, with all guests who book during the pre-sale securing a photo opportunity for their cabin with the band.
Lineup:
LAMB OF GOD (two sets)
DETHKLOK
CHIMAIRA
POISON THE WELL
AT THE GATES
SOULFLY
EXODUS
NAPALM DEATH
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY
AFTER THE BURIAL
CURRENTS
BLEEDING THROUGH
UNEARTH
EYEHATEGOD
FROZEN SOUL
UNITYTX
MARK MORTON (solo band)
Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer Primitive Man, and Wormrot to Tour Europe and U.K.
This absolute punisher of a tour to sweep Europe and the U.K. includes Napalm Death, Primitive Man, Pig Destroyer, and Wormrot.
While not every band are on every date, the fact that this super-troupe is getting together at all is impressive. They’re all extremely heavy, and they span generations and styles but all show how diverse and varied heavy, grindy music can be.
Napalm Death, Primitive Man, and Wormrot
2/9 Koln, GER – Essigfabrik
2/10 Drachten, NET – Iduna
2/11 Hamburg, GER – Gruenspan
2/13 Brno, CZE – Sono
2/14 Budapest, HUN – Durer Kert
2/15 Wien, AUT – Arena
2/16 Leipzig, GER – Conne Island
2/17 Berlin, GER – Astra Kulturhaus
2/19 Munchen, GER – Backstage
2/20 Paderno, Dugnano, ITA – Slaughter Club
2/21 Geneve, SWI – L’Usine
2/22 Montpellier, FRA – Salle Victorie 2
2/23 Biarritz, FRA – L’Attabal
2/24 Paris, FRA – File 7
2/25 Audincourt, FRA – Le Moloco
2/27 Saarbrucken, GER – Garage
2/28 Nurnberg, GER – Z-Bau
2/29 Heidelberg, GER – Halle2
3/1 Maddeburg, GER – Factory
3/2 Leer, GER – ZollhausNapalm Death, Pig Destroyer, Primitive Man, and Wormrot
3/3 Antwerpen, BEL – Zappa
3/5 Sheffield, UK – Corporation
3/6 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – Anarchy Brew Co.
3/7 Glasgow, UK – Queen Margarent Union
3/8 London, UK – Electric Brixton
3/9 Liverpool, UK – O2 Academy
ISSUES Announces Breakup & Final Three Shows
Issues is breaking up after three final shows in early 2024. Issues states that their end is due to life changes and firing their vocalist Tyler Carter in 2020 over allegations of sexual misconduct and grooming (Carter has since responded). Issues released three albums between 2014 and 2019, their final effort being Beautiful Oblivion.
“Issues has been a central figure in our lives since 2012,” wrote the band. “We’ve played countless shows, toured almost every continent, met thousands of people, and made so many friends in our peers and travel companions. The importance of this band to our lives cannot be overstated. So many of you were right there with us.
“2020 hit us as hard as it could possibly hit a band. Tours canceled after we paid the deposits, new album cycle cut short, and the last any of you guys heard from us was when we fired our singer. All of these were incredibly traumatic experiences, not only for us, but also the fans to whom our music means the most. Life changed for the three of us after 2020 in significant ways that made making Issues our full time job impossible, but it doesn’t feel right to end our story in tragedy. We feel very strongly that the legacy we want to leave be a positive one.
“These shows are the final chapter in a long history of pushing the limits of composition, musicianship, and culture in every way we could. We want them to contextualize our body of work over the controversy and member changes and gossip and bullshit and to stand as a monument to the 3 real muffuckas still standing, the music we’re so proud of, and the fans still with us. If this band has ever meant anything to you we want you to be proud of being a part of this too. Proud of the gigs you’ve seen, the tattoos you got, the friends you made. So we’re putting this shit to bed in true Issues fashion. Very, very loudly.”
The final shows are as follows.
1/19 Anaheim, CA @ HOB
1/20 Chicago, IL @ HOB
1/27 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
PANTERA And DISTURBED To Headline KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA 2024
PANTERA and DISTURBED will headline the 2024 edition of Knotfest Australia. Next year’s festival, which will be held over three dates in March, will also feature LAMB OF GOD, HALESTORM, THE HU, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, ESCAPE THE FATE, WAGE WAR, BRAND OF SACRIFICE and more.
Among the local acts who will appear at Knotfest Australia are THY ART IS MURDER, SPEED, WINDWAKER and KING PARROT.
PANTERA‘s Knotfest Australia shows will mark the band’s first appearance in the country since 2001.
DISTURBED last toured Australia in 2016 in support of the band’s 2015 album “Immortalized”.
Knotfest Australia 2024 will also once again feature the Knotfest Museum celebrating SLIPKNOT‘s storied 26-year career.
Early Bird tickets for Knotfest Australia 2024 will be available at 10 a.m. local time on Tuesday, November 21. The general on-sale begins on Thursday, November 23 via the Knotfest Australia web site.
Knotfest Australia 2024 lineup:
PANTERA
DISTURBED
LAMB OF GOD
HALESTORM
THE HU
ASKING ALEXANDRIA
WAGE WAR
ESCAPE THE FATE
THY ART IS MURDER
SKINDRED
SPEED
WINDWAKER
BRAND OF SACRIFICE
KING PARROT