Slayer are back! The thrash metal legends will reunite on stage for the first time since their 2019 farewell tour for two festival performances this year: headlining Chicago's Riot Fest (September 20 to 22) and co-headlining the Louder Than Life festival (September 26 to 29) in Louisville alongside Slipknot, Mötley Crüe and Korn.
The band's last performance was at the Forum in Los Angeles on November 19, 2019. Since then, one-time bandmates Kerry King and Paul Bostaph have been making music together, with the former having recently said that the new project is "an extension of Slayer."
Slayer's last album, Repentless, came out in 2015. The pair of festival appearances are the only shows they've announced so far (and their Riot Fest performance is billed as a "Midwest exclusive"), so it remains unclear whether they plan to record new music or tour extensively again.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Slayer will be reuniting for an earth-shattering performance at Louder Than Life,” event producer Danny Wimmer said in a statement. ”I was at their last show at the Forum in 2019 and have been working since then to bring them back to the Louder stage. With over 140 bands on five stages, we’re celebrating our 10th Louder Than Life with the biggest lineup yet.”
Disturbed, Judas Priest, Evanescence, the Offspring, Staind, Till Lindemann, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Halestorm, Gojira, Anthrax, Sum 41, Mastodon, Body Count, Eagles of Death Metal, Sponge, and Tom Morello are also among the acts slated to perform at the festival. Check out the full lineup below.
