10 Bold Predictions For Heavy Metal In 2018

10. Slayer, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Testament & Behemoth Will Tour The U.S. Together

Despite its enormity, this entry clocks in low because it has basically been all but confirmed at this point: it’s a matter of “when”, not “if”.

On January 2018, one date of what is set to be a mammoth extreme metal tour in the U.S. leaked on Live Nation’s website. The mysterious concert listed a quintet of some of the biggest heavy bands in the world – Slayer, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Testament and Behemoth – all appearing under one roof at the Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania on the 4th June this year.

“So what?” you cry. “It could have been a glitch? Someone playing a prank? Or even just a one-off festival bill?” Yes, you would think so, however, there’s evidence to back up the idea of it being a fully-fledged trek. In interviews early this year (before the leak), Testament’s guitarist, Alex Skolnick, stated that his band “just signed on to a North American tour that I can’t tell you about yet,” calling it “one of the biggest tours of the year.”

Oh, yeah, and then there’s that minute detail where, when the website Metal Injection reported this rumour, Alex shared the article in a now-deleted tweet with the caption “Ta dah!!”

So, basically, this is happening. America, you are a lucky bunch.