Slayer set to return to the stage after 5 years away

After a five-year break, Metal masters Slayer will return to the stage with two planned performances scheduled during this year’s festival season.

Listen to Masters Of Metal and more on the free Audacy app

For the first time since the band’s 2019 Final World Tou r, Slayer -- featuring singer and bassist Tom Araya , guitarists Kerry King and Gary Holt , and drummer Paul Bostaph -- have announced they will return this fall for headlining performances at Chicago’s Riot Fest and Louisville’s Louder Than Life , both happening in September.

“Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we’re on stage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans,” said Tom Araya, “and to be honest, we have missed that.” Kerry King adds, "Have I missed playing live? Absolutely. Slayer means a lot to our fans; they mean a lot to us. It will be five years since we have seen them."

First up for Slayer will be Chicago's Riot Fest , happening September 20 through 22 at Douglass Park, billed as an "exclusive midwest performance" amid a ton of today's biggest acts -- all of which are still to be announced.

After that will be Louisville, KY's Louder Than Life festival happening September 26 through 29 at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center, as the fest celebrates 10 years of living loud, also featuring performances by Slipknot , Mötley Crüe , KORN , Offspring , Evanescence , Disturbed , Judas Priest , Sum 41 , and tons more. See the full line up above.

Tickets for each of the festival dates listed below are on sale now.

Slayer 2024 live dates:

June 22 | Riot Fest | Chicago, IL
June 27 | Louder Than Life | Louisville, KY

Plus -- don't forget about Slayer's epic merch store , chock full of items like tees, hats, hoodies, meat branders (yeah, that's right!), sneakers, candles, bikinis, and much more.