The concert industry is as busy as ever, and fans will have plenty of metal and hard rock tours to choose from in 2024 — with many more to be announced in the coming weeks and months.
No matter your taste in heavy music, there’s something for you in terms of upcoming shows. Classic metal fans can go out and see Metallica, Judas Priest, or Pantera, while those who listened to mainstream rock radio in the late ’90s and early 2000s can catch Godsmack, Disturbed, Limp Bizkit, or a reunited Creed.
If punk rock is your thing, you’re covered with Green Day’s stadium tour or the likes of Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys, and Flogging Molly. And industrial devotees can catch Ministry with support from Gary Numan and Front Line Assembly.
None of those acts extreme enough for you? Don’t worry, as Amon Amarth are heading out with Cannibal Corpse and Obituary, while Cattle Decapitation and Carnifex are teaming up for a co-headlining tour.
And if your definition of “heavy” casts a wide net, then there’s acts like Chelsea Wolfe, Sleep Token, and ††† (Crosses) to satisfy your eclectic taste in music.
Meanwhile, if you wanna end up leaving a show looking like you’ve been through a bloody battle, you can always check out a GWAR concert.
So, without further ado, below are 30 of the most anticipated metal & hard rock tours of 2024.
-Spencer Kaufman
Managing Editor, Heavy Consequence
A Perfect Circle, Primus, and Puscifer
Maynard James Keenan (photo by Amy Harris) and Les Claypool (photo by Johnny Perilla)
One of the year’s more stacked packages includes a triumvirate of alternative-rock luminaries A Perfect Circle, Primus, and Puscifer. Dubbed the “Sessanta” (which means “sixty” in Italian), the unprecedented tour is a celebration of Maynard James Keenan’s 60th birthday and will see all three bands playing their own sets as well as sharing the stage. Initially, the itinerary only consisted of a handful of dates in mid-to-late April. When those concerts sold out fast, additional shows in April and May were added to meet demand. – Jon Hadusek
Get A Perfect Circle Tickets Here
Amon Amarth w/ Cannibal Corpse and Obituary
Cannibal Corpse (via Metal Blade), Amon Amarth (photo by Tomas Gidén), and Obituary (photo by Rodrigo Fredes)
The vikings Amon Amarth will be flanked by two of the greatest death metal bands of all-time — Cannibal Corpse and Obituary — on this spring campaign. For many headbangers, this would be a destination show if any one of these bands were headlining. To get all three in the same night is revelatory. Some kind of extreme metal holiday should be declared in each town this tour hits. – J.H.
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold, photo by Amy Harris
Avenged Sevenfold returned in 2023 with their first new album in nearly seven years. The LP, titled Life Is But a Dream …, features singer M. Shadows and company veering into experimental, Mr. Bungle-esque territory, proving that the band is ever-evolving. That said, fans can still expect to hear older favorites like “Bat Country” and “Hail to the King” when A7X hit the road for a North American run in March with support from Poppy and Sullivan King. – Spencer Kaufman
Get Avenged Sevenfold Tickets Here
Bad Religion and Social Distortion
Bad Religion and Social Distortion, photos by Raymond Ahner
Two stalwarts of California punk are teaming up when Bad Religion and Social Distortion hit the road together for a co-headlining spring tour. The great news is that Social D frontman Mike Ness is recovering well from a battle with tonsil cancer that forced his band to postpone a summer 2023 run. In addition to the spring dates, Social D are set to make up that 2023 tour with their own headlining trek in the fall. And as a bonus, Social D will be playing their 1983 debut album Mommy’s Little Monster in full on the outing with Bad Religion. – S.K.
Get Bad Religion and Social Distortion Tickets Here
Better Lovers
Better Lovers, photo by Gabe Becerra
Fresh off earning the top spot on our 30 Best Metal & Hard Rock Songs of 2023 list with their killer single “30 Under 13,” the supergroup Better Lovers (featuring former members of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die) are set to embark on a spring North American tour, featuring support from SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Foreign Hands, and Greyhaven. Singer Greg Puciato always brings an element of danger to the stage, as evidenced by his Dillinger days, so expect a raucous show when Better Lovers hit your town. – S.K.
Bush w/ Jerry Cantrell and Candlebox
Jerry Cantrell (photo by Amy Harris), Bush (photo by Amy Harris), and Candlebox (photo by Graham Fielder)
Bush will be out in support of their new career-spanning hits compilation, and they’re celebrating the occasion with fellow ’90s heroes Jerry Cantrell (of Alice in Chains) and Candlebox. Here’s another all-star tour where the support acts demand early attendance. Cantrell has been touring regularly since releasing his latest solo album Brighten, so expect a setlist of new material and some choice AIC cuts; meanwhile, Candlebox are continuing their farewell tour in support of their final studio album, The Long Goodbye. – J.H.
Cattle Decapitation and Carnifex
Top: Cattle Decapitation (photo by Nick Van Vidler) and Bottom: Carnifex (via Nuclear Blast Records)
Two of extreme metal’s finest — Cattle Decapitation and Carnifex — are joining forces for a spring outing, each touring behind a strong 2023 album. Cattle Decapitation unleashed Terrasite in May of last year, while Carnifex unveiled Necromanteum, in October 2023. The tour kicks off April 30th in Mesa, Arizona, and wraps up May 26th in Las Vegas. -S.K.
Get Cattle Decapitation Tickets Here
Chelsea Wolfe
Chelsea Wolfe, photo by Ebru Yildiz
Chelsea Wolfe will be hitting the road in support of her new album, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She (out February 9th), which has already yielded the excellent singles “Dusk” and “Whispers in the Echo Chamber.” The North American tour kicks off February 27th in San Diego and runs through a March 30th show in Los Angeles.
Get Chelsea Wolfe Tickets Here
Clutch
Clutch, photo by Amy Harris
Clutch have been bringing the rock for more than 30 years, and show no signs of slowing down. Neil Fallon and company are hitting the road with support from Blacktop Mojo and The Native Howl. The trek launches April 26th in Richmond, Virginia, and includes stops at the Welcome to Rockville festival on May 11th in Daytona Beach, Florida, and at the Sonic Temple fest on May 19th in Columbus, Ohio, which is the final date of the tour. – S.K.
Creed
Creed, photo by Chuck Brueckmann
It took more than a decade for Creed to reunite, but their timing was impeccable. After announcing last summer that they would return to headline a couple of cruises in April 2024, they became the buzz of Major League Baseball when the Texas Rangers revealed that they had been using the band’s music as a rallying cry on the way to winning a World Series. Creed then announced a full-scale summer North American tour that will feature direct support from 3 Doors Down on most dates. – S.K.
††† (Crosses)
Crosses, photo by Brian Ziff
Last year, ††† (Crosses) returned with their first full-length album in nine years, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. While the duo of Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez played a handful of shows in the fall, this Winter 2024 outing will be the band’s first full-fledged tour in a decade. The jaunt kicks off February 7th in Salt Lake City, Utah, and runs through a March 11th gig in Seattle. – S.K.
Def Leppard and Journey
Def Leppard (photo by Ross Halfin) and Journey (publicity image)
Expect hit after hit as Def Leppard and Journey bring their iconic rock anthems across North America on a co-headlining tour this summer. If that’s not enough, the support acts are just as legendary, with Steve Miller Band, Heart, and Cheap Trick taking turns opening the shows. The outing kicks off July 6th in St. Louis, and runs through a September 8th show in Denver, mostly hitting Major League Baseball stadiums along the way. – S.K.
Get Def Leppard & Journey Tickets Here
Disturbed
Disturbed, photo by Travis Shinn
Disturbed are nearing the end of their touring cycle in support of 2022’s Divisive, and are one of the first bands to hit the road in 2024. Their winter outing runs from a January 19th show in Peoria, Illinois, through a March 3rd gig in Las Vegas. Expect a few poignant onstage speeches from singer David Draiman along the way, as well as opening sets from Falling in Reverse and Plush. – S.K.
Dropkick Murphys w/ Pennywise
Dropkick Murphys (photo by Ben Kaye) and Pennywise (photo by Amy Harris)
Dropkick Murphys’ annual “St. Patrick’s Day Tour” is always a good time, and this year they’re bringing fellow punk veterans Pennywise along for the ride. The outing will kick off February 13th in San Jose, California, and, per usual, will wrap up with a multi-night stand in Boston. After playing a number of acoustic shows in support of their two Woody Guthrie-inspired albums, Dropkick will once again go full electric on this tour. – S.K.
Get Dropkick Murphys Tickets Here
Flogging Molly w/ Amigo the Devil
Flogging Molly (photo by Kevin RC Wilson) and Amigo the Devil (photo by Amy Harris)
At the same time Dropkick Murphys will be criss-crossing the country, fellow Celtic punkers Flogging Molly will be on the road, as well. The band will be joined by dark-folk troubadour Amigo the Devil on the month-long run, which will culminate in Las Vegas with Flogging Molly’s first-ever Shamrock Rebellion Festival on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th). There, the two acts will be joined by Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Buzzcocks, Face to Face, NOBRO, and more. – S.K.
Godsmack
Godsmack, photo by Chris Bradshaw
Last year, Godsmack released what they insist was their final album, Lighting Up the Sky, but made it clear that they still intend to continue on as a live act. The hard rockers are mixing things up on their Winter 2024 tour, performing a stripped down acoustic/electric set at theaters and performing arts centers in what’s being billed as “an intimate evening with Godsmack.” – S.K.
Green Day w/ The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and The Linda Lindas
Green Day, photo by Amy Harris.
Green Day are pulling out all the stops on their summer stadium tour. Not only are they bringing along a stacked bill of The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and The Linda Lindas, they also plan to perform their classic albums Dookie and American Idiot in their entireties at each show, plus some extra favorites to boot. The tour kicks off July 29th in Washington, D.C., and runs through a September 28th show in San Diego. – S.K.
GWAR
GWAR, photo by Amy Harris
Get ready to get destroyed as GWAR come to pillage a town near you. The intergalactic barbarians will be taking over the month of March with their “Age of Befuddlement Tour,” spewing blood and other bodily fluids all over the audience, and disemboweling a few unfortunate celebrities along the way. Cancer Bats will be along for the entire ride, with select support from X-Cops and Fuming Mouth. And, if you’re so inclined, you can prep for the show with GWAR’s Bud of Gods line of “New Dank Ages” CBD products, available here. – S.K.
Judas Priest
Judas Priest, photo by Alex Kluft
It’s looking like the year of The Priest. The UK metal legends are primed to drop their highly anticipated new album Invincible Shield on March 8th, and then they’ll hit the road for a 20-date US tour in April/May with Sabaton — the Swedish war metallers once again being tapped as Priest’s direct support. The European trek precedes the Stateside dates, and you can get tickets to those shows here. – J.H.
Limp Bizkit w/ Corey Feldman and more
Limp Bizkit (photo by Amy Harris) and Corey Feldman (photo by Josh Druding)
Limp Bizkit have been enjoying a renaissance over the past couple years as frontman Fred Durst entertains fans with a different humorous outfit at each of their shows. Now, add actor/singer Corey Feldman to the bill and you have one of the most bizarre yet intriguing lineups of 2024. But wait, that’s not all. You also get rapper Bones (with Eddy Baker & Xavier Wulf), synth-punker N8NOFACE, and Riff Raff (who will serve as emcee each night). This eclectic North American summer tour will get rollin’ in July. – S.K.
Mammoth WVH w/ Nita Strauss
Mammoth WVH’s Wolfgang Van Halen (photo by Bryan Beasley) and Nita Strauss (photo by Amy Harris)
Get your air guitars ready. From a purely technical guitar fireworks standpoint, Mammoth WVH and Nita Strauss’ 2024 tour is one of the most alluring packages here, reprising the run the two had together this past fall. While making her name as the lead shredder in Alice Cooper’s band, Strauss has launched a successful solo career, having released two studio albums since 2018 while touring in between her duties with Alice. Meanwhile, Wolfgang Van Halen has been both prolific in the studio and with his Mammoth WVH bookings, as the band has been the road constantly, with no plans to slow down. – J.H.
Metallica
Metallica, photo by Kevin RC Wilson
Metallica plotted out their 2024 touring activities well in advance, announcing their “M72 World Tour” plans for this year at the same time as their 2023 run. If anything, it gives fans plenty of time to prepare for one of the thrash legends’ “No Repeat Weekend” concerts, which see Metallica performing a two-night stand in each city and a different setlist each night. While this means you might not hear “Master of Puppets” or “Enter Sandman” at one particular show, the format has resulted in some of the most diverse setlists of Metallica’s career. – J.H.
Ministry
Ministry, photo by Amy Harris
Industrial legends Ministry are gearing up for the release of their 16th studio album, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES, and will support the LP with a North American tour kicking off in late February. Expect Al Jourgensen and company to deliver a politically-charged, explosive set, as they’re joined on the bill by new wave veteran Gary Numan and fellow industrial mainstays Front Line Assembly. – S.K.
Pantera w/ Lamb of God
Pantera and Lamb of God (photos by Amy Harris)
Suffice to say, the Pantera reunion has been a smashing success and shows no signs of stopping. The re-formed thrash band, which features classic members Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown alongside guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, began with select festival dates before expanding into a full-blown tour. In 2024, they’ll once again be sharing the road with Lamb of God for a 14-date run of the US and Canada. After that, Pantera will support five of Metallica’s stadium shows beginning in August. – J.H.
Porno for Pyros
Porno for Pyros, photo by Nathan Zucker
It took a quarter century for Porno for Pyros to reunite when they played a handful of gigs in 2022, but the reunion isn’t lasting long. The band’s first full tour in 27 years will also be their last, as Perry Farrell and company announced that the Winter 2024 North American run would be their final trek. The “Horns, Thorns, En Halos Farewell Tour” launches February 13th in Santa Ana, California, and runs through a March 10th show in Montclair, New Jersey. – S.K.
Sammy Hagar feat. Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony & Jason Bonham
Sammy Hagar, photo by Timothy Norris
Sammy Hagar is going big for his North American tour this summer, enlisting an all-star band of guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Jason Bonham. The 28-date “Best of All Worlds” run will see the Red Rocker performing material from his time in Van Halen in a nod to the recently released The Collection II “Van Hagar” box set. Better yet, Hagar went as far as to invite David Lee Roth to join him onstage at some point on the tour, although we’re not sure that will happen. – J.H.
Sleep Token
Sleep Token, photo by Raymond Ahner
The mysterious UK rock sensations known as Sleep Token just announced a spring North American tour, sure to mesmerize their legions of stateside fans. The outing features stellar support from Empire State Bastard, the extreme metal band made up of members of Biffy Clyro and legendary drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Misfits). Get your tickets fast, as shows at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and New York City’s Radio City Music Hall have already sold out. – S.K.
Static-X and Sevendust
Static X (photo by Jeremy Saffer) and Sevendust (photo by Chuck Brueckmann)
Static-X and Sevendust’s expansive co-headlining trek pairs two of alt-metal’s most enduring acts and gives us another opportunity to check out the updated version of Static-X. Stepping in for the late Wayne Static is the mysterious frontman Xer0. Joining the bill are Dope, who have now been on multiple Static-X tour packages since the band re-formed a few years ago. – J.H.
Sum 41
Sum 41 (photo by Heather Kaplan)
“The Tour of the Setting Sum” will be the Sum 41’s last. The pop-punk band announced a vast 2024 itinerary for its final outing, including dates in Japan and Europe. The North American portion is broken into two legs, one in the spring — following the release of the double album Heaven :x: Hell — and another in the fall. Then it’s off into the sum-set for the Canadian outfit. – J.H.
Tool
Tool at Madison Square Garden, photo by Johnny Perilla
Tool have already kicked off their 2024 US tour, as we witnessed their mesmerizing two-night stand at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on January 12th and 13th. If those shows were any indication, expect Maynard James Keenan and company to mix up the setlist every once in a while, offering a few surprises along the way. The tour continues through a February 18th gig in Las Vegas. – S.K.
