Canadian Carnage

"Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee." This line from Canada's national anthem is about to take on a whole new meaning. Megadeth and Slayer are coming back to Canada.

One of the most exciting aspects of rock'n'roll has always been its unpredictability, so get ready for one of the most combustible tours of the fall - Canadian Carnage East - with co-headliners Slayer and Megadeth, two of the bands that defined the thrash/metal genre and have kept it alive and flourishing for decades. The five-date Canadian Carnage East kicks off on November 8 in Moncton, NB and wraps up in Toronto on November 13. The tour will feature Machine Head and Suicide Silence, and will see Megadeth and Slayer alternating the closing spot.

Megadeth and Slayer laid waste to four Canadian cities earlier this year when they joined up for the first "Canadian Carnage," marking the first time the bands had shared a stage anywhere in 18 years. According to various Canadian press outlets: "It was a night of thrash impossible to trash..." "Tales about war, death, destruction, Satan, aliens and serial killers have never been so much fun..." "The two heavy metal heavyweights ...went head-to-head on a level playing field. Both bands brought their 'A' game. And the results were anything but pretty - unless you include pretty freakin' loud and pretty freakin' awesome."

Few bands come close to matching the intensity that Slayer brings to its live shows, having been named "Best Live Band" by numerous media outlets including Revolver, SPIN, and Metal Hammer. Slayer - guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, vocalist/bassist Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo - recently completed recording World Painted Blood, the band's tenth studio album with Greg Fidelman producing and Rick Rubin executive producing. Fans were given an early taste of the brutal new Slayer material when "Psychopathy Red," a song inspired by the heinous Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, who confessed to savagely murdering 56 children, was recorded last fall and then leaked online. Attendees of "Canadian Carnage" will be treated to Slayer performing "Psychopathy Red" live on stage. World Painted Blood will be released in North America on November 3, 2009.

With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, the icon that is Megadeth culminated earlier this summer with Dave Mustaine's acceptance of the highly coveted ""Golden God"" accolade and the band's headline performance at the inaugural Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles. Megadeth – lead guitarist/lead vocalist Dave Mustaine, lead and rhythm guitarist Chris Broderick, bassist James Lomenzo and drummer Shawn Drover – recorded Endgame, their 12th studio album in Los Angeles with Andy Sneap. The disc is scheduled for release on September 15. Known for their ferocious live show, Megadeth will once again bring this intensity to their loyal throng of Canadian followers.

Bay Area titans Machine Head add to the carnage as main support. Machine Head - vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn, guitarist Phil Demmel, bassist/backing vocalist Adam Duce and drummer Dave McClain - are currently touring in support of their critically-acclaimed and Grammy nominated The Blackening. Since its release, the band has been awarded both Best Album at the Metal Hammer Awards and Album of the Year at Kerrang's annual ceremony that same year. And with a fan base so rabid, they've actually been banned from certain U.S. venues, Machine Head will bring with them the relentless stage show they are renowned for.

There is little doubt in anyone's mind that Suicide Silence is one of the frontrunners of the new wave of American metal, a statement further validated as the group won the "Best New Talent" award at the inaugural Revolver Golden Gods Awards. The group was also hailed as the event's breakthrough artist by the L.A. Times, but make no mistake that this extreme juggernaut is not resting on its laurels and has taken things up a notch with their highly-anticipated sophomore release, No Time to Bleed, which was produced by acclaimed producer Machine (Lamb of God).