Get ready to reign once again, metalheads — because the mighty SLAYER have risen! 🤘 The thrash legends have just announced their first confirmed live date of 2026, a special show celebrating the 40th anniversary of their game-changing 1986 masterpiece Reign in Blood.
That’s right — the album that redefined speed, aggression, and musical violence is officially turning 40, and Slayer are marking the occasion the only way they know how: louder, faster, and heavier than anyone else.
While full details are still under wraps, the band confirmed that this anniversary gig will feature tracks from across their career, with Reign in Blood taking centre stage (obviously 😈). Rumours are already swirling that this could be the start of a limited run of anniversary shows, though nothing’s been confirmed yet.
It’s the first Slayer performance announced for 2026 — following their shocking reunion shows in 2024 that melted faces and broke the internet in equal measure.
If this is a taste of what’s to come next year, the pits are about to get biblical. 🩸
Stay tuned, butt — The Riff Report will be watching this one very closely. 👀
🏴☠️ “Angel of Death” still sounds like the apocalypse caught on tape.
Their first confirmed live date of the year
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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