US power metallers ICED EARTH will be touring North America starting next week, hitting the road with VOLBEAT, HELLYEAH, and THE SIXXIS for an extensive 5-week trek.

In regards to this upcoming tour, Jon Schaffer (rhythm, lead and acoustic guitars/backing vocals) comments: "I'm completely stoked, Volbeat is one of my all-time favorite bands, and Michael and the boys are great people. There is a lot of mutual respect and admiration, and I think we are in for a hell of a good time! This will be a package that won't soon be forgotten, I'm sure of that."

Iced Earth will be touring in support of their 10th studio album, Dystopia. To commemorate the tour, the band are releasing a limited tour edition of Dystopia. Currently available only at the merchandise stands on the tour, the 2-disc Dystopia Tour Edition contains the original full-length album, as well as b-side covers of IRON MAIDEN 'The Trooper' and BLACK SABBATH 'Mob Rules', as well as the classic 17-minute Iced Earth track, 'Dante's Inferno', re-recorded with vocalist Stu Block. The bonus disc also contains both music videos from Dystopia - the title track and 'Anthem' - as well as a 'Making of Dystopia' studio interview with the band, and exclusive cell phone skins and desktop backgrounds.

Iced Earth recently updated their live itinerary with a new date, on July 20th at House of Blues in Cleveland, OH. The band have also announced that their July 23rd show at The Norva in Norfolk, VA will now be an Iced Earth headline date, as Volbeat and Hellyeah will no longer play that date.

Iced Earth's complete tour schedule can be found at this location.

The band recently issued the following tour update: "Dear fans, friends and fellow metalheads in India. It is with a heavy heart and deep regret to announce that we will not be performing at the Bangalore Open Air festival on June 16th.

Unfortunately, we have been a victim of terminal visa issues for our American band and crew members, despite having followed every step given to us and retaining one of the top immigration firms in the world to do the job. It turns out some of the regulations have changed without this being made known to us and we are now no longer in a position to get the necessary paperwork in place. This has come as a huge disappointment since we were looking forward to performing for and meeting all of you for the very first time in your wonderful country.

We would like to thank the team of BOA for all their help and support along the way. Unfortunately things are now beyond the control of the band and the organizers but we sincerely hope all the metalheads in India will continue to support Bangalore Open Air and all the fantastic bands scheduled to play there.

Finally, a huge thank you to all the Indian metalheads for your kind words and wonderful support. We promise to make every effort to make it to India as soon as humanly possible and bang heads with each and every one of you."