Three years have passed since German thrash legends KREATOR headlined in the UK. The band now announce their return in April 2013, bringing Phantom Antichrist to the UK and Ireland.

Vocalist Mille Petrozza comments: "Finally we are coming back to play three selected shows for our loyal fans in the UK! We will bring our 3D tour production to give you the full Kreator treatment. Support acts will be announced in the next few days, so stay tuned. Also, we are looking forward to play for all our Irish fans again, it has been quite a while. Our promise to you is a total massacre!"

The band have confirmed shows in London and Manchester, and their first headline show in Ireland since 2002. Dates are as follows:

April

26 - Dublin, Ireland, The Academy
27 - Manchester, UK, HMV Ritz
28 - London, UK, HMV Forum

Brace yourselves for the summer of 2013 – for it marks the first installment of the brand new and gargantuan Beastival festival series that will supply you with supreme heaviness, the biggest acts in metal and mean shredding! This three-day headbanger's feast will take place May 30th to June 1st and will get you a perfect start into your very own heavy summer! Located in Geiselwind, Germany the lineup that will enter two stages already looks like a wet dream come true...

For the first time ever, the gods of German thrash metal will be united on one stage - The Big Teutonic Four is definitely gonna be a historic event! Kreator, SODOM, DESTRUCTION and TANKARD on one stage!?! Yes, you've read right! The German thrash metal legens are preparing an infernal night you can only experience like this at the Beastival!

Explaining the phenomenon that is SABATON is sort of ridiculous: everybody knows them, everybody loves them, and the Swedes have blown away everybody these past few years who's into power metal with killer melodies! Their energetic and pyro-fueled live shows are the stuff of legends, and recently they silenced the competition once more with the fabulous Carolus Rex.

But of course that's just the tip of the iceberg! The Beastival line up also features names such as WINTERSUN, SATYRICON, KATAKLYSM, DARK TRANQUILLITY, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, VARG, EISREGEN, ASPHYX, MAJESTY and HEIDEVOLK! And this is just the beginning…

The ticket presale starts on November 15th - then you can get the limited fan pack (ticket, T-Shirt + NoiseArt CD of your choice) for only 89 € at www.hardticket.eu.

Current lineup: SABATON, The Big Teutonic 4 (KREATOR, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, TANKARD), WINTERSUN, KATAKLYSM, SATYRICON, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, U.D.O, DARK TRANQUILLITY, VARG, EISREGEN, ASPHYX, NACHTMYSTIUM, HEIDEVOLK, MAJESTY.

More to be announced. Further festival details here.

Kreator are also confirmed for the 2013 edition and 20th Anniversary of Germany's Rockharz Open Air, which is scheduled for July 11th - 13th at Airport Ballenstedt in Harz, Germany.

Confirmed acts now include: ACCEPT, AVANTASIA, CHILDREN OF BODOM, DEVIL'S WALL TROPHY, EISBRECHER, ENSIFERUM, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, FEUERSCHWANZ, ICED EARTH, J.B.O., KREATOR, MELECHESH, MUSTASCH, ORDEN OGAN, SOILWORK, SUBWAY TO SALLY, UNEARTH and VADER.

For more details visit Rockharz-festival.com.