Los Angeles-based thrash metallers VIKING have announced their first shows in over 20 years. Founded in the spring of 1986 in Los Angeles, Viking released two full-length albums, 1987's Do Or Die and 1989's Man Of Straw.

Long hailed as one of the most rare and hard to find speed/thrash metal albums by collectors, Man Of Straw was re-released in 2006 via Lost And Found Records. This fully licensed CD release was remastered and contained rare and never-before-heard bonus tracks.

In early 2011, Ron Daniel (guitar, vocals) and Matt Jordan (drums) resurrected Viking after a 20-year hiatus.

Ron recruited former DARK ANGEL members Gene Hoglan and Michael Gonzalez to record Viking's first release in over 20 years.

Viking is: original member Ron Daniel Eriksen on vocals/guitar, Michael Gonzalez (Dark Angel) on bass, and Justin Zych (ARGONAUT, VINDICATOR) on lead guitar. Original Viking drummer Matt Jordan will be on most of the tour dates, with Cody Johns (EIGHTY THOUSAND DEAD, VADIM VON) sitting in for some.

Coinciding with the tour is the release of a limited-edition double CD entitled Metal Versus Straw featuring remastered versions of Viking's first two full-length albums, Do or Die and Man of Straw. The band's long-anticipated release No Child Left Behind is reportedly due out in late April. Samples of the new album can be seen below.

Tour dates so far:

March

6 - Bogie's - Albany, NY
7 - Hotel Vernon - Worcester, MA
8 - KungFu - Philadelphia, PA
9 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY

May

2 - The Foundry - Lakewood, OH
3 - Brass Rail - Fort Wayne, IN
4 - Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse 2013 - Chicago, IL

More tour dates are being set for Texas this summer. For more details visit Vikingthrashmetal.com.