If we were to have handicapped the final two slots of who would wind up playing Metallica’s Orion Music & More festival when it was first announced, we would’ve definitely had Baroness and Volbeat in the top ten. Baroness are now being managed by Metallica’s management company Q Prime, and with Yellow and Green coming out on July 17, this is the perfect high-profile gig to launch the newest band on their roster. And considering Volbeat toured with Metallica all the way back in 2009 before most of America knew who they were, it only makes sens that they be added now that Beyond Hell, Above Heaven has sold over 100,000 copies. Well, as of today, it’s official: the two bands will be joining the festival.
Considering how ambivalent the metal community was towards the initial announcement of the tour, it’s actually shaped up to be quite an interesting tour with more than its fair share of metal bands. And some (not all) of the non-heavy bands should appeal to metal fans. If metal fans and indie rock fans alike go into this festival with an open mind, they’ll probably come out fans of a few new bands.
