There’s been a rumor floating around the interwebs the past few months about a “Big Four” tour featuring Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. It turns out they were half right – Slayer and Megadeth will be joined by Testament for the American Carnage tour, kicking off January 18 in Chicago. It’ll be the first time Megadeth and Slayer have toured together since 1991, when they were part of the “Clash of the Titans” tour along with Anthrax and Alice In Chains. Testament have definitely proven themselves worthy enough to be on this tour, and actually appeared on the European “Clash” tour in 1990 (which is why we’re giving them the ‘half’).

Is it pre-emptive to call this one of the best tours of next year? Yes, but we’ll do it anyway. Metallica are likely done touring for Death Magnetic, unless they hop on a festival next summer. Anthrax are still sorting out their lead singer problem. But you’d be hard pressed to find a better lineup that personifies classic thrash metal by bands still relevant today. They’re even going to have some of the tickets with a “1991” price of only $10! I don’t even think they cost $10 back then! What’s possibly the best thing about the tour is that you’ll get to see a Slayer tour that doesn’t also feature Marilyn Manson. Dates after the jump.

In related news, due to Tom Araya’s back problem, Slayer has postponed their U.K. and European tour. The tour was supposed to have kicked off on November 18 and run through December 17, but will now start on March 7 in Manchester, England. This comes following the postponement of the “Canadian Carnage” tour, which was supposed to have been last week. “Right now, our main concern must be the full and permanent recovert  of Tom, so we have decided to clear the calendar and give him the extra time he needs to concentrate solely on good health,” manager Rick Sales said in a statement.

JANUARY

18        WaMu Theatre, Seattle, WA

19        Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR

21        Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA

22        Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA*  (tickets on sale 11/21)

23        Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ

25        Magness Arena, Denver, CO

26        Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM

27        El Paso Coliseum, El Paso, TX

29        Verizon Wireless, Houston, TX

31        Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN

FEBRUARY

 1         Gwinnett Arena, Duluth, GA  (tickets on sale 11/20)

 2         Broadbent Arena, Louisville, KY  (tickets on sale 12/4)

 4         Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN  (tickets on sale 12/4)

 5         UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL  (tickets on sale 12/4)

 6         Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI

 9         Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford, CT

11        Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ

13        Susquehanna Center, Camden, NJ

14        Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA

16        Pavillon de La Jeunesse, Quebec City, QC

18        John Labatt Centre, London, ON 19        Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON

20        Bell Centre, Montreal, QC

22        Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, NB

23        Metro Centre, Halifax, NS