After a limited run of reunion shows in 2024, Slayer is making a rare appearance in 2025—and East Coast fans are in for something special. On Saturday, September 20, the legendary thrash pioneers will take over Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania, for what will be their only U.S. East Coast performance this year. With a 30,000-seat capacity and a stacked lineup in tow, this event is shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated heavy shows.
Pre-sales for tickets begin Tuesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. ET, with general sales launching on Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m. ET. Doors open at 3 p.m., and the music starts promptly at 4. Fans can grab tickets through this location.
The show will be hosted by WWE superstar Damian Priest, a vocal fan of the band whose wrestling finisher shares its name with Slayer‘s “South Of Heaven”. Guitarist Kerry King also lent his skills to Priest’s entrance theme, “Rise For The Night”, further cementing the crossover between metal and wrestling fandoms.
The lineup is a full-throttle celebration of heavy music across generations:
- Slayer
- Knocked Loose
- Suicidal Tendencies
- Power Trip
- Cavalera (performing Chaos A.D. by Sepultura)
- Exodus (performing Bonded By Blood)
“Slayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeerrrrrr!!!!!! One night only, stacked line up, it’s going to be f*cking sick!!!! Hersheypark — be there… If not, you’re either dead, in jail or a sissy!!!!!” said frontman Tom Araya, making it clear this will be no ordinary evening.
Guitarist Kerry King reflected on the emotional impact of last year’s reunion shows. “Last year, Slayer played only two shows, and those shows affected me like playing the ‘Big Four’ shows did. When we played our first show last year in Chicago, I figured it was going to be great for the fans; maybe there would be some people who had never seen us play before, but the reaction was just completely overwhelming. The fans reacted to us like I’d expect them to react to the biggest band on the planet. It was amazing.”
As for Hershey? King promises nothing less than total destruction. “So for the Hershey concert, we’ll play a Slayer show, we’ll have all of our big fire effects, and just burn everything like we used to.”
Despite sharing the stage for the first time with Power Trip and Knocked Loose, King already knows what to expect. “This will be the first time Slayer has played with Power Trip or Knocked Loose, but I am well aware of them from word of mouth and hearing their music on Liquid Metal. I’m looking forward to seeing them live.”
The feeling is mutual. Power Trip shared, “Honored to share the stage with one of our all-time favorite bands, Slayer. See you sick f*cks at the riff clinic.”
Knocked Loose added, “We’re excited to play with some of the best heavy bands of all time, past and present.”
The Hersheypark show falls in the middle of Slayer‘s summer and early fall run, which includes dates in the UK and North America:
- July 3 – Blackweir Fields, Cardiff, Wales, UK
With: Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed, Neckbreakker - July 5 – Villa Park, Birmingham, UK
“Back to the Beginning” with Black Sabbath - July 6 – Finsbury Park, London
With: Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed, Neckbreakker - July 11 – Festival d’été de Québec, Québec City, QC
Direct support: Mastodon - September 18 – Louder Than Life, Louisville, KY
With: Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and more - September 20 – Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
With: Knocked Loose, Suicidal Tendencies, Power Trip, Cavalera, Exodus
