ICED EARTH To Kick Off North American Tour With VOLBEAT, HELLYEAH & THE SIXXIS; Limited Pressing Of 'Dystopia Tour Edition' Available Only At Merch Stands!

Heavy Metal legends ICED EARTH will be touring North America starting next week, hitting the road with VOLBEAT, HELLYEAH, and THE SIXXIS for an extensive 5-week trek. In regards to this upcoming tour, Jon Schaffer (rhythm, lead and acoustic guitars/backing vocals) comments: "I'm completely stoked, VOLBEAT is one of my all-time favorite bands, and Michael and the boys are great people. There is a lot of mutual respect and admiration, and I think we are in for a hell of a good time! This will be a package that won't soon be forgotten, I'm sure of that."

ICED EARTH will be touring in support of their critically acclaimed 10th studio album, 'Dystopia'. Released last year via Century Media Records, 'Dystopia' debuted at #67 on the Billboard chart and has since received rave reviews from fans and critics alike, with Revolver Magazine naming it one of the 20 Best Albums of 2011 and declaring, "Twenty years after releasing their self-titled debut, this Florida five some has never sounded better."

To commemorate the tour, ICED EARTH are releasing a limited tour edition of 'Dystopia'. Currently available only at the merchandise stands on the tour, the 2-disc 'Dystopia' Tour Edition contains the original full-length album, as well as b-side covers of IRON MAIDEN "The Trooper" and BLACK SABBATH "Mob Rules," as well as the classic 17-minute ICED EARTH track "Dante's Inferno" re-recorded with vocalist Stu Block. The bonus disc also contains both music videos from 'Dystopia' - the title track and "Anthem" - as well as a 'Making of Dystopia' studio interview with the band, and exclusive cell phone skins and desktop backgrounds.

All upcoming ICED EARTH tour dates are below, so check to see when they'll be coming to a city near you!

6/18: Kool Haus in Toronto, ON

6/19: The Fillmore in Detroit, MI

6/20: Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA **headlining off date**

6/21: House Of Blues in Boston, MA

6/22: Paramount Theatre in Huntington, NY

6/23: Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY

6/25: House Of Blues in Chicago, IL **off date with HELLYEAH**

6/26: MYTH in St. Paul, MN

6/27: Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg, MB

6/29: Crescent Point Place in Weyburn, SA

7/2: Shrine Auditorium in Billings, MT

7/3: Knitting Factory in Spokane, WA

7/5: Knitting Factory in Spokane, WA

7/6: Knitting Factory in Boise, ID

7/7: Knitting Factory in Reno, NV

7/8: Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, CA

7/10: The Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA

7/11: Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ

7/12: House Of Blues in Las Vegas, NV

7/13: The Great Salt Air in Magna, UT

7/14: Mesa Theatre & Club in Grand Junction, CO **headlining off date**

7/15: Colorado Springs City Auditorium in Colorado Springs, CO

7/16: Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, NE **off date with VOLBEAT**

7/18: Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA

7/19: Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD

7/22: Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA

7/23: Norva Theater in Norfolk, VA

7/24: Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, MD

Related links:

ICED EARTH's Official Site