'80s Metal Band Announces 2026 Tour With Special Guests
Heathen has no plans of slowing down, even after its upcoming run with Metal Church.
The Bay Area thrash metal veterans have announced a new string of North American headlining dates for summer 2026, with support from Louisiana metal band Void on most shows. The newly announced run begins July 27 in Raleigh, North Carolina, following Heathen's co-headlining dates with Metal Church, and concludes Aug. 9 in Toronto.
"Immediately following our run of dates with Metal Church, we'll be headlining more of North America with support from Void!" the band wrote on Instagram. "Get your tickets now and we'll see you in the pit!"
The new headlining trek follows a series of performances alongside fellow thrash pioneers Metal Church across the United States and Canada, giving fans an extended opportunity to catch Heathen on the road this summer.
Formed in San Francisco in 1984, Heathen emerged during the second wave of the Bay Area thrash movement alongside bands such as Exodus, Testament and Death Angel.
While the group never reached the commercial heights of some of its contemporaries, albums including Breaking the Silence and Victims of Deception earned Heathen a devoted following thanks to the band's technical musicianship, intricate songwriting and melodic approach to thrash metal.
After disbanding in the early 1990s, Heathen reunited in 2001 and has remained an active force in the genre ever since. The band's most recent studio album, Empire of the Blind, was released in 2020 to widespread critical acclaim, introducing its brand of progressive thrash to a new generation of listeners.
"The songs and the albums are very much a big part of me," singer David White said in an interview. "When I look back it's an evolution of what we've done and how far we've come, another step towards…well whatever, really. It's another piece of art that we've done and we're trying to achieve a superior record than before."
More than four decades after first forming, Heathen continues to build on its legacy through relentless touring and new music. With a full North American itinerary stretching across July and August, the band is showing that one of thrash metal's most respected names remains as active as ever.
Related: '90s Metal Band Announces Live Album for the First Time in 22 Years
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 4:13 PM.