Slayer/Megadeth

Way back in 1990, before Nirvana came along and made "metal" a bad word, three of thrash metal's biggest bands — Slayer, Megadeth, and Testament — joined forces for a European tour dubbed "Clash of the Titans." Much has changed in the 20 years since that legendary tour, but in one of the more surprising developments in music history, thrash metal is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, thanks to a slew of young bands paying homage to the classic '80s thrash sound and many members of the old guard returning to their once-abandoned thrash roots. Testament features four-fifths of its original lineup, joined by former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, while Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has buried the hatchet with longtime bassist Dave Ellefson, paving the way for Ellefson's return after an eight-year absence. Then there's the mighty Slayer, who have been playing with their original lineup since 2001 and still seem to resonate with metal fans of all ages. For some, this concert will be a fond trip down memory lane. For others, it will be a living heavy metal history lesson. Regardless of where you fall in that spectrum, this is one summer concert that seems certain to actually live up to the hype.