KILLING JOKE are no strangers to KNEBWORTH, having performed at the inaugural SONISPHERE in 2009. This time, the original line-up of Jaz Coleman, Geordie, Youth and Paul Ferguson will take to the BOHEMIA stage after the grand finale of THE BIG 4 on Friday, to show why after 30 years, KILLING JOKE are still one of the most important bands around. Hugely influential to Friday night headliners METALLICA – who covered “The Wait” on their Garage Days EP – as well as a host of iconic acts such as Nirvana, Ministry, Prong, Tool, Nine Inch Nails and many more too numerous to mention – KILLING JOKE will leave you in no doubt as to why, with songs from their illustrious history and 2010’s incredible return to form “Absolute Dissent”.

Returning to the UK after a main support slot on the Kerrang! Relentless Tour, hirsute Massachusetts easycore quintet FOUR YEAR STRONG will be joining SONISPHERE’S Sunday line-up on the BOHEMIA stage. With an eclectic sound borne out of a desire to create music that the band themselves would want to hear, FOUR YEAR STRONG skillfully blend melodic hardcore and screamo vocals with power pop synths and numerous nods to nineties pop-culture. And it sounds like they can’t wait to get to KNEBWORTH, with guitarist and vocalist Dan declaring: “I’m so stoked to play Sonisphere, great lineup of bands to be a part of. I’m excited to play for an amazing fest in an amazing country”.

Added to Friday’s line-up are Michigan’s melodic death metallers THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. Pounding Swedish-style blackened thrash with American death metal muscle, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER are set to lay waste to the BOHEMIA stage with the relentless, merciless brutality that has put them at the forefront of the underground metal scene. States frontman Trevor: “We in The Black Dahlia Murder camp are completely honored to accept an invite to the amazing Sonisphere this year. Seeing The Big Four live has been a dream of mine… playing alongside them…well, kill me now!”.

Despite being amongst the youngest artists to feature at this year’s SONISPHERE, Miami’s BLACK TIDE have already secured their position as worthy contenders of the metal scene. With their 2008 debut album garnering instant acclaim, leading to them being named Best International Newcomer at the Kerrang! Awards and achieving a Top 8 single in the US Billboard Top 100, BLACK TIDE continue to ride high with support slots on Iron Maiden’s up-coming US dates confirmed and a sophomore album, featuring guest vocals from Matt Tuck of Bullet For My Valentine, set for release this Spring.

Controversial Swedish black metallers WATAIN are looking forward to bringing a sinister edge to this year’s SONISPHERE. Indoors or out, rain or shine, the fearsome five-piece will ensure their set is enshrouded in an inescapable darkness, as they deliver a grim, blood splattered set. Mainman Erik Danielsson enthuses: “Playing alongside Metallica - one of the greatest musical influences of Watain - has always been a dream of ours, so this feels like a most pleasing reward for walking this long hard road all these years. Watain will be a dark and fierce addition to this already mind-blowing lineup of metallic overkill, and we look forward to bring our blood, fire and death to the UK visitors…”.

With a CV boasting contributions to Dream Evil, Arch Enemy, Mystic Prophecy, Kamelot and Nightrage - not to mention his role as current axeman to Ozzy Osbourne - Greek Guitar Guru GUS G is one of the most high-profile young guitarists in the world today. But his own band, FIREWIND, has been the one constant in his hugely successful career. After six albums and 10 years, the Greek power-metallers are set for their first appearance at KNEBWORTH this year, and promise big things for the SONIPSHERE crowd: “We’re very excited for our debut performance at Sonisphere festival! We’re truly honoured to be a part of Sonisphere UK and to share the stage with the Big 4 and so many other great bands!! Knebworth get ready, we’ll set your world on fire!!”.

Returning to SONISPHERE this year are London metalcore outfit RISE TO REMAIN. Having won the Metal Hammer Golden God Award for Best New Band and the Kerrang! Award for Best British Newcomer in 2010, RISE TO REMAIN have gone from strength to strength, touring extensively with, amongst others, Iron Maiden, Korn and Hatebreed, and are set to release their debut album later this year. Frontman Austin Dickinson comments: “Sonisphere this year looks set to destroy all in the immediate vicinity, and we can’t wait to raise hell with them! Pints and horns ready my friends, this is going to go off!”

Bringing tales of rum, wenches and high-seas rolling to the grounds of KNEBWORTH are Scottish pirate-metallers ALESTORM. “Avast ye fannyfaces! We’re dead chuffed to finally be invited to Sonisphere. We’re gonna get drunk pirate style and party like it’s 1692! We might play a few songs too, if we’re not too hungover. See you all in the pit…” Having last toured the UK in late 2010 with Sabaton, ALESTORM will follow up the May release of their third studio album with their first SONISPHERE outing.

YOU ME AT SIX join the party: In just a few short years, Josh, Chris, Dan, Matt and Max have gone from hitching low-fare rides on the megabus to get to their shows up and down the UK, to traveling across the globe in tour buses supporting the likes of Angels & Airwaves, Fall Out Boy and Paramore in huge arenas, as well as packing out clubs and theatres at their own headline shows, including two sold out nights at the Hammersmith Apollo. When debut “Take Off Your Colours” was released in 2008, the album propelled YOU ME AT SIX into the UK Top 30 (number 25). That their second album peaked at number 5 just two years later is testament to the band’s meteoric ascent, which shows no sign of slowing down on the road to SONISPHERE, where we look forward to fan faves such as “Save It For The Bedroom”, “Finders Keepers” and “Underdog”.

Baltimore, Maryland’s ALL TIME LOW join the SONISPHERE festivities, bringing with them a bag of hook-laden, guitar driven party tricks. ALL TIME LOW has emerged as one of the most popular new bands in recent memory, beloved by an increasingly fervent fan following for their fast-paced and fizzy brand of pop-punk. Currently on a sold out tour of the UK, the ALL TIME LOW of 2011 pay little resemblance to the covers band that formed in high school, with a catalogue of their own hits such as “Weightless”, “Lost In Stereo” and “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” with which to dazzle the revelers at KNEBWORTH.

Canadian alt-punks SUM 41 make their way from Ajax, Ontario to deliver a plethora of infectiously catchy pop-laden punk. Having spent nearly all of last year on the road, including their 4th headlining run on the 2010 US Vans Warped Tour, SUM 41 are gearing up to release the most long-awaited new studio album of their career, “Screaming Bloody Murder”, at the end of March. If the first single of the same name is anything to go by, fans are in for a treat, as the multi-platinum, multi-million selling four-piece showcase brand new songs to UK festival goers for the first time this summer at SONISPHERE, as well as old favourites like “Fat Lip”, “In Too Deep”, “Still Waiting” and their homage to metal, “Pain For Pleasure”.

Reforming in celebration of their 20 year anniversary, it is with great excitement that SONISPHERE welcomes HOUSE OF PAIN to 2011’s event, as part of a worldwide reunion tour. It’s hard to believe that the rowdy Irish Americans got started way back in 1991, but for the past 20 years the group has maintained a high profile – topping the Billboard charts as a group and with solo efforts. It was the turn of a new decade when HOUSE OF PAIN changed the face of hip-hop with their self-titled debut album, going multi-platinum and launching one of the most memorable songs in hip-hop history with “Jump Around”. Now, Everlast and Danny Boy bring their fiery live show to get the masses at KNEBWORTH to jump up and get down, with hits like “Shamrocks & Shenanigans”, “Top O’ The Morning To Ta”, and, of course, THAT song.

Also joining the 2011 line up are melodic extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY, one of the leading lights of the death metal scene. Starting life as something of a side-project, in their 15 years ARCH ENEMY have battled their way out of the underground to become one of extreme metal’s most prolific acts, achieving numerous chart positions across the globe, including the prestigious US Billboard charts. High profile tours and festival appearances showcasing incredible musicianship and fiercely aggressive live shows have made ARCH ENEMY a favourite amongst fans at the heavier end of the music spectrum, who can expect an shred-tastically impressive set at SONISPHERE.

PERIPHERY has set the metal world alight with their self-styled “Djent” metal, injecting a new sense of excitement around this buzzing new sub-genre. Combining the complex atypical rhythms and technical precision of math rock with the sensational brutality of progressive metal, PERIPHERY is a band that is constantly pushing the envelope, and are bound to impressive any who witness what will be a stunning display of musical and technical mastery. Says the band: “To say that we are pumped to play Sonisphere in the UK is an understatement. Not only do we get to come back and play for some of the best fans anywhere, but we get to do it at the UK’s premier summer music festival!”

Australian alternative-rockers GRINSPOON announce their inclusion at SONISPHERE 2011, hot off the back of their UK tour which ended in London this last weekend. With no less than 13 Australian Recording Industry Association awards nominations - including a win - to their name, as well as numerous platinum records in their home country, find out what the fuss is about at their SONISPHERE debut this summer.

Wrestling and rock have a long history together, a natural partnership that led to pro-wrestler Chris Jericho teaming up with Stuck Mojo guitarist Rich Ward to create FOZZY, who join this year’s cast. Existing solely to rock hard, be that playing popular metal classics or their own material, FOZZY’s reputation for powerful and energetic live shows make their appearance at SONISPHERE 2011 one that promises to be a fun-packed celebration of good old heavy metal.