The Summer Slaughter Tour is an annual heavy metal music tour held every year since 2007. It originated in North America in 2001 with headliner Vader and has toured in Canada in 2008, Europe in 2008, and Australia and New Zealand in 2009. Billed as "The Most Extreme Tour of the Year", Summer Slaughter has earned a reputation as being one of the few summer tours to cater exclusively to fans of extreme forms of metal music. Starting in 2012, Summer Slaughter began to add more progressive metal bands to their lineups, seeing Between the Buried and Me co-headline with Cannibal Corpse. Periphery also played Summer Slaughter 2012, and came back during Summer Slaughter 2013, along with progressive metal bands Animals as Leaders and The Ocean. The focus on progressive metal that year was controversial and many people were "into" heavy metal music, and death metal focused lineups returned in 2014, seeing Morbid Angel headline.
2007 Headliner: Necrophagist Supporting bands: Decapitated Cephalic Carnage Cattle Decapitation The Faceless As Blood Runs Black Arsis Ion Dissonance Beneath the Massacre Daath (June 3–10)
Tour dates Date City Country VenueJune 1, 2007Clifton ParkUnited StatesNorthern LightsJune 2, 2007AllentownCrocodile Rock Cafe (Infest Festival 2007)June 3, 2007SpringfieldJaxxJune 4, 2007SpartanburgGround ZeroJune 5, 2007LouisvilleHeadliner'sJune 6, 2007AtlantaThe MasqueradeJune 8, 2007HoustonMeridianJune 9, 2007San AntonioWhite RabbitJune 10, 2007Fort WorthRidglea TheaterJune 11, 2007OdessaDos AmigosJune 13, 2007TucsonThe RockJune 14, 2007Las VegasCheyenne SaloonJune 15, 2007San DiegoSomaJune 16, 2007Los AngelesHouse of BluesJune 17, 2007OrangevaleThe BoardwalkJune 19, 2007PortlandHawthorne TheaterJune 20, 2007SeattleStudio SevenJune 21, 2007BendMidtown BallroomJune 22, 2007OgdenCountry Club TheatreJune 23, 2007DenverCervantesJune 24, 2007LawrenceThe BottleneckJune 26, 2007SaugetPop'sJune 27, 2007MokenaThe Pearl RoomJune 28, 2007DetroitMajestic TheatreJune 30, 2007HartlandSkateworld (Robot Mosh Fest V)July 1, 2007ClevelandPeabody'sJuly 2, 2007TorontoCanadaThe Opera HouseJuly 3, 2007MontrealCafé l'inconditionnelJuly 4, 2007Les Foufounes ÉlectriquesJuly 5, 2007Quebec CityL'AntiJuly 6, 2007WorcesterUnited StatesPalladiumJuly 7, 2007BaltimoreSonarJuly 8, 2007New York CityB.B. King Blues Club
2008
Headliner: The Black Dahlia Murder Supporting bands: Kataklysm Vader Cryptopsy The Faceless Despised Icon Aborted Born of Osiris Psycroptic Whitechapel
Tour dates: Date City Country VenueJune 20, 2008DetroitUnited StatesMajestic TheatreJune 21, 2008ClevelandPeabody'sJune 22, 2008LouisvilleHeadliner's Music HallJune 24, 2008AlbanyNorthern LightsJune 25, 2008PhiladelphiaThe TrocaderoJune 26, 2008New York CityIrving PlazaJune 27, 2008WorcesterThe PalladiumJune 28, 2008SayrevilleStarland BallroomJune 29, 2008RichmondThe NationalJune 30, 2008SpartanburgGround ZeroJuly 1, 2008AtlantaThe MasqueradeJuly 2, 2008St. PetersburgJannus LandingJuly 4, 2008San AntonioWhite RabbitJuly 5, 2008HoustonMeridianJuly 6, 2008DallasHouse of BluesJuly 8, 2008AlbuquerqueSunshine TheaterJuly 9, 2008El PasoClub 101July 10, 2008PhoenixMarquee TheaterJuly 11, 2008Los AngelesHouse of BluesJuly 12, 2008BakersfieldThe DomeJuly 13, 2008San DiegoSOMAJuly 15, 2008San FranciscoThe FillmoreJuly 17, 2008PortlandHawthorne TheaterJuly 18, 2008SeattleStudio SevenJuly 19, 2008SpokaneBig Easy Concert HouseJuly 20, 2008BoiseBig Easy Concert HouseJuly 21, 2008Salt Lake CityAvalon TheatreJuly 23, 2008DenverCervantes BallroomJuly 24, 2008OmahaSokol UndergroundJuly 25, 2008MinneapolisFirst AvenueJuly 26, 2008MilwaukeeThe RaveJuly 27, 2008St. LouisPop'sJuly 28, 2008ChicagoHouse of Blues
2008 (Canada)
Headliner: Necrophagist Support bands: Brutal Truth (Toronto only) Dying Fetus Beneath The Massacre Into Eternity Neuraxis Whitechapel Veil of Maya Divinity Common Grave
Tour dates Date City Country VenueAugust 14, 2008Quebec CityCanadaImperialAugust 15, 2008MontrealClub SodaAugust 16, 2008TorontoOpera HouseAugust 18, 2008Thunder BayKilroysAugust 19, 2008WinnipegGarrick CenterAugust 20, 2008ReginaRiddell CenterAugust 21, 2008CalgaryWarehouseAugust 22, 2008EdmontonStarliteAugust 23, 2008Prince GeorgeRoll-a-DomeAugust 25, 2008VancouverCommodore Ballroom (no Common Grave, Divinity)
2008 (Europe)
Headliner: Suicide Silence Supporting bands: As Blood Runs Black Abigail Williams Born of Osiris Annotations of an Autopsy The Berzerker
Tour dates Date City Country VenueAugust 29, 2008LiverpoolEnglandBarflyAugust 30, 2008GlasgowScotlandThe GarageAugust 31, 2008WrexhamWalesCentral StationSeptember 2, 2008SheffieldEnglandThe CorporationSeptember 3, 2008NottinghamRescue RoomsSeptember 4, 2008WolverhamptonWulfrun HallSeptember 5, 2008OxfordThe ZodiacSeptember 6, 2008LondonIslington AcademySeptember 7, 2008BrightonConcorde 2September 8, 2008NewportWalesTJ'sSeptember 10, 2008StuttgartGermanyRöhreSeptember 11, 2008ViennaAustriaArenaSeptember 12, 2008JenaGermanyF-HausSeptember 13, 2008BerlinKatoSeptember 14, 2008BochumMatrixSeptember 15, 2008AarschotBelgiumJeugdcentrum De Klinker
2009 (Australia/New Zealand) Headliner: Necrophagist Supporting bands: Dying Fetus Aborted The Red Shore (withdrew) The Faceless Dawn of Azazel (New Zealand only) Ulcerate (New Zealand only)
Tour dates Date City Country VenueMarch 13, 2009SydneyAustraliaThe Manning BarMarch 14, 2009BrisbaneThe Red RoomMarch 15, 2009AdelaideFowlers LiveMarch 16, 2009PerthClub CapitolMarch 17, 2009MelbourneThe Corner HotelMarch 20, 2009AucklandNew ZealandTransmission Room
2009
Headliners: Necrophagist Suffocation (until 7/3 but also played 7/19) Behemoth (replaced Suffocation on 5, 6 and 7 July) Supporting bands: Darkest Hour Winds of Plague Dying Fetus (until 7/14) Born of Osiris Origin After the Burial Beneath the Massacre Blackguard Decrepit Birth (second half of tour only June 28 – July 20) Ensiferum (second half of tour only June 28 – July 20)
Tour dates: Date City Country VenueJune 5, 2009BaltimoreUnited StatesSonarJune 6, 2009RichmondThe NationalJune 7, 2009PhiladelphiaTLAJune 8, 2009HartfordWebster TheaterJune 10, 2009CharlotteAmos SouthendJune 12, 2009LouisvilleHeadlinersJune 13, 2009AtlantaThe MasqueradeJune 14, 2009St. PetersburgJannus LandingJune 15, 2009JacksonvillePlushJune 16, 2009OrlandoClub FirestoneJune 18, 2009San AntonioWhite RabbitJune 19, 2009HoustonJava JazzJune 20, 2009San AntonioWhite RabbitJune 21, 2009DallasHouse of BluesJune 23, 2009DenverGothic TheatreJune 24, 2009AlbuquerqueSunshine TheaterJune 26, 2009PhoenixThe Marquee TheatreJune 27, 2009San DiegoSomaJune 28, 2009AnaheimThe GroveJune 29, 2009Las VegasHouse of BluesJune 30, 2009Los AngelesHouse of BluesJuly 1, 2009San FranciscoThe Grand BallroomJuly 2, 2009PortlandRoseland TheaterJuly 3, 2009SeattleKing Cat TheaterJuly 5, 2009EdmontonCanadaThe Starlite RoomJuly 6, 2009CalgaryThe WhiskeJuly 7, 2009SpokaneUnited StatesKnitting FactoryJuly 9, 2009MinneapolisFirst AveJuly 10, 2009MilwaukeeThe RaveJuly 11, 2009Birch RunDirtFestJuly 12, 2009LakewoodPhantasy Concert ClubJuly 13, 2009ChicagoHouse of BluesJuly 14, 2009CincinnatiBogart'sJuly 15, 2009TorontoCanadaSound AcademyJuly 16, 2009MontrealMedleyJuly 17, 2009AlbanyUnited StatesNorthern LightsJuly 18, 2009WorcesterThe PalladiumJuly 19, 2009New York CityIrving PlazaJuly 20, 2009
2010
Headliner: Decapitated Supporting bands: The Faceless All Shall Perish The Red Chord Veil of Maya Decrepit Birth Cephalic Carnage Carnifex Animals As Leaders Vital Remains
Tour dates: Date City Country VenueJuly 17, 2010San DiegoUnited StatesSomaJuly 18, 2010Los AngelesHouse of BluesJuly 19, 2010TempeMarqueeJuly 20, 2010El PasoClub 101July 21, 2010San AntonioWhite RabbitJuly 22, 2010AustinEmo'sJuly 23, 2010Fort WorthRidglea TheatreJuly 24, 2010HoustonWarsaw BallroomJuly 26, 2010Fort LauderdaleRevolutionJuly 27, 2010AtlantaThe MasqueradeJuly 28, 2010RaleighVolume 11July 29, 2010PhiladelphiaTLA (Theatre of Living Arts)July 30, 2010BaltimoreSonarJuly 31, 2010WorcesterThe PalladiumAugust 1, 2010New York CityIrving PlazaAugust 2, 2010Quebec CityCanadaImperialAugust 3, 2010MontrealClub SodaAugust 4, 2010TorontoOpera HouseAugust 5, 2010ClevelandUnited StatesPeabody'sAugust 6, 2010CincinnatiBogart'sAugust 7, 2010DetroitHarposAugust 8, 2010MilwaukeeThe RaveAugust 9, 2010ChicagoHouse of BluesAugust 10, 2010MinneapolisFirst AveAugust 11, 2010 IndianapolisEmerson TheatreAugust 13, 2010DenverSummit Music HallAugust 14, 2010Salt Lake CityClub SoundAugust 16, 2010CalgaryCanadaRepublikAugust 17, 2010EdmontonThe Starlite RoomAugust 19, 2010VancouverRickshaw TheatreAugust 20, 2010SeattleUnited StatesStudio SevenAugust 21, 2010PortlandRoseland TheatreAugust 23, 2010San FranciscoThe Fillmore
2010 (Mexico)
Headliners Job for a Cowboy
Support bands Winds of Plague The Faceless The Acacia Strain As Blood Runs Black Veil of Maya
Tour dates Date City Country VenueAugust 27, 2010MonterreyMexicoCafe IguanaAugust 28, 2010Mexico CityCirco Volador August 29, 2010TijuanaEl Foro
2011
Headliners: The Black Dahlia Murder Whitechapel Supporting bands: Darkest Hour Six Feet Under Dying Fetus The Faceless (Texas dates only) As Blood Runs Black Oceano Fleshgod Apocalypse Powerglove Within the Ruins
Tour dates: Date City Country VenueJuly 22, 2011Los AngelesUnited StatesHouse of BluesJuly 23, 2011AnaheimThe GroveJuly 25, 2011PortlandRoseland TheatreJuly 26, 2011SeattleKing Cat TheatreJuly 27, 2011BoiseThe Knitting FactoryJuly 28, 2011SacramentoAce of SpadesJuly 29, 2011San FranciscoThe FillmoreJuly 30, 2011San DiegoHouse of BluesJuly 31, 2011ScottsdaleVenue of ScottsdaleAugust 1, 2011AlbuquerqueSunshine TheaterAugust 2, 2011DenverSummit Music HallAugust 4, 2011LouisvilleExpo FiveAugust 5, 2011DetroitSt. AndrewsAugust 6, 2011MilwaukeeThe RaveAugust 7, 2011ClevelandHouse of BluesAugust 8, 2011ChicagoHouse of BluesAugust 9, 2011TorontoCanadaSound AcademyAugust 10, 2011MontrealOlympiaAugust 11, 2011New York CityUnited StatesIrving PlazaAugust 12, 2011WorcesterThe PalladiumAugust 13, 2011PhiladelphiaTheatre of Living ArtsAugust 14, 2011SayrevilleStarland BallroomAugust 15, 2011Washington, D.C.9:30 ClubAugust 16, 2011AtlantaThe MasqueradeAugust 17, 2011Fort LauderdaleRevolutionAugust 19, 2011HoustonHouse of BluesAugust 20, 2011San AntonioBackstage LiveAugust 21, 2011DallasHouse of Blues
2012
Headliners: Cannibal Corpse Between the Buried and Me Supporting bands: The Faceless Periphery Veil of Maya Job for a Cowboy Goatwhore Exhumed Cerebral Bore
Tour dates Date City Country VenueJuly 20, 2012Los AngelesUnited StatesHouse of BluesJuly 21, 2012San DiegoSOMAJuly 22, 2012Las VegasHouse of BluesJuly 23, 2012ScottsdaleVenue of ScottsdaleJuly 25, 2012DallasHouse of BluesJuly 26, 2012San AntonioWhite RabbitJuly 27, 2012MissionPharr Events CenterJuly 28, 2012HoustonHouse of BluesJuly 30, 2012TampaThe RitzJuly 31, 2012Fort LauderdaleRevolutionAugust 1, 2012AtlantaThe MasqueradeAugust 2, 2012KnoxvilleThe ValariumAugust 3, 2012CharlotteAmos SouthendAugust 4, 2012RichmondThe NationalAugust 5, 2012PhiladelphiaThe TrocaderoAugust 7, 2012SayrevilleStarland BallroomAugust 8, 2012New York CityIrving PlazaAugust 9, 2012AlbanyNorthern LightsAugust 10, 2012WorcesterThe PalladiumAugust 11, 2012MontrealCanadaHeavy MontrealAugust 12, 2012TorontoHeavy TorontoAugust 14, 2012ClevelandUnited StatesHouse of BluesAugust 15, 2012DetroitSt. Andrew'sAugust 16, 2012ChicagoHouse BluesAugust 17, 2012MilwaukeeThe RaveAugust 18, 2012Saint PaulStation 4August 20, 2012DenverSummit Music HallAugust 22, 2012SeattleThe Showbox SodoAugust 23, 2012PortlandRoseland TheaterAugust 24, 2012San FranciscoThe FillmoreAugust 25, 2012AnaheimThe Grove
2013
Headliner: The Dillinger Escape Plan Supporting bands: Animals As Leaders Periphery Norma Jean Cattle Decapitation The Ocean Revocation Aeon Rings of Saturn Thy Art Is Murder
Tour dates: