Megadeth heads up second annual Gigantour

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has assembled the lineup and initial itinerary for the second annual Gigantour, which his band will once again headline.

Other acts confirmed for the bill are Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy, Overkill, Into Eternity, Sanctity, and The Smashup. An additional roster of second-stage acts will be announced soon, according to a press release.

The trek gets underway in early September, and dates are lined up through early October. More shows will be added, according to organizers. Details are included below.

"This is the concert that I, as a heavy metal music fan, would want to see," Mustaine said in a statement. "It is going to be something to look forward to each year, to see what kind of tremendous talent we can assemble, for Gigantour festivals in the years to come."

Mustaine apparently has had a change of heart since telling SoundSpike during a 2004 interview that Megadeth's tour behind that year's "The System Has Failed" would be the group's last.

"This is the retirement farewell tour," he said at the time. "It's not gonna be like the [yet-to-end] KISS farewell tour."

Not only is Mustaine leading Megadeth on another road trip, but he's also gearing up for the fall release of "United Abominations," the group's first new studio set since "The System Has Failed."

While no release date for the new disc has been announced, fans can look forward to the upcoming release of "Gigantour 2005," a live set spawned from last year's outing. The two-DVD audio version hits stores Aug. 22, while the two-disc DVD-video version surfaces Sept. 5, according to Megadeth's website.