This week in riffs:

Metallica dominated the headlines by adding six more dates to their "Life Burns Faster" residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Following "unbelievable demand" after the initial announcement on February 25, the band confirmed that the residency will utilize the venue’s immersive 360-degree technology and follow the "No Repeat Weekend" format. Drummer Lars Ulrich noted that the idea was sparked nearly two years ago after seeing U2's opening night at the same venue.

On the festival front, Louder Than Life 2026 unveiled a colossal lineup for its September return to Louisville. Joining previously announced headliners Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance are Tool and Limp Bizkit. The four-day event is being touted as one of the biggest in rock history, featuring nearly 200 bands including Pantera, Megadeth, and a rare live appearance by Danny Elfman.

Kittie has officially announced their 30th-anniversary "Legacy of Fire" North American tour, marking their first full headline run in over a decade. The Canadian alt-metal trailblazers will hit the road starting June 6 in St. Louis, supported by Kingdom of Giants and Gore. The tour coincides with the release of their Spit XXV anniversary project, celebrating three decades since the band’s inception.

In new music news, Sepultura confirmed that their upcoming EP, The Cloud of Unknowing, will serve as their final release before the band officially retires. They shared the lead single "The Place" this week, which showcases a proggier direction for the Brazilian icons. Meanwhile, Lamb of God dropped "Blunt Force Blues" as they gear up for the release of their new album Into Oblivion, and Rob Zombie released his high-octane new record, The Great Satan.

Finally, a few surprising collaborations and reunions have surfaced. Frozen Soul announced a new album, No Place of Warmth, featuring a guest appearance by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance on the title track. Additionally, Children of Bodom recently performed their first shows in seven years—billed as "A Celebration of Music"—in Helsinki, paying tribute to the late Alexi Laiho.