The latest line-up for this year's 40th anniversary Sonisphere has dropped.

Organisers have announced the first wave of bands who will be joining headliners The Prodigy, Iron Maiden and Metallica at Knebworth House on the weekend of July 4-6. 

The magical seven set to tear up the stage with them are Slayer, Alice in Chains, Airbourne, Ghost, Gojira, Karnivool and Mastodon.

Thrash-metal gods Slayer need no introduction as they bring their ferociously demonic live show back to Hertfordshire, following their 2011 performance and as they prepare to release their 11th studio album. Guitar-god Kerry King says, "Great to be back at Sonisphere this year. Always a giant party."

Seminal American rock group Alice In Chains have sold more than 25 million albums during the course of their career. This will be their only UK festival appearance and lead vocalist and guitarist William DuVall says: "We're very excited to be playing once again at Sonisphere, particularly as this year has us joining our longtime friends in Metallica. It should be a fun ride for everyone - both on and off the stage."

Australian rockers Airbourne have amassed a legion of fans over their decade-long existence, with a high-octane live show featuring lead singer and guitarist Joel O’Keefe’s outrageous showmanship.

Infamous Swedish doom-rockers Ghost are one of the most talked-about bands of recent years, their ghoulish stage presence - led by Papa Emeritus - ensuring their stage shows are ever-memorable affairs. But it is their hauntingly atmospheric, but always melodic, music that has won them a devoted audience.

French progressive-metallers Gojira have toured with the likes of Trivium, Lamb Of God, Machine Head and Metallica over the years, and are a formidable live act, combining brutal death metal with technical skills to create their own unique sound, showcased on their 2012 album L’Enfant Sauvage.

Perth-based Australian five-piece Karnivool are at the forefront of modern prog-rock, creating elaborate melodic soundscapes and delivering devastating live shows.

Guitarist Drew Goddard says "Sonisphere Knebworth was actually the first European Festival we ever played a few years ago, so it will be nice to come back and kick some grass and have people know who we are."

The mighty Mastodon formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000 and have released five studio albums to date, culminating with 2011’s The Hunter which was voted album of the year by Kerrang, Metal Hammer, Rock Sound, Classic Rock, Terrorizer and Thrash Hits and saw them play a sold-out show at Brixton Academy. Their performance at Sonisphere will be the first chance for British fans to see them play tracks from their forthcoming sixth album, due out in the spring.

The Prodigy will play the opening Friday night and metal legends Iron Maiden and Metallica will exclusively headline Sonisphere’s UK leg over the following two days. The two bands have never appeared on the same UK bill before, and will be playing their only UK shows of 2014 at Knebworth.

More bands, including two special guests, will be announced shortly.

Early Bird Weekend tickets for Sonisphere 2014 are on sale now priced at £170 (limited availability).

Details: www.sonisphere.co.uk