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Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, it was recently announced that the 2012 Download Festival will feature Metallica. Additionally, the band will perform their classic self-titled album, also known as the “Black Album,” in its entirety at the festival.

Since 2003, the Download Festival has been held every year in Donington Park, which is a racetrack near Leicestershire, England. In keeping with past years, the 2012 festival will take place from June 8 to June 10.

The Download Festival started as a follow up to the Monsters of Rock festival, which was held in the same location from 1980 to 1996. Initially a two-day event, the Download Festival has spanned three days since 2005. The festival traditionally features mostly heavy metal bands, but typically has performances by bands that play other types of rock music, as well.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich offered the following statement about the festival:

Six years is way toooo long to be away from the hallowed grounds of Donington Park. We are beyond psyched and feel privileged to come back once again to soak up the energy and vibe of the most legendary of festival sites.

Metallica last played the festival in 2006, when it headlined the Saturday night show of the festival. Fellow headliners that year were Tool and Guns N’ Roses. No other performers have been announced for the 2012 festival, though the Download Festival websites says they will be announced soon.

Released in August 1991, the Black Album celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Andy Copping, Vice President of Promotions for LiveNation, the promotions company that runs the festival, had the following to say in a statement:

I am absolutely bowled over that Metallica will be Play “The Black Album” at the 10th anniversary of Download. The album is up there as one of the greatest albums of all time, everyone knows the songs. The Download festival has come a long way since we first started in 2003, and to have Metallica back to help us celebrate this milestone is just fantastic.