It's going to be a hot summer for hard rock and metal fans, with Kiss and Metallica coming to town in the next couple of months. The legendary Kiss will perform to a Bulgarian audience for the first time on May 16 at Akademik Stadium from 7pm. Metallica will shake the capital's Vassil Levski Stadium on July 25 nine years after the group's legendary concert in Plovdiv.

Kiss' last European tour was in 1999 (Psycho Circus Tour), and they decided to return to the continent to celebrate the band's 35th birthday. The US foursome, who have sold more than 80 million album copies, are going for a big splash, with concerts in 17 countries including first-time stages such as Sofia, Moscow and Verona. Kiss have gone on record saying that they can't imagine getting off the stage, and if Rolling Stones is any indication, they have at least a decade to go.

Kiss' claim to fame goes beyond their hit albums, Alive! (1975), Destroyer (1976) and Dynasty (1979, including the super-hit I Was made for Lovin' You). They are also known for their spectacular concerts, featuring unique make-up, scandalous stage behaviour and amazing pyrotechnics. Oh, yes, and the music.

With Kiss still ringing in their ears, fans can anticipate Metallica's show at the national stadium. One would be pressed to find a person who's never heard of Metallica, even among people whose taste in music is restricted to classical. They've sold more than 90 million album copies, have seven Grammy awards and four albums that have topped the Billboard 2000. But this is what fans keep wanting to know: can bass player Robert Trujillo (ex-Ozzy Osbourne) live up to his predecessor Jason Newstead, who left the group in 2001? How's James Hetfield doing these days? And will we finally be able to hear live the trash classic Seek and Destroy?

To purchase tickets for both shows, go to eventim.bg