Eager anticipation fills hard rock and metal fans as we get closer to the weekend and the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival kickoff right here in California. The inaugural Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival happened in 2008. The festival quickly captured attentions in the hard rock and metal genres. Machine Head’s front man and guitarist Rob Flynn calls the Mayhem Festival “the undisputed king of metal and rock festivals in the U.S.”  John Reese, one of the men responsible for the Mayhem Festival, notes “Each year the tour gets bigger and better and 2011 is no exception.” Past names to grace the Mayhem stage include Slayer, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and Korn.

Disturbed, Godsmack, and Megadeth headline this year’s lineup, a lineup featuring names like Machine Head and Trivium. Megadeth, however, won’t play at the Mayhem Festival kickoff Saturday (July 9th) at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino. In Flames, another act scheduled for the Mayhem Tour will also miss Saturday’s show. Additionally, In Flames will miss Sunday’s (July 10th) event at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. Don’t worry though Californians! Mayhem Festival execs setup some solid substitutes.

Dethklok, from Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim fame, fills in for Megadeth on Saturday. The Mayhem Festival marks Dethklok’s return to the stage and the one and only concert the band plans to play in 2011. Talk about an epic, can’t miss concert! Testament replaces In Flames for the Mayhem Festival’s opening weekend. Passionate metal heads will rejoice to see Testament perform at such a premier metal and hard rock event. The group holds similarities to Anvil, a band who didn’t receive their proper dues until the 2008 documentary release Anvil: the Story of Anvil. All Music Guide’s Eduardo Rivadavia writes Testament’s biography for Billboard.com, describing the musicians as “the biggest thrash metal band never to reach the platinum plateau.” Rockstar Energy Drink and the Mayhem Festival give Testament an opportunity to change this and accomplish new success.

Even without the replacements, the Mayhem Festival gives your dollar an ample chance to rock hard. Disturbed and Godsmack demonstrate strong stage presences. Both enjoy music catalogs likely to leave seas of people singing along and you with a special concert memory. Disturbed’s vocalist David Draiman personifies metal music, getting crowds going but doing so minus the extra flashiness some vocalists rely on. Drum enthusiasts will simply love the solos Mike Wengren puts on display. Godsmack leaves lasting impressions in live settings by absorbing audience responses the way a sponge absorbs water. Godsmack makes you feel like the charge which keeps the band energized.

Besides Disturbed, Godsmack, and the other main acts, the Mayhem Festival features two side stages. Prices for Saturday’s concert in San Bernardino start at $20.00 while Sunday’s show at Mountain View’s Shoreline Amphitheatre begins at $30.00. Doors open at 2:15pm both days. If you’re a Golden State metal head fearing a boring weekend ahead, fear no more! Rockstar Energy Drink and the Mayhem Festival offer your remedy. Make sure to purchase your Mayhem Festival tickets. You can find tickets at Ticketmaster.