As the clock ticks down to the hottest festival of the summer, the Sonisphere juggernaut continues to barrel along through Europe

Having commenced its European tour at the beginning of June, the Sonisphere Rock'n'Roll circus is due to make its next stop back home in the UK. The beast has been fed in Poland, the Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy and Finland but surely these are merely a tasty appetizer for the main course to be delivered to the table this weekend.

On Friday at around 3.15 GMT, Diamond Head will take to the Apollo Stage and play the fanfare which announces the arrival of the Big 4.

Wave after wave of precious metal of the highest carat will enthral the massed devotees as Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer slash and burn a path for headliners Metallica in what promises to be heaven on earth for the chosen.

While necks are massaged and hangovers nursed the fun starts all over again on Saturday as alarms are set for an 11.00am call to arms on both the Apollo & Jagermeister stages as Sylosis and Sons of Icarus pummel the last vestiges of Friday excesses out of the willing punters.

Then it's a breakneck rush through the day with 55 acts offering something for everyone. Highlights are sure to be performances on the Jagermeister stage by Panic Cell who bid fans goodbye at 3.00pm, Rival Sons, and headliners Black Spiders.

Over on the Bohemia stage, look out for the appearances of Steve-O (trying his hand at stand-up for the first time), Gojira, and Sisters of Mercy (with their first UK festival show for 20 years!) or pop over to the Saturn arena and catch Kids in Glass Houses, All Time Low and The Mars Volta.

If that's not enough the main stage over at the Apollo arena delivers the coruscating Cavelera Conspiracy, the lighter shades of Weezer and provides a headlining debut from Biffy Clyro who are determined to prove their worth as bill toppers for the biggest show of their career to date.

Sunday is no time for kicking back with a late brunch either. Best pick up a coffee and set out for another day of metal heaven

The ever popular Volbeat promise to start the ball rolling with some Viking vigour on the Apollo stage and the ever present Mastodon (the only band to have played every Sonisphere across Europe this summer) will surely crack the sky once more as they make their seventh Sonisphere appearance ahead of Motorhead, Limp Bizkit and main attraction Slipknot.

Saturn offers the good stuff too as it hosts Airbourne, Opeth and what promises to be a hilarious diversion from Bill Bailey.

However, please remember that their will also be a two-minute silence hosted on Saturn stage for everyone across the whole site in remembrance of Slipknot's Paul Gray.

The Bohemia, Jagermeister and Red Bull Stages also have a huge variety of options with the pick of the bunch likely to be Fozzy, Scottish pirate metallers, Alestorm, The Answer and Anberlin.

Buckle up suckers it's going to be a wild, wild ride

And if you can't make it then be sure to tune in to the official Sonisphere Radio station via the web to hear the latest news and interviews with just about anybody who is anybody over the weekend.

We'll see you there, in the flesh or virtually.