The Deftones are set to make their only UK appearance of 2014 at Knebworth as we reveal the festival will feature a total of more than 100 bands across the weekend. Deftones, along with Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Reel Big Fish, Protest The Hero, Alestorm, Truckfighters, Kerbdog, Only Crime, Blitz Kids, Itch, Max Raptor and Hounds will join the likes of Metallica, The Prodigy, Slayer, Alice in Chains and more to help put on the loudest party Knebworth's ever seen.

"Greetings to ALL!!! We are absolutely stoked to be part of Sonisphere's return and of course to have a chance to once again play a show with Iron Maiden, especially on the hallowed grounds of Knebworth. Until then...!!!!" say Deftones.

It seems almost as if as many Iron Maiden fans will be on stage as in the crowd. Fresh from winning Celebrity Mastermind with Iron Maiden as his specialist subject, Frank Turner, who'll be appearing with his band The Sleeping Souls, says:

"I'm super excited to be playing the same stage as the first band I ever fell in love with - Iron Maiden. It's definitely going to be my festival highlight for 2014."

Californian Ska-punk pioneers Reel Big Fish come to Knebworth armed with a hyper-kinetic live show, juvenile humour and ironic covers of new wave pop songs. Masterful musicians Protest The Hero are another band looking forward to the UK festival experience.

"Europe knows something about doing festivals right. We are blown away every time we come over and take part in the fun. One of the highlights this summer is going to be Sonisphere!"

A distinctly European phenomenon are Scottish pirate metallers, Alestorm. With a treasure chest of keytar-laden, pirate-themed, fist-pumping folk metal, these scurvy dogs will have their most epic voyage yet as they sail Sonisphere's seas of with a rum-fuelled set of metal fun.

Making their Sonisphere debuts are stoner, psychedelic rock gods, Truckfighters and Ireland's reformed Kerbdog who claim: "We would have crawled naked across broken glass to play Sonisphere."

Other debutants include hotly tipped UK outfit Max Raptor, who call playing Sonisphere an "absolute dream come true" and American punk rockers Only Crime who promise a special show with a line-up led by Bill Stevenson (Descendants) and Russ Rankin (Good Riddance).

Making their Sonisphere return are one of the UK's most anticipated new bands, Blitz Kids who say: "It's a great honour to be playing at Sonisphere Festival for its big comeback to the UK! It feels like we're part of a big welcome home party."

Punk/rap artist Itch is similarly excited saying: "It's an honour to be playing the same bill as metal gods such as Chas and Dave."

Rounding off the new bands are British electro/punk rockers Hounds who say: "We can't wait to bring the noise to Sonisphere this summer, we have been locked in an Air Raid shelter for months writing and recording our debut album so we feel like caged animals. The stage ain't gonna know what hit it."

Early Bird Weekend Tickets for Sonisphere 2014 are on sale now. The highly popular deposit scheme will also be running from now until April, meaning fans will be able to reserve their tickets for an initial payment of just £50. Check here for further details.