If you're looking for friends in high places, the guys in Metallica aren't a bad bunch of folks to know.

The band recently gave props to heavy metal journeymen Mercyful Fate by cranking out a medley of Fate tracks on the most recent Metallica release, "Garage, Inc."

Now James, Lars, Jason, and Kirk are extending the goodwill even further, tapping Mercyful Fate to open a string of European festival dates this summer. The gigs will give Fate the chance to show off material from its new album, "9," which is due out in June. The collection sees the band sharing production duties with Sterling Winfield, who also worked on Fate's "Dead Again" album.

If you find yourself backpacking through Europe this summer and find yourself in a metal mood, here's where you can catch Mercyful Fate:

• 5/23 - Einhoven, Holland @ Dynamo Festival (w/Metallica)
• 5/25 - Slavia, Czech Republic (w/Metallica & Monster Magnet)
• 6/1 - Warsaw, Poland (w/Metallica and Monster Magnet)
• 6/2 - Budapest, Hungary (w/Metallica and Monster Magnet)
• 6/5 - Milan, Italy @ Gods Of Metal (w/Metallica)
• 6/7 - Ljubljana, Slovenia @ Centralni Stadion (w/Metallica & Monster Magnet)
• 6/11 - Karlshamm, Sweden (w/Hammerfall & Manowar)
• 6/25 - Ostrava Noc, Czech Republic @ Plna Hvezd Festival
• 6/26 - Zwickau, Germany @ Full Force Festival
• 6/27 - Dessel, Belgium @ Graspop Festival
• 7/3 - Bergum, Holland @ Waldrock Festival
• 7/9 - Belfort, France @ Eurokennes de Belfort (w/Metallica & Monster Magnet)
• 7/10 - Milton Keynes, England @ National Bowl
• 7/18 - Wiener, Austria @ Neustadt Woodstock Festival (w/Metallica)
• 8/7 - Germany @ Wacken Open Air Festival

• Mercyful Fate
• Metallica

One of the largest celebrations of underground heavy metal in the country kicks off Friday in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Metalfest, in its 12th year, features the top international death metal acts and other subgenres including thrash, grindcore, metalcore, progmetal, black metal, doom and industrial.

The festival is also traditionally a stepping stone for young groups, this year more so than ever with Metalfest XII adding a third stage to help showcase new talent.

• Mercyful Fate