ROCK gods Metallica are set to rumble the ramparts at Slane Castle next year.

The Irish Sun has learned the metal icons plan to include a summer date in Co Meath as part of their sprawling WorldWired Tour.

3 James Hetfield of Metallica Credit: EPA

LA foursome — James Hetfield, Robert Trujillo, Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett — told fans they’ll be staging a European stadium tour from May to August 2019.

But the biggest date of them all will be for Henry Mountcharles on the banks of the Boyne.

An industry insider told the Irish Sun: “Heavy rock has always been the biggest draw for Slane.

“Metallica are the perfect choice for 2019 as they go right back to the heavy rock of Thin Lizzy who headlined the very first Slane in 1981.”

3 Lord Henry Mountcharles previously revealed Slane would be back next year Credit: Garrett White - The Sun

Bad boy rockers Guns N’ Roses sold out 80,000 tickets in just one day when they were announced as headliners at the last Slane in 2017.

Interviewed last year, Metallica drummer Lars revealed how they had considered playing Ireland in 2018 but had to pull out because “the (Dublin) arena would not work due to the stage layout and the amounts of pyro we had planned”.

Band's possible Meath setlist... Don’t Tread on Meath Duleek & Destroy Sad But Trim Kells ’Em All Enfield Sandman And Nothing Else Mountcharles Holier Than Dowth And Justice For Naul Harvester of Sillogue

He added that Metallica would definitely return to Ireland in 2019.

Meanwhile, rocking aristocrat Henry Mountcharles revealed earlier this year his back garden will rock again in 2019.

3 Crowds at the Kings of Leon Slane gig back in 2011 Credit: Kenneth O'Halloran - The Sun Dublin

But while declining to give a name, he did confirm his chosen act had never played the historic castle venue before.

Lord Henry said: “I put a lot of thought into this one — it’s a band that has been on the horizon for some time.

"I’m very excited about it if everything falls into place . . so are the band.”

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Metallica would be a worldwide draw with fans jetting in from around the world.

The band played to 650,000 during their last European tour which included 39 shows in 29 cities and broke attendance records across the continent 29 times.

Lifelong Thin Lizzy fans, Metallica regularly play band hit Whiskey in The Jar and dream of jamming the rock classic at Slane Castle.