The May 4 – 8 shows, kicking off in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are the first for the band since a November 1 gig in Philadelphia.

A relentless touring schedule took its toll last year as Slipknot canceled a fall tour after a band member collapsed at Los Angeles International Airport and was ordered by his doctor to stay off the road and get some rest.

They subsequently scheduled a few dates in late October, but have been taking it easy since, focusing instead on songwriting and recording.

That won’t last long, however, as Slipknot takes Europe by storm in late May, hitting the festival circuit on a tour that will wind down June 3 with Rock am Ring festival in Cologne, Germany.

They’ll take five days off before joining up with Ozzfest at the Tweeter Center near Chicago. Slipknot will spend the rest of the summer with that caravan, which closes out August 12 at the P.N.C. Bank Center in Holmdel, N.J.