HEAVY metal icons Avenger will lead the line-up at a festive show in Whitehaven next week.

The veteran Newcastle outfit top the bill at Merry Bloody Christmas, taking place at the Solway Hall on Friday December 8.

Joining them for the night will be Cumbrian acts Thy Demise, Oven and Censored.

Avenger, a highly-regarded name from the 1980s New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, will headline, playing from their critically-acclaimed back catalogue, which has been re-released in its entirety six times by labels around the world.

Formed from members of Blitzkrieg - famously covered by Metallica - the group broke up in 1986, only to reform almost two decades later. They have since released the well-received 2014 record The Slaughter Never Stops, and toured with major names such as Twisted Sister, Candlemass, Saxon, and UFO.

Their previous appearance in Cumbria came when they headlined Barrow's Funeral Fest in September.

Thy Demise will be running through their set of self-penned death metal originals.

The five-piece made it to the final of Cumbria's Metal 2 the Masses competition earlier this year, having spent almost two years away from the live scene, and have firmly established themselves once again.

Workington four-piece Oven have been together more than 10 years, playing a brand of psychedelic progressive rock that draws inspiration from the likes of Voivod, Primus, Tool and Opeth.

Completing the bill, Censored have been well-established locally for more than a decade too, mixing heavy metal, thrash and punk in their highly-distinctive sound.

This over-18s only show offers free entry, though donations to Rosehill Youth Theatre will be welcome. Doors open at 7pm.