MUMBAI: Linkin Park today announced The Hunting Party Tour, featuring special guests Rise Against and Of Mice & Men. The tour, promoted exclusively by Live Nation, kicks off Thursday, 15 January in Orlando, Florida and concludes Saturday, 14 February in Edmonton, Alberta.

The tour will hit several cities that have not seen Linkin Park in the past several years, if ever. "Rock music was born in these towns, and for some reason these places tend to get overlooked much more than they should. We want our fans there to know how much they matter to us," says Linkin Park , lead vocalist, Chester Bennington. "After crossing paths with these guys at festivals around the world over the past decade, we're excited to finally share the road with Linkin Park," adds Rise Against, lead vocalist/guitarist, Tim Mcllrath. "We think this will be a great experience for all our collective fans."

Austin Carlile, Of Mice and Men, recently joined Linkin Park on stage in Los Angeles during the band's hugely successful Carnivores Tour this past summer.

"We are really excited to be joining Linkin Park on The Hunting Party Tour. I performed the song 'Faint’ with them recently at the Hollywood Bowl and it was incredible. Cannot wait to bring that experience to all our dedicated fans across America," said Carlile. "The opportunity to tour with a band that inspired me to pursue music is mind-blowing, and that is exactly what we want fans to experience when they see us together on tour." Linkin Park begins their sold-out European tour tonight with Of Mice & Men in Zurich, Switzerland.

Linkin Park's summer tour received universal praise from critics everywhere.

Pulse magazine stated: "Linkin Park exploded onto the stage, and it immediately became apparent why this band can headline a tour of this magnitude with such amazing opening acts...quite simply, the members of LP are musical experts.

Their sound has been polished, and has become more and more massive over the years of award-winning albums and relentless touring." Boston Music Spotlight declared: "Over the course of 90+ minutes, Linkin Park tore through almost thirty songs with a consistent, in your face, flawless performance and authenticity throughout the set that covered their expansive fifteen-year career."