News

Applications for the Wacken Metal Battle Czech Republic are now open. This competition offers unsigned Czech metal bands the opportunity to perform at Wacken Open Air 2025. To apply, visit https://www.metal-battle.com/czech-republic/ Ensure your band meets the eligibility criteria and submit your application before the specified deadline. This is a unique chance to showcase your talent on an international stage and connect with the global metal community

Applications for the Wacken Metal Battle Finland are now open. This competition offers unsigned Finnish metal bands the opportunity to perform at Wacken Open Air 2025. To apply, visit https://www.metal-battle.com/finland/ Ensure your band meets the eligibility criteria and submit your application before the specified deadline. This is a unique chance to showcase your talent on an international stage and connect with the global metal community

Applications for the Wacken Metal Battle Sweden are now open. This competition offers unsigned Swedish metal bands the opportunity to perform at Wacken Open Air 2025. To apply, visit https://www.metal-battle.com/sweden/ Ensure your band meets the eligibility criteria and submit your application before the specified deadline. This is a unique chance to showcase your talent on an international stage and connect with the global metal community

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are set to participate in the Wacken Metal Battle at Wacken Open Air for the very first time!

These countries will now join the newly redefined region of “Caucasia & West Asia,” previously known as “Caucasia & Türkiye.”

The updated region includes:
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Türkiye
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan

Applications are now open for metal bands from these countries! If you want to battle for the chance to perform at Wacken Open Air as part of the Wacken Metal Battle, visit metal-battle.com and apply today!

Applications for Wacken Metal Battle are now open for Spain. Shoutout to all Spanish bands to apply to play at Wacken Open Air 2025. Apply here

Ready to bring your country’s metal scene to the legendary Wacken Open Air? Applications are now open for bands from the Caribbean following regions:

🇸🇷 Suriname
🇬🇾 Guyana
🇫🇷 French Guiana
🇬🇵 Guadeloupe
🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago
🇦🇼 Aruba
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico

Don’t miss your chance to represent and rock the Wacken stage. Apply now and let the metal world hear your sound! 🤘

Applications for Wacken Metal Battle Middle East are now open! Bands from Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait. Jordan and Oman are invited to join the battle for a chance to perform at the legendary Wacken Open Air in 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your talent on a global stage. Head over to metal-battle.com to register and participate. Let the metal rise! \m/

Photos of @wastedlandofficial at WOA2024.

German Metal bands, your chance to play at Wacken Open Air 2025 is here! Registrations now!

Register here: https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/

To all the U.S. metal bands! Your road to Wacken Open Air 2025 starts here. Wacken Metal Battle USA is now accepting registrations, offering you the chance to showcase your talent on the world’s premier metal stage. Apply on metal-battle.com and seize this incredible opportunity. Don’t miss out on representing American Metal at WOA 2025!

Attention Canadian metal bands! The journey to Wacken Open Air 2025 begins now. Registrations for Wacken Metal Battle Canada are officially open, and this is your chance to represent your country on the world’s biggest metal stage. Submit your application by November 20th at metal-battle.com and make your mark. Don’t miss this opportunity to bring the power of Canadian metal to WOA 2025.

Wacken Metal Battle South America Northern Region wins Best Event of the year in Ecuador

The Maniac Awards in Quito, Ecuador, Wacken Metal Battle was honored with the prestigious Best Event of the Year award. This recognition, accepted by Diego Orrego, the country’s promoter and founder of Aquelarre Metal, highlights the significant impact the event has had on the local metal scene. With over two decades of experience, Orrego’s passion and dedication have been instrumental in promoting metal music in Ecuador, helping to elevate the genre and strengthen its visibility. Congratulations to the Wacken Metal Battle Suramérica team and Aquelarre Metal for their remarkable contributions to South American metal.

Registrations for Wacken Metal Battle Caribbean will open on 1st November 2025. More info here

Applications for Wacken Metal Battle India are now open! This is your chance to represent the Indian Sub-Continent and perform at the legendary Wacken Open Air 2025. Head to www.metal-battle.com/countries to apply. Applications for Nepal, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka will be opened shortly.

We are thrilled to officially announce the participating countries for the Wacken Metal Battle 2025. Once again, we will unite the underground metal scenes from around the world in one of the most prestigious competitions for emerging metal bands. This year’s Metal Battle will see the event expanding its global reach, including new and returning regions, all vying for a chance to perform on the grand stage at Wacken Open Air, the world’s largest and most legendary metal festival.

From the scorching sands of the Middle East to the icy lands of Finland, from the Caribbean shores to the Balkan regions, the global metal community will come together in a fierce competition of talent and passion. Each country will host local Metal Battles to determine which band will represent their nation in the international finals, taking place at the sacred grounds of Wacken in 2025.

We are excited to witness the diversity of sounds, cultures, and stories that each band will bring, strengthening the global metal community and offering an unparalleled opportunity for emerging acts to make their mark on the world stage.

Participating Countries for Wacken Metal Battle 2025:

• Argentina
• Balkan Regions
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Caribbean
• Caucasia & West Asia
• Central America
• Czech Republic
• China
• Denmark
• Finland
• Germany
• Iceland
• Indian Sub-Continent
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Ireland
• Malta
• Mexico
• Middle East
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Spain
• South America Northern Region
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Sweden
• Uruguay
• USA

Check over here the countries which have opened applications for 2025 already.

The Wacken Metal Battle celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, marking two decades of discovering the best emerging metal talent worldwide. Since 2004, this competition has become a vital part of Wacken Open Air, offering unsigned bands from over 40 countries the chance to perform on one of metal’s biggest stages. Winners gain not only the thrill of playing at Wacken but also significant exposure in the metal community. The Metal Battle remains a key force in championing new talent and shaping the future of heavy metal.

With this official aftermovie, a huge “Thank You!” goes out to all the Wacken Metal Battle bands and promoters of Wacken Open Air 2024! See you in Wacken – rain or shine!

Tickets:

Get your ticket for Wacken Open Air 2025 now! Purchase here: http://wacken.click/woa2025tickets

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Official Aftermovie Credits:

• Executive Producer: Salman U. Syed, WOA Festival GmbH
• Creative Director: Nick Scholey
• Directors of Photography (DOPs): Nick Scholey, Nick North
• Editing & Post-Production: Nick Scholey
• Music Editor & Script Supervisor: Nick Scholey
• Color Correction & Grading: Nick Scholey
• Footage Selection: Nick Scholey & Salman U. Syed

Additional Footage:

• Contributor: Salman U. Syed, WOA Festival GmbH, Stephan Liehr, WOA Festival GmbH
• External Contributors: Mei Blanche (China), Yang Yu (China), Hameeda Katoon (Germany), Felipe Szarruk (Colombia), Paula Casas (Colombia), Eric Dow (USA), Adam Bushey (USA), Stefan Albers & Kay Holland (Aerial Shots)

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Featured Bands:

• SHVRIKEN – SEKIGAHARA
• THUS – INHALE THE ASH
• FIVE PENALTIES – Living like a dead body 像尸体一样活着
• INFO – Salve Robot
• DOOMSDAY ASTRONAUT – Born Of Smokeless Fire
• AQUILLA – PATHFINDER
• THUS – PACIFY THE PARASITE

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Stay Connected:

• Wacken Metal Battle Social Media: Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
• WackenTV: Latest uploads & recommendations @wackentv

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WackenTV is the place to find hundreds of clips shot on site throughout the history of the world’s most famous metal festival – with more and more content every Tuesday and Friday.

Legendary performances, gorgeous campground atmosphere, and exciting glimpses behind the scenes are gathered here. Meet the Wacken crew with our host Harry Metal and watch out for Wacken-related content like shots from Full Metal Cruise or Wacken Winter Nights. Comment on our clips, like us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and take part in our video-vote once a month.

All WackenTV clips from Wacken Open Air 2024: http://wacken.click/woa2024 Be amazed by the Metal Battle competitors: http://wacken.click/metalbattle All W:Olive performances released on WackenTV: http://wacken.click/AllWOA

The wait is almost over! 🤘 Get ready to relive the epic moments of this year’s Wacken Metal Battle with our official aftermovie, dropping next week!

From the crushing riffs to the roaring crowds, this aftermovie will take you back to the heart of the metal madness.

Follow us on Instagram for exclusive teasers, behind-the-scenes content, and all the latest updates from across the globe.

#WackenMetalBattle #Aftermovie #ComingSoon #MetalHeadsUnite

Looking for the next stadium-filling superstar we can today confirm the last Metal Battle finalists. Once again bands from all around the globe complete our line-up. This time we can announce the german finalists too.

The W:O:A 2024 is starting in less then two weeks – this will also be the start for the competition of the Metal Battle 2024 which will begin on Wednesday July 31st, 2024!

The last 10 finalists are:

Austria – Graufar

USA – Cascade Effect

Philippines – Shvriken

Germany – Corbian

France – Carbonic Fields

Denmark – Thus

Italy – Rain

Ireland– Uragh

Lithuania – Griefgod

Indonesia – Kill The Phia

W:O:A 24 is coming closer and so does this year’s Metal Battle. Ten out of our 30 finalists were already brought to you, now it’s time to serve some more.

From North America, over Asia, Middle- and Southern-Europe and Scandinavia – you name it we got it! You can picture a complete list of every new attendant down below.

Congrats to everyone that made it this far in their metal battle journey already and “welcome” to the HolyGround! We cannot await the epic duels you’ll bring to all of us.

The newest additions are:

Slovakia – ETTERNA

Portugal – VOIDWOMB

Hungary – TURBOWITCH

Romania & Rep. Moldova – DOOMSDAY ASTRONAUT

Greece – JUNKWOLVZ

Norway – TESSIA

Poland – AQUILLA

China – FIVE PENALTIES

Canada – BEGUILER

Belgium – POSEYDON

20 years of W:O:A Metal Battle! Not only have we invited various winners from the past to celebrate the anniversary, but of course there will also be 30 finalists from all over the world competing for this year’s @wackenmetalbattle.official crown!

The first 10 final rounds around the globe have already taken place and we can therefore introduce you to the first 10 winners who will advance to the international final round at W:O:A 2024.

Please welcome:
from Caucasia & Türkiye – @blacktooth_tr
from Central America – @fleshless_entity
from Indian sub-continent – @kasck_thrash
from Japan – @jpndjentthall_paramena
from Luxembourg – @aeonik_band
from South America Northern region – @maquinainfo
from Saudi Arabia – @wastedlandofficial
from Ukraine – @karabinerthrash
from Sub Saharan Africa region – @sunken_state
from Netherlands – @inheritedband

Congratulations to everyone! The next 10 finalists will be announced very soon!

The Southern German Wacken Metal Battle Semi-Finals are set to ignite Chemnitz on May 25, 2024, as part of the vibrant Chemnitz Metal Culture event at @kraftverkehr_entertainment. Fans will witness fierce performances from some of the best emerging metal bands in the region, each vying for a coveted spot at Wacken this summer.

Featuring

@campa_metal
@corbian_official
@divinex_official
@slavepit
@toxictraitsofficial

In addition to the intense musical showdown, the Chemnitz Metal Culture event promises a rich experience for metal enthusiasts, with various activities celebrating the metal genre and community inclduing performances by @official_desertedfear @messticator_metal @calibanofficial and many more bands over 3 days.

Stay tuned to @wackenmetalbattle.official for the latest updates and news from Wacken events around the world.

The Semi-Finals for the Northern German @wackenmetalbattle.official are set to rock Föhr at the Sunset Bash on May 4th, 2024.

Featuring
Brazing Bull @brazing_bull
Headgear @headgearband
Inner Axis @inneraxismetal
Protovibe @protovibe.band
Redestruction @redestruction_official

Follow Wacken Metal Battle Instagram for more updates. @wackenmetalbattle.official

More information on the event here.

The registrations for Wacken Metal Battle in Denmark are now open. Apply here to play at Wacken Open Air 2024

Registrations for Metal Battle Philippines are now open! Bands can apply at metal-battle.com for a chance to play at Wacken Open Air 2024. This is a unique opportunity for Filipino metal bands to gain international exposure by performing at the largest heavy metal festival in the world. Apply now to showcase your talent on a global stage!

Apply here

Registrations for the Wacken Metal Battle Poland are officially open! This is an incredible opportunity for Polish bands to showcase their talent on a global stage. The battle offers a unique platform for artists to connect with fans, industry professionals, and other musicians from around the world. Interested bands can apply at metal-battle.com to take part.

Apply here

Kasck from India, Black Tooth from Caucasia & Turkiye & Fleshless Entity from El Salvador representing the region of Central America are confirmed for the finals of Wacken Metal Battle 2024. .

France Metal bands, your chance to play at Wacken Open Air 2024 is here! Registrations now!

Register here: https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/

Watch the Wacken Metal Battle Magenta Musik stream here https://www.magentamusik.de/woa-metal-battle-zusammenschnitt

We are exhilarated to announce that @maquinainfo, the formidable metal band from Colombia, has won the Wacken Metal Battle South America Northern Region 2024. We extend our heartiest congratulations to INFO and eagerly anticipate their performance Wacken 2024. Let’s support them as they showcase the spirit and talent of Colombian metal to the world!

Luxembourg Metal bands, your chance to play at Wacken Open Air 2024 is here! Registrations now!

Register here: https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/

Ukraine Metal Bands, your chance to play at Wacken Open Air 2024 is here! Registrations now!

Register here: https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/

Sub-Saharan rockers, your chance to play at Wacken Open Air 2024 is here! Registrations now!

Register here: https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/

We are thrilled to announce the confirmed countries that will be showcasing their metal prowess in next year’s Metal Battle. Prepare to be blown away by talent from Australia & New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Central America, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Indian Sub-Continent, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Middle East, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Romania & Rep. Moldova, Slovakia, Southern Africa, South America Northern Region, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA, Caucasian Republics & Turkyie.

We would like to also thank all the bands who took part in the Metal Battle 2023

Japanese band Phantom Exacaliver crowned champions of Metal Battle 2023

At the end of May, we already announced the first half of the finalists of this year’s @metalbattle.official. Now the very last national preliminary round ended and we have all the 30 bands.

Here are the bands ready to fight for victory on the Holy Ground in 30 days:

CountryBand NameArgentinaNVLO@nvlo.metalAustralia & New ZealandDeprivation@deprivationbandAustriaMetternich@metternich.rocksBelgiumObjector@objectorbandBulgariaMaltworm@maltwormdeathmetalCanadaStrigampire@strigampireCaribbeanLEFT-ÖVR@leftovrbandCaucasia & TurkiyeBlack Tooth@blacktooth_trDenmarkSwartzheim@swartzheimEx Yugoslavia RepMesmera@mesmerabandFinlandOmnivortex@omnivortexofficialFranceXaon@xaon.officialHungaryTiansen@tiansenbandIcelandKrownest@krownest_bandIsraelAndrelamusia@andrelamusia_bandItalyDisesanera@diesanera.officialJapanPhantom Excaliver@phantomexcaliverPhilippinesRedeemed By The Blood@redeemedbythebloodphLatviaSever@sever.bandLithuaniaDeath In Taiga@deathintaigaMexicoHorrid Sight@horridsightMiddle EastErasing Mankind@erasing.mankindNorwayGhetto Ghouls@ghettoghoulscrewRomaniaBlacksheep@blacksheeprollSouthern AfricaMiddle Grounds@middlegroundsbandSpainAneuma@aneuma_bandSwedenMisery Oath@misery_oathUkraine0% Mercury@zeropercentmercuryUruguayForastero Western Metal @forastero.uyUSAFadrait@fadrait

Congratulations to all participating bands on making it into the finals. We are looking forward to welcoming all of these talents to the holy ground soon!

#woa2023#wackenopenair#fasterharderlouder#rainorshine#holyground#metalbattle#metalbattle2023

!!NEWS!! The first three winning bands of the upcoming Wacken Metal Battle will each be awarded one of the high-quality guitars of @schecterguitarsofficial. This is a tremendous opportunity for all Metal Battle bands to grab an exceptional piece of equipment to continue to perfect their craft. Thank you Schecter for supporting emerging talent at Wacken Metal Battle this year.

The 3 guitars are
SCHECTER Omen Elite-6, Black Cherry Burst (SC2450)
SCHECTER Omen Elite-6, Charcoal (SC2451)
SCHECTER Omen Elite-6, See Thru Blue Burst (SC2452)

This year the W:O:A Metal Battle will take place for the 18th time and today we can already confirm the first 15 finalists of this years edition!

Here are the contestants from all over the world:

Argentina – NVLO

Caribbean – Left Ovr

Caucasus & Türkiye – Black Tooth

Iceland – Krownest

Japan – Phantom Excaliver

Philippines – Redeemed By The Blood

Lithuania – Death In Taiga

Mexico – Horrid Sight

Middle East – Erasing Mankind

Norway – Ghetto Ghouls

Romania – Blacksheep

South Africa – Middle Grounds

Sweden – Misery Oath

Uruguay – Forastero Western Metal

USA – Fadrait

Swedish company Vision Backdrops has announced its sponsorship of the Wacken Metal Battle 2023. The company, which specializes in creating high-quality backdrops for concerts and events, will provide custom backdrops for the winning band. The Metal Battle is an international competition for unsigned metal bands across the globe, with winners from each country progressing to the final round at Wacken Open Air festival in Germany. Vision Backdrops’ sponsorship will provide increased visibility and support for up-and-coming metal bands, as well as showcasing their own creative products to a wider audience.